It can be frustrating to find snails in your garden or home. If left on their own, snails will munch on all your plants and leave sticky trails all around your house. Though they look small, snails eat a lot of leaves, which is bad news for your crops. Spring vegetable and herb gardens have provided many a meal for these mischievous mollusks, who largely stay invisible during the day and appear during the night to feed on your plants.
Gardeners across the globe have experienced the hassle of dealing with this problem. So think quickly and find a way to deter or eliminate the snails before they eat all of the leaves on your plants or wreak havoc on your entire garden. When getting rid of pests, we all know the dangers chemicals pose, not just to these pests but to the animals and plants that might come close to that area. You can call a professional pest company to get rid of pests from your backyard and home, but there are also natural ways to get rid of snails from your garden. Here are a few.
1. Beer trap: Beer traps are a good option. Pour beer into a container and dig a hole near where you found the snail or close to the plants that are being attacked. Bury it in the hole but leave 1 inch above the soil. Snails are naturally drawn to the beer scent because it includes yeast, but when they consume it, they become disoriented. This snail trap is very effective.
2. Copper method: Research indicates that snails cannot tolerate crawling on copper surfaces, which give them a mild electrical shock when touched. Place copper bands around your flowerpots, fruit-tree branches, etc. to prevent snails from crawling over and onto your plant leaves. Copper flashing can be attached to the edges of your grow-beds and greenhouse benches. This will deter the snails without killing them. In addition to copper mesh, copper tape barriers and copper band rings to put on plant pots, you can also use pennies to keep snails away.
3. Seaweed mulch: If you reside close to an ocean beach, collect seaweed and cut it up to produce mulch. Mix the seaweed around your plants in the upper layer of soil. The smell of iodine will stop the snails and add nutrients to the soil as it decays. Seaweed mulch contains a lot of trace nutrients that would be hard to get into your garden soil any other way! In fact, if you have any seaweed left after you create your mulch, do not throw it away. Add it to your compost pile.
4. Garlic repellent spray: To repel and destroy snails, apply a homemade garlic spray. Soak three crushed garlic cloves in 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil overnight to make your garlic spray. Then add 1 liter of water to the liquid. Put the mix into a spray bottle. Add one teaspoon of liquid soap to the solution. Before you use the spray, make sure you shake the bottle. Spray the garlic around your garden, yard and house as required. It can eliminate some snails, and it will deter them away from your garden.
5. Diatomaceous earth method: This natural product, which is safe for human or animal consumption, operates as an obstacle. It is also called insect dust. It has sharp fine edges, just like eggshells, which are harmful to the soft organs of snails. Sprinkle the diatomaceous earth on the ground around crops that you want to protect. It is less powerful when wet, however: it requires a new application after rainfall or plant watering. Make sure to get untreated diatomaceous earth that is formulated for your garden – it’s food-grade.
6. Do not water your garden at night: Snails are more active at night because nights are more moist and snails need a damp environment to thrive. Watering your garden at night creates a refuge for these slimy pests and they will be even more drawn to your crops! Choose a drip irrigation system or a soaker hose if you can. This will help manage moisture on the ground so that snails cannot procreate quickly.
featured image: Marinko Krsmanovic; image 1: Pixabay
