Ten Green Tips for Dealing with Slugs and Snails

Image via Wikipedia

Tip one:

Try to encourage wildlife into your garden which will eat those slugs and snails for you. If in the right part of the world hedgehogs are the ultimate slug busters. So encourage them by leaving low hanging hedges and branches or create piles of logs and leaves for shelter. A whole range of other animals also feast on these garden pest including frogs, toads, birds and a range of beetles.

Tip two:

Try planting plants which slugs don’t like. ‘Repellent’ plants include thyme, sage, geranium, lavender, mint, ginger, garlic, chive, fennel, foxglove, primrose and chicory. Simply plant between each plant you wish to protect and hopefully this will reduce your losses. 

Tip three:

Place items around the base of your plants to create a barrier these include crushed egg shells, pine cone needles, saw dust, soot, hair and shredded bark.

Tip four:

If they’re not hungry then they’ll not eat. So try placing lettuce leaves or another food item you know they’ll enjoy between your plants and allow them to feast of those instead of our prized plants.

Tip five:

Next time you have an orange or other citrus fruit do not rip the peel off but cut in two and scoop out the flesh. Place the scooped out shell face down around your plants. In the morning you’ll find those slugs and snails hidden away. Then simply take for a trip to the local woods and provide those little critters with a new home.

Tip six:

Self adhesive copper strips can be purchased from DIY and gardening shops, which when stuck around pots and tubs will act as a barrier. They are reasonably inexpensive, simple to attach and are long lasting. Strips need to be at least 5cm (2″) wide to work effectively.

Tip seven:

Slugs and snails like the damp so if you continuously water your garden unfortunately you are encouraging them. Try to water directly rather than spray the whole garden using a hose. Also because slugs and snails are most active at night try to water in the morning. In this way most of the water will have soaked in or evaporated by the evening.

Tip eight:

Snails tend to lay their eggs just under the surface of the soil. So if you are able to hoe an area on a regular basis this should bring eggs to the surface. Once on the surface they will hopefully be eaten by a range of predators.

Tip nine:

If your garden is full of hiding places such as large rocks or logs then occasionally roll them over to check under them. If you find any slugs or snails hidden simply collect and take for a little walk and find them a new home.

Tip ten:

A device called a ‘plant guard slug fence’ can be purchased and is basically a mini electric fence. They are battery powered and the electrical field is detected by the slug before it makes contact, which deters them from going any further. They are friendly to insects such as lady birds and lacewings and child/pet friendly so are ideal for a range of gardens. 

Hopefully armed with these tips you’ll be able to reduce the slug/snail damage to your plants without having to use harsh harmful chemicals.