Are snails a big problem in your garden?
Well…yeah…they probably shouldn’t be there…
Because they’re herbivores, snails can wreak havoc on your plant leaves, developing fruits, and flowers.
They’re the perfect pathogen and disease carriers that can bring fungal and bacterial growth into your garden, putting all greenery at serious risk.
In this article, we’ll discuss a few strategies you can employ to drive snails out of your garden and protect your plants from major snail damage. Let’s get right into it!
How To Protect Your Garden From Snails? 5 Easy Ways
Social Advice
“The only thing I’ve found to work is the crushed eggshells around plantings. I’m still to try the diatomaceous earth though. (…) & they keep inviting all their snaily friends to it as well ….. Dohhhhh !!!”
5 – Beer Traps
Beer traps are pretty common amongst gardeners dealing with slugs and snails that are damaging their crops.
The concept of a beer trap is really simple. Because of yeast and water that’s present in beer, snails are desperately drawn to it, meaning you have the leverage to trap them in one place.
All you need to do is fill up a shallow container with beer and put it in all corners of your garden, especially in spots where the snails tend to accumulate. In no time, snails will come and drown in the beer.
4 – Handpicking
If you’re not dealing with a large-scale infestation and have a rather small garden area, you can handpick the snails and remove them from the garden in no time.
It’s quicker this way since you won’t have to wait for the snails to flee the garden; we all know how fast they are…
Simply put some gloves on and gently pick each snail off one by one, collecting them in a plastic bag or container. Once you’ve removed all, leave the bag/container far away from your garden so they can find a home somewhere else.
Social Advice
“Just pour a pile of corn meal for them and they won’t touch your plants. When I lived in WA, when they finished the pie they would line up at my front door! Never again touched the plants, like sweet little pets! Don’t kill ’em!”
3 – Diatomaceous Earth Powder
Diatomaceous earth powder (DE) is a natural powder that helps with eliminating destructive snails and slugs in the garden. It’s abrasive to creatures of this sort and works by dehydrating them upon contact.
Simply dust some DE powder on plants around your garden and in areas where the snails all come together.
Do keep in mind, however, that rain will weaken the effectiveness of this powder, so a light dusting after it rains might be a good idea.
2 – Neem Or Peppermint Oil Spray
Strong essential oils like neem or peppermint oil can be used sparingly in the garden to repel destructive little predators that may cause damage to your plants.
Although they’re best for combatting pest infestations, their strong smell can also make plants and greenery less attractive to snails in the garden, essentially drawing them away.
In terms of application, one tablespoon of neem or peppermint oil per gallon of water will get you just the right results without any negative side effects. Simply water your garden plants with this solution once every 1-2 weeks and keep your garden safe from slug interventions.
1 – Attract Natural Predators
Birds, frogs, beetles, and even some worms that prey on snails can be beneficial in this case. Try to draw in as many natural predators into your garden as possible.
Setting up bird feeders can be useful since birds will not only eliminate snails from the garden but also possibly help with flower pollination.
A pond-like water body in the garden might also help with attracting frogs which would further aid in getting rid of the snails.
If you wish to keep your garden snail and pest-free in the long run, this option is definitely worth looking into.
Final Words
Although snails are typically made fun of for their slow pace and sluggishness, they can ruin your plants rather quickly once they’re in your garden.
This is why immediate action is your best bet for saving your garden regardless of which route you take since they’re all essentially achieving the same thing – getting rid of the snails for good.
