Slugs and snails are the bane of many gardeners, so here's some earth friendly tips for controlling these often unwelcome critters.
Steer clear of snail and slug bait containing metaldehyde or methiocarb. These chemicals have killed countless thousands of domestic pets and birds over the years; not to mention beneficial insects and earthworms. Metaldehyde is toxic to all creatures that consume it, be it through direct ingestion or secondary poisoning from consuming poisoned prey.
Iron phosphate is considered a more environmentally friendly pesticide and according to the EPA. no toxicity has been seen in mammals, birds, fish, beetles and earthworms if applied per the manufacturer's instructions. Snails and slugs stop feeding and die within 3 to 6 days after consuming iron phosphate laced bait.
If you'd like to steer clear of commercial poisons and pesticides altogether, there are other ways to control snail and slug populations:
- Consider a snail and slug hunt if you're having big problems to initially thin the numbers down. This should be done late at night when they are most active, so you'll need a torch. Make it a family activity, complete with gloves or tongs if members of your family don't like the idea of touching them. Offer an incentive for the most slugs and snails captured!
- Create simple traps such as upside down plant pots and wooden boards. Snails and slugs like these sorts of places to hide in. You'll need to check the traps daily.
- Check regularly under rocks, logs and any thick vegetation you have in your garden. Remove any unnecessary items that snails and slugs could gain shelter under.
- Snails and slugs are repelled by the reaction of the slime on their bodies and copper. Try creating a barrier with copper strips around delicate areas of your garden or use copper tape on larger plants. These products should be available from your hardware store.
- Crushed eggshells are said to be an effective barrier; so too are pine needles straw, sawdust and shredded bark.
- Avoid overwatering your garden and use direct watering methods where you can. Snails and slugs are attracted to moist areas so if your garden bed is relatively dry on the surface between the plants, this will help discourage activity. As snails and slugs are most active at night. Try to water in the mornings so the top layer of soil has a chance to dry out.
- Frequent hoeing of bare areas of your garden can help bring eggs to the surface where they'll be feasted upon by predators.
- Consider planting "repellent" species in amongst your other plants. These include Lavender, Thyme, Sage, Geraniums and Mint.
- Snails and slugs love beer. Some people use beer traps which is just a shallow dish with beer poured in, but an interesting variation on this is to spray beer on weeds so the snails eat those instead of your plants.
Snails and slugs are quite hardy creatures, so you'll need to be thorough in your disposal of them. Depending on where you live, your local lizard population may find them a tasty treat, turtles definitely love them as do ducks and chickens.
If you don't have any animal helpers to assist you in disposing of them; you'll need to crush them thoroughly. For the squeamish, they can be drowned in a bucket of soapy water (the soap prevents them climbing up the sides). Use an earth friendly soap or detergent so you can then bury the remains in your garden and help return nutrients to it.
Here's an interesting point - if you don't have slugs & snails at all and this hasn't been a result of your own efforts or local predators such as birds, it may be an indicator of high levels of toxins in your garden!
If you have any snail or slug control tips you'd like to share, please post them below!
