Snails And Slugs

I declare war on snails, slugs

I’ve had it. I fight those snails and slugs all winter long in the greenhouse. They absolutely love to dine on my orchid flowers.  They seem to think that I fill that greenhouse with plants for their dining pleasure.

 Fortunately, they can be somewhat controlled in the small environs of a closed greenhouse.

Now, they have attacked my beautiful hostas. Holes are appearing everywhere in those large, beautifully patterned leaves.

 They seem to be partial to my beautiful delphiniums, too. Their slime trails are everywhere. It is time to teach them a lesson.

 I read in yesterday’s paper that they will not cross a barrier of copper wire.

Seems that as the copper sits on the moist pot, it creates a light, positive charge that gives them a very light jolt that sends them scooting away from the plant.

 You can be sure that I’ll be heading to Home Depot or Lowe’s this afternoon to give that one a try. This is known as barrier control.

There are other barriers that work pretty well, too. Start with plants that they do not like, especially those with strong odors.  Amongst the plants they love most, intersperse some mint, parsley or basil.

They hate to get near foxglove, geraniums and garlic.

Chimney soot is another great barrier. Slugs absolutely hate it because it dries up their mucous membranes.

Simply scrape a couple of cupfuls of soot from inside your chimney and draw a line around the base of the plant you are trying to protect. You’ll have to reapply after a rain.

There are a lot of other things around the house that make great barriers. Sprinkle these around the plants with crushed egg shells, crushed nuts, sea shells and pine needles.

Slugs will suffer great discomfort if they try to cross. You may have to try different things or combinations to see which your personal slugs really dislike.

Of course, the best way to get rid of these pests is to keep a "clean" garden. Deprive them of their habitats. Rake leaves from under plants and around the beds. They offer protection from heat and sun and give a place to lay their eggs. Remove any dead or dying plants, too.

You can kill slugs with kindness, too. One thing that works for me is beer. I like one after a hard day’s work. So as I sit on my patio and open the bottle, I pour a couple of sips into low bowls and place them in areas where the enemy lives. Then I can enjoy my libation, knowing the enemy likes a late night drink of stale beer. Once into it, they will drown.

Stop Slugs in the Organic Garden: Kill or Repel Slugs and Snails ...

The lowly snail and his trail of slime captivated us as children. The hordes of gastropods that devastate our gardens in the night dismay us as adults. Unfortunately, the lush conditions in the organic garden that help our plants grow also provide safe harbor to the common garden slug and brown snail. The same thick layer of mulch that provides a cool root run for vegetables, flowers, and perennials also gives slugs and snails an ideal nursery for egg-laying.

Metaldehyde is the most commonly used conventional pesticide against slugs and snails, and is sold under several trade names. This pesticide is harmful to wildlife and can be fatal if consumed by pets, and is not an option in the organic garden. You can foil these pests with gentler methods.

Many organic gardeners are familiar with the allure of beer to slugs and snails. Place a shallow dish in the garden, and dump out the drowning victims the next day. You can also buy covered shallow slug traps. Contrary to myth, the slugs don’t get drunk and fall in, rather, the yeast attracts them and the alcohol desiccates their delicate tissues.

If you live in a dry county, or prefer to keep your libations for yourself, you can achieve a similar effect with a dish of lemonade. The sugar attracts the slugs and the acids kill the pests.

Snails and slugs must avoid sharp surfaces that can pierce their tender flesh. You can sprinkle diatomaceous earth, made from the fossilized remains of algae-like creatures, around the base of your plants. You can also try eggshells, gravel, sand, or fireplace ashes as deterrents. Some gardeners report success with copper rings placed around plants. The metal ions in the copper give off a weak electrical current when encountered by slugs.

If you have a small garden, or very large slugs, you can embark on a slug hunting expedition. This is especially fun when you get the children involved. When the last trace of dusk has faded, set out with your flashlight and gardening gloves. Let your young helper carry the pail of salty water. Pluck the offenders and drop them in the pail.

You can also hunt for slugs and snails in the daylight, if you provide them a suitable place to congregate. Simply place a piece of damp cardboard or melon rind in the garden, and check for tenants before night falls.

Escargot isn’t just for fancy restaurants. Birds, toads, lizards, and snakes also consider snails and slugs a delicacy. Because you maintain an organic garden, free of chemicals that harm wildlife , you should have an abundance of these predators in your garden.

Snails and Slugs

Snails and Slugs

Snails and slugs

Snails and slugs

Snails and Slugs