Snails seem to be gourmets. They like salad and vegetables, but also lots of decorative flowers and perennials. In some gardens they are a real nuisance as they eat everything bare - everything except coneflowers!

Snails usually avoid coneflowers

Echinacea as protection against snails

The most beautiful plants are of no use in your garden if they also find other lovers who will lay hands on them and eat them. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for voles to eat the roots or snails to eat the leaves of pretty perennials. You don't always want to use chemical protection, especially when small children or pets are running around in the garden.

However, an herb has grown against snails, namely purple coneflowers. The hungry animals avoid it so much that they even spare the neighboring plants. If you plant Echinacea or Rudbeckia around your vegetable patch, then you can eat your own vegetables again in the future. You should take the best possible care of your coneflower.

What does coneflower need?

The location of your coneflower should be as sheltered as possible from the wind, and also sunny and warm. During the flowering period, water your coneflowers every day and they will thank you with a particularly lush bloom. But the Echinacea also survives a dry period quite well, for example during your vacation.

In spring and autumn, treat your perennials to a portion of organic fertilizer. We recommend well-rotted compost or horn shavings. Because the nutrients in the potting soil in the planters are often not enough for the whole season.

coneflower in winter

Echinacea is hardy. During this time it does not require any special care. Plan your vegetable patch in a different spot next year, then transplant the perennials in autumn or spring. You can easily overwinter potted plants in a cool greenhouse.

The essentials in brief:

  • Snails avoid coneflowers
  • Echinacea can be used as a natural protection against snails
  • plant sunny and warm
  • water sufficiently
  • fertilize regularly

tips and tricks

Echinacea is excellent as a natural protection against snails in the vegetable patch and in gardens where small children or pets play.

Category:

Herbs