When it comes to fighting snails, amateur gardeners who are close to nature clearly reject chemicals and poison. Effective organic methods and home remedies put an end to a plague of snails in the garden, pond and greenhouse. Aquarists don't let the pests fool them either. This is how you fight voracious snails without chemicals.

Slugs cause a lot of damage in the vegetable garden

Table of Contents

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  1. the essentials in brief
  2. Fight snails overview
  3. Home remedies for garden slugs
  4. Mechanical-manual methods
  5. Fight in the aquarium
  6. frequently asked Questions

    7. the essentials in brief

    • Home remedies against snails in the garden are nematodes, coffee grounds, liverwort extract, garlic brew and the predators runner ducks and tiger slugs.
    • Mechanical-manual methods of fighting snails are snail fences, snail collars, low-voltage fences, moving barriers and collection.
    • Snails can be fought in the aquarium by reducing the amount of food, improving tank hygiene and collecting them by hand or with snail tongs.

    Fight snails biologically - overview of where and how

    Nature-loving hobby gardeners do not think about turning their green kingdom into a mined area with chemical pesticides. Plant lovers remain steadfastly true to this resolution in the face of a plague of snails in the garden, pond and greenhouse, on the balcony and terrace. Thanks to a variety of organic methods and home remedies, it can be combated without poison. The following table gives a compact overview of which means work in which location:

    Home remedies/organic method Where to use? How to use? Mechanical/Manual Where to apply How to apply?
    predators in the garden/greenhouse Settle runner ducks, tiger slugs snail fence in the garden fence in beds
    nematodes in the bed/greenhouse pour snail collar in the bed Single plants with a collar
    coffee grounds in the garden spread low voltage fence raised bed mount on the edge of the bed
    liverwort extract Garden/Greenhouse inject early moving barrier in the garden Pine needles, grit, (46.95€) sprinkle sand
    garlic broth Garden/Greenhouse inject regularly collect bed, balcony, pond catch by hand

    The beer trap failed in fighting snails. In fact, bowls filled with beer have been found to exacerbate a slug infestation in the garden due to an intense attractant effect. According to the observations of troubled hobby gardeners, the slimy beasts first strengthened themselves with beer and then devoted themselves to a hearty feast in the salad with great relish.

    digression

    Shell snails - welcome beneficials

    Shell snails are useful garden helpers

    Did you know that there is a world of difference between slugs and shell slugs? Where slugs appear, lettuce, parsley, flowers and other fresh greens disappear from the bed. Large red snails, such as the Spanish slug (Arion vulgaris) and brown mini snails, such as the leaf slug (Deroceras reticulatum), are equally feared. In contrast, shell snails come into the garden as a useful clean-up crew. Rotten leaves, moldy grass, rotten fruit and even carrion are on the menu. Snails with shells do not eat fresh greens. For this reason, shell snails are protected, such as the magnificent Roman snail (Helix pomatia).

    Fight snails in the garden - use home remedies correctly

    In order for home remedies and biological methods to effectively combat many snails in the garden, important factors are important. The following tips summarize in a quick run-through what to look out for when using the application:

    engage predators

    The tiger slug is a carnivore and likes to eat other slugs

    If runner ducks are on patrol in the garden, there are no snails to be seen far and wide. If the plot of land is not suitable for keeping the cute snail eaters, then the predatory snails come into their own. The tiger slug (Limax maximus), which you can buy in specialist shops, is an avid snail hunter.

    use nematodes

    Special threadworms parasitize snails by laying their eggs in the soft body. This doesn't end well for the slugs. Nematodes of the genus Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita are most effective against snails in greenhouses. You can order live nematodes in online stores. The beneficial insects are delivered in clay granules. Dissolved in water and applied with a watering can, the nematodes in the bed and greenhouse immediately get to work.

    Coffee kills snails

    Coffee is poison for big red slugs and small brown slugs. If you scatter dried coffee grounds in the bed, the neurotoxin causes the pests to stop their hearts. A plague of snails cannot be fought with caffeine alone. As a supplementary measure, the household remedy nevertheless achieves respectable control success in the garden, on the balcony or in the cemetery.

    tips

    Please do not throw dead snails on the compost. The carcasses attract conspecifics from the surrounding area. Ideally, bury the snail corpses deep in the ground with a spade.

    Organic spray liverwort and garlic

    Snails don't like the smell of garlic

    Organic sprays are intended for hobby gardeners who do not seek to kill snails, but only want to drive them away. Animal-friendly, the plan succeeds with liverwort extract from specialist shops. Slugs can't stand the scents it contains and run away in disgust.

    Hobby gardeners who grow their own garlic produce an effective deterrent themselves. The recipe is very simple:

    • Squeeze 100 grams of garlic
    • Boil 1 liter of water with the garlic
    • Leave for 60 minutes
    • Dilute the garlic broth with water in a ratio of 1:5
    • Water plants regularly with it

    You can achieve a similar repellent effect with tomato leaves or stinging shoots, applied as plant manure. Pour water over the plant parts in a tub. For the next three weeks, stir the fermenting liquid daily. Before using it as a biological control agent against snails, the tomato slurry is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10.

    tips

    Transparent snail paste without poison can be easily applied to the edges of tubs, pots and flower boxes. Fragrances contained in it effectively repel snails. The organic agent retains its effectiveness for several weeks, even in damp weather.

    Tangible snail control - mechanical-manual means

    Large red snails and brown mini snails give in when mechanical-manual means are used in the garden. The following tips will show you how to properly use hands-on snail control:

    snail fence

    Snail fences can also be built by yourself

    Slug-ridden hobby gardeners sing the praises of the snail fence. The construction made of plastic, stainless steel or copper has proven itself to protect an entire bed from defoliation. It is important to note a minimum height of 30 cm, because snails are surprisingly good climbers. Only use a fence whose top edge is bent down at an angle of no more than 55° to 60°.

    snail collar

    A snail collar is the perfect bodyguard for young plants. The transparent protective ring is placed around a single plant and prevents approaching snails from entering. Special advantage: a snail collar is reusable.

    low voltage fence

    Ornamental and useful plants in raised beds are by no means safe from insatiable snails. This is where a sophisticated low-voltage fence comes into play to thoroughly prevent the pests from eating. Two parallel, sheathed metal wires are fixed to the frame at a distance of 3-5 mm with wood screws, hot glue or a staple gun. A solar module or a 9-volt battery serves as the power source. The assembly takes place in the upper third of the raised bed frame.

    moving barrier

    Pointed, granular or highly absorbent floor coverings are anathema to slugs. With a moving barrier, the pests can be kept away from the plants in many places, such as in the bed, in the greenhouse or in the cemetery. The following materials are suitable:

    • pine needles
    • grit
    • coarse sawdust
    • flax
    • sheep wool

    Traveling barriers fulfill their purpose if the distribution takes place over a large area. It should be more than 10 centimeters around endangered plants.

    collect

    Collecting is tedious but efficient

    Die-hard hobby gardeners collect slugs by hand. If you don't want to touch the slimy molluscs, use special snail tongs. The best time to collect is early in the morning or after a rain shower. Lay out a few boards in the bed the day before, under which the pests will hide. This has the advantage that you don't have to look far for the bugs. In the pond you can catch snails with a landing net.

    A completely snail-free garden is not the goal. Where there are no snails, there will hardly be any pulsating life in the bed. (Björn Schoas, biologist and snail control expert)

    Fight snails in the aquarium

    If a plague of snails is rampant in the aquarium, the balance of the mini ecosystem is at stake. A wide range of natural remedies has proven itself in practice to effectively combat the voracious invaders. This is how you prevent an explosive increase in snails in the aquarium without poison:

    • Collect immediate action: collect as many mini snails as possible by hand or with tongs
    • reduce the amount of food: only feed as much as fish and other water creatures can consume within 60 seconds
    • Optimize pool hygiene: Clean windows and decorations, remove rotted plants, change the water regularly, clean the substrate with a mulm vacuum, remove carcasses promptly

    Unwanted snails get into the aquarium as stowaways of new aquatic plants. By giving each green addition a good shower before putting them in, you'll be slamming the door in the uninvited guests' faces.

    In the following video, an experienced aquarium expert has his say with practical tips for effectively combating a plague of snails in the aquarium:

    youtube

    frequently asked Questions

    How can you fight snails in the terrarium?

    The first combat measure is to collect all snails that you can get hold of. Explosive snail reproduction always indicates an oversupply of food. Only serve as much food in the terrarium as your darlings can eat within a few minutes. Furthermore, pay attention to meticulous hygiene by carrying out regular all-round cleaning and removing dying plants at an early stage.

    Can you fight snails in the garden with a beer trap?

    The news spread like wildfire among hobby gardeners that a beer trap could be used to effectively combat snails. Unfortunately, the home remedy did not meet the high expectations. In fact, beer is a strong attractant to any slugs in the vicinity, which can make the plague in the garden much worse. Disappointed house gardeners had to watch how the gluttonous rabble refreshed themselves with the served beer and, freshly strengthened, went on to bare the beds.

    How can I kill collected snails in an animal-friendly way?

    In the natural garden, two methods have proven themselves in practice to put a painless and quick end to collected snails. A quick cut with the secateurs right through the slimy soft body kills the pests in a fraction of a second. It is also animal-friendly with a mixture of 60 percent vinegar and 40 percent water. Throw in a slug and it will die instantly.

    tips

    The recommendation to fight snails with salt falls on deaf ears with animal-friendly hobby gardeners. Slugs sprinkled with salt slowly dehydrate, accompanied by excruciating pain and an agonizing death throes.

Category:

Animals in the garden