They eat up whole beds in no time at all: snails. The animals are the gardener's greatest enemy and the well-known beer trap is not for everyone. Therefore, different types of snail protection are commercially available. We took a look around to see which products are particularly well received by gardeners. In this guide you will also find tips on how to find the best protection against snails.

There are different ways to keep snails away

Our recommendations

our recommendation
Fancy ideas from sheet metal Type 01 VDH ZINC SET of 14 10 x 1.0 m snail fence and 4 x 90° corners Further options
EUR 79.90 To the product
Type of snail defense barrier
toxicity no
material metal
applicability 14 pieces to snap together
durability continuous

The metal snail fence - consisting of ten fence pieces each one meter long and four corner joints - can be easily put together. The sheets should reach about 15 centimeters deep into the ground so that they protrude about ten centimeters. Erect the fence around the garden bed, then hungry snails have no chance - they would first have to overcome the 90 degree barrier to get in. Most slugs don't manage this, as the various product reviews on the Internet show. Nevertheless, a snail infestation can occur if there are still animals in the bed. The snail fence is non-toxic, will last for many years and can be left outside even in winter.

our recommendation
Windhager snail defense protective ring, snail collar, to ward off snails - protects plants from being eaten by animals, Ø 23 cm, 6 pieces, green, 02435
11.99 EUR To the product
Type of snail defense barrier
toxicity no
material plastic
applicability Hood to put over endangered plants
durability continuous

Plant hoods such as this snail protection ring also belong to the non-toxic and therefore harmless barrier methods. The slug guard is quick and easy to install, without having to put any components together first: simply put the hood over the freshly planted plant, and you're done! The hoods are made of a non-toxic, weather-resistant and recyclable PET plastic and keep the ravenous animals away with a downward-curved, circumferential ring. The protective ring not only keeps snails away, but can also be used to protect plants - for example young plants from cold weather - by combining it with a suitable plant hat.

our recommendation
COMPO slug granules, granules against slugs in a value pack, 4x250 g (4x416 m²)
12.27 EUR To the product
Type of snail defense Poison (Metaldehyde)
toxicity Yes
material scattered granules
applicability simply sprinkle around endangered plants
durability must be renewed regularly

Slug pellets (7.49€) are the remedy of choice for many gardeners against slugs and should therefore not be missing from our list. The blue-colored granules are easy to use and very effective, as the active ingredient metaldehyde is deadly poisonous to the animals. Unfortunately not only for snails, but also for other animal garden dwellers - especially dogs are very sensitive - and also for children. Therefore, both children and pets must be kept away from surfaces treated with slug pellets! Another disadvantage is that the granules are degraded very quickly by moisture (water and carbon dioxide are produced in the process) and must therefore be sprinkled on daily.

Purchase Criteria

kind

barrier methods: There are various barrier methods based on a very simple principle: They should prevent the snails from getting to the plants in the first place. This includes, for example, the snail fence, which is made of either metal or plastic, but also so-called plant hats or hoods. The latter also have the advantage that they also protect the plants from bird damage and unfavorable weather conditions.

chemical methods: Of course, chemical methods rely on the defenses of chemical substances, which do not always have to be poisons. So-called snail paints such as Lugato's Schnexagon also fall into this category. This coating does not kill the animals like the well-known slug pellets do, but simply prevents them from progressing.

our recommendation
Lugato Schnexagon 375ml Ecological protective coating against snails, snail defense
22.20 EUR To the product

snail traps: Snail traps, on the other hand, are designed to capture the snails, with some models being killing traps. If you don't want to kill the animals, you can use a live trap. The snails caught in it can later be released in nature several kilometers away from the garden

application

As diverse as the different types of snail protection are, they also differ in their application. The easiest way is probably the slug pellets, which you simply spread around the plants - but this has other disadvantages. A snail fence, on the other hand, is a bit more expensive to buy and has to be assembled first, but it will last for many years. Traps, on the other hand, have to be set up and emptied regularly - so this is probably where you have the most effort.

material

If you choose a barrier method, you have the choice between snail fences made of metal or plastic. The latter is cheaper to buy, but metal lasts a few years longer. In terms of effectiveness, however, it is not the material that matters, but the design and the question of whether small gaps remain somewhere. A weak point in many models are the corners, which are often not buckled. There the snails have a chance to get through.

durability

In terms of durability, a slug fence is superior to the popular slug pellets: once installed, the bed is protected from the voracious animals for many years. On the other hand, you have to spread slug pellets every day (with a bit of bad luck several times a day). The snail paint also only has a short lifespan, as it is usually washed off with the first rain and therefore has to be renewed.

ecology and toxicity

It cannot be stressed enough: Even if the blue granules look harmless, slug pellets are poisonous. Dogs in particular like to eat the granules and can then either suffer from severe symptoms of poisoning or even die from it. Small children also like to try the blue granules, even if bitter substances are usually added to the slug granules. Even wild animals such as birds or hedgehogs can be affected.

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frequently asked Questions

Which snails like to eat garden plants?

Various types of snails cavort in the garden, but not all of them are interested in your plants. Snails such as the Roman snail or the common garden snail are completely harmless to your garden plants. The latter feed primarily on mosses and algae. On the other hand, many slugs are real pests, especially the red-colored Spanish slug.

Are there also useful snails?

In fact, there are beneficial species of snails, so don't kill them all. Garden snails, for example, prefer to eat the clutches of slugs and thus keep their population small. In addition, there is the Greater Slug - also known as the Tiger Slug - a native slug species that lives predatory and hunts other slugs.

What predators do snails have and how do I lure them into the garden?

Luckily, the voracious slugs have many natural predators that, once established in the garden, limit their numbers. Various birds (e.g. blackbirds and magpies), hedgehogs, shrews, blindworms and toads like to eat snails. Lure the animals into the garden with hiding places, for example in the form of dense hedges, piles of leaves, wood and stones, etc.

What else helps against snails in the garden?

In general, snails do not like dry surfaces, which is why you should always keep the garden bed clean of weeds. A mulch cover made of bark mulch, lava rock or other coarse materials also reliably keeps the animals away - straw that is not too finely chopped has proven itself for this purpose in the strawberry bed. This will provide even more nutrients as it decomposes over time.

Why not set up a beer trap?

The beer trap is an old household remedy from grandma's time that consists of a glass filled with beer and dug into the bed. The snails are attracted by the smell, fall into the trap and drown. In fact, the beer trap is very effective, but it has a problem: it not only lures the snails into the trap, but also into the garden from afar.

Can I also keep running ducks against snails?

In fact, running ducks are recommended again and again as a natural measure against the snail plague. The lively animals can be kept well in the garden - as long as you keep them away from the vegetable beds. Running ducks not only like to eat snails, but also all kinds of greens such as lettuce. In addition, runner ducks need a lot of space, a spacious stable and a place to swim.

equipment

copper tape

our recommendation
Copper Tape 30M x 50mm, Vegena Copper Foil Tape EMI Copper Foil Tape Shielding Tape Copper Foil Copper Tape Self-Adhesive Tape Snail Tape Snail Protection
To the product

Pots, tubs and other planters in the garden and on the terrace can be protected from snails with a self-adhesive copper tape. To do this, simply fasten the band around the pot. Copper tape is also suitable for (smaller) raised beds or beds with an edging. Make sure the copper tape is at least two inches wide.

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