A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 Garden Snails.....I want them gone

Hello everyone,

I am fairly new to this group and do enjoy the replies I have received on other issues I had brought up in the past.

This time its snails. I need them gone.

I read about the copper strip idea, the beer and sugar water trick in a bowl, the grapefruit inverted trick, the rough soil irritant.

Is their another quick fix like salt water in a spray bottle?

I know that's brutal buy hey those little critters are doing a lot of damage plus its not like their becoming extinct.

I have a lot of lizards, birds and other animals I do like so putting snail poison down wont be a good idea within my environment.

Are there some good techniques or links maybe one of you can direct me to that can help this long time issue that all of us have gone through.

Take care, Mark

That is what I spent the morning doing. Hand picking snails off of some plants. I have the beer thing going on; it's the only reason I buy beer. But it isn't doing the job, so I'm also using the poison.
There are a type of snail that eat garden snails that you can purchase. But I also have slugs and for some reason they don't do slugs.

Epson salt is good for the garden and might just do the trick!

Salt spray would not be good for the plants...
*salt kills plants*
The epsom salts are different, they really aren't salt, it's magnesium...
So, I don't think that the Epsom Salts would kill the snails..

Hand picking it the best organic way...
*but it is tedious*

Alot of times snails are drawn to the fresh green tender growth and love to hang out where it's moist, dark and secluded...

So, either keep the area cleaned up of moist~dark places, so there's not many places to hide...
Or put out some wet card board to actually "give" them a place to sleep and hide in the day time, and then I come in there and squish them...
I also go out at night and grab them..
(smashin' them between to bricks'~it's greattttt for taking my agressions out)

Those poor snails
watch out for weezie

Hello all,

Thanks for all your idea's and helpful information.

Tina...
There are a type of snail that eat garden snails.


I believe they're are the ones with the cone shape shell which I've heard eat the larger more common rounder shelled snail. My snail infestation is 1 rounded big snail to 50 coned shell shaped snails.


weezie....*salt kills plants*

Thanks for that good bit of knowledge.
Would it harm the soil or roots if I sprayed around the plant and not on the plant. I figure I'd go out there and just spray them when I see em. then later rake em up. Although the brick Idea sounds.....helpful.

Thanks for your replies,

Mark

I personally wouldn't do it..
Salt around roots, in the dirt can also kill or harm/hurt plants... *the roots are the way the plant feeds' it'self..*

I would have to say, it would also depend on the plant.. I have some daylilies/roadside lilies..
right by my front step... I salt the heck out of those steps in the winter time...
but they do return every year..
*same for the lily of the vally's too...
and bishop's weed..
but they are all tenacious weeds so to speak...

What plants are those snails on or around?????

Heres the latest of my photos.

The snail confinement Tank. This may be a good wallpaper. or maybe not



This is one of many crime scenes....eaten stems so wasteful. Atleast eat the whole thing.



These are the latest from one of our most plentiful planters which my wife contributes alot of imagination. I just provided the automatic watering system and weed pulling.

First off, get some more pictures of your
wife's garden's on here, wooooooooo~hoooooooo,
AWESOME!!!
*Just gorgeous tell her...*

Second on to those snails...
Have you tried closing down the salad~bar at
night time???
That's what I do...
A flashlight and two bricks *more bricks are needed for back~up if there's a ton of snails, cause the first set gets pretty goooooey by half way thru the garden*
But I go out after dark, around 11:00pm, gives it time to cool down, dew and them to venture out and start finding their delicacies...

I went to Home Depot and found this product
http://www.gardensafe.com/ProductCategories/outdoorinsecticide/SlugSnailBait/

apparently it does not harm cats,dogs or any other form of wildlife. It remains effective with rain or moisture. It covers 3 yrds with one tablespoon. The instructions state to just spread it over a given area and not to put it in mounds.

The product states that the snails or slugs eat it even when it dissolves into the soil. They become not hungry and eventually die.

I just applied this to my planted area and am looking forward to my flower being able to grow.

The instructions state that it starts immediately because of the attractant and that all snails and slugs will die within 6 days of eating it.

I just wanted to pass this along because I know how much you all hate those critters.

weezie you may not have to get out the bricks and springfever you may not have to purchase beer anymore unless you want to.

Take care and I will keep you informed about the success with this product.

Sincerely Mark

You guys are so funny!!! I was laughing so hard at the pictures of snails, damaged flowers and the comments with them. Or maybe it's just because it's four in the morning and I'm reading this web site. Hmmm....
I once caught about two hundred snails in two days time. I didn't have the heart to kill them, I don't like killing any living creature without great guilt sooooo...I gave them to a neighbor I didn't like. ha ha ha ha ha ha....

Hi! I have tip that I use. Save and wash out egg shells.Crush them up and put around plants.Snails won't crawl over them because it hurts. They get discouraged and go away....to your neighbors... or somewhere.
It works.