Snails and slugs are common pests that every gardener battles against at some stage. Unfortunately, these guys aren’t fussy and will chew their way through leaves, soft stems, flowers and ripe fruit. Both slugs and snails leave distinctive silvery slime trails as they move over plants and hard surfaces.
Where do Snails and Slugs Live in the Garden?
Snails and slugs need moist conditions to thrive and are most active during the wettest months of the year. During hot dry periods, they hide away biding their time until better conditions return.
These problematic snails and slugs are actually introduced pests so don’t feel bad killing them! There are some Australian native snails and slugs (such as the Cystopeltidae and Athoracophoridae families), but they are not regarded as pests.
What Attracts Snails and Slugs?
Snails and slugs attack a huge range of plants but the most susceptible are seedlings which can be completely demolished overnight. Seedlings are most at risk when first planted out and suffering transplant shock.
How to Keep Snails and Slugs Away
If you are looking for a pet-safe pellets, apply ‘Eradicate Snail & Slug’ Bait pellets around seedlings, veggies and other plants you wish to protect. Reapply as heavy rain consumes it.
For an eco-conscious alternative, apply Eradicate Eco Bait, which has an active ingredient that is more environmentally friendly and does not accumulate in the environment, elemental iron.
Remove hiding places
Have a clean-up through the garden to remove any obvious places they can seek shelter or breed. Common spots are empty pots, weeds in shady areas, piles of wood, bricks and rocks.
Seek them out
During the clean-up, you’re bound to have already squashed many of them but unfortunately, some will remain undetected. Get into the habit of patrolling the garden immediately after rain, as both snails and slugs will be active and easy to find. Look for their signature slime trails and clutches of gelatinous eggs.
Hungry predators
Frogs, lizards, chooks, ducks and other birds find snails and slugs irresistible. If practical, introduce or encourage as many of them into your garden as you can.
Beer traps
My grandad’s favourite trick: fill a snail & slug trap, saucers or jars with beer (yes, beer!) and place them around the garden at soil level. Snails and slugs like beer and will be easily attracted to it, they end up drowning in it. To be effective you need to keep the traps fresh by cleaning them out regularly and replacing the beer.
Copper tape
Thin adhesive copper tape acts as a barrier and works by creating a tiny electrical charge within the tape that repels without killing, making it a friendly and safe option. Snails and slugs simply won’t cross over the tape after their natural slime reacts, giving them a zap. Wrap a continuous line around pots or planter boxes for protection. Two widths of copper tape may be needed – bigger snails can withstand thin copper tape.
Granular Barriers
You may see recommendations to use various materials like diatomaceous earth, sawdust, powdered lime, crushed eggshells and wood ash. In our experience, these are not very effective. To have any chance of working, the material needs to be applied as a continuous thick band around a plant and be kept dry, so that slugs/snails’ moisture is sucked out of them. Even in these conditions we’ve often seen snails slide right over the material. Lastly, while salt will kill slugs and snails, it is also bad for soil health and should not be used.
When to Apply
The best time to apply snail and slug baits is when they are active and feeding. You can encourage them by sprinkling the area with water first, then applying the bait in the late afternoon or evening. The best places to sprinkle these baits is around their hiding places, and along the path, they cross to get to the garden, as well as the garden itself. Keep in mind that snails and slugs aren’t active during the hottest and driest or coldest periods.
Click here to learn more about organic snail & slug control from OCP.
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