Ideal tips on slug and snail control and prevention

Slugs and snails should be controlled at their onset. There are different prevention methods that can be followed for slug and snail control including organic slug control to which the gardener may turn.

Prevent Propagation

If you stop these animals before they completely invade your garden, you will be far ahead in the battle against them. Reduce their potential hiding placing by thinning out bushes and allow air to circulate around plants. Snails love dark places. Don't give them a place to stay.

Traps and Barriers

Beer baited traps and copper barriers can help to minimize the presence of both snails and slugs. The yeast in beer in bait traps attracts the snails but once they fall into the liquid they die. Copper barriers are best used to seal off your garden. Bury the barrier about four inches deep. Provide for about two inches sticking out. The copper will produce an electric shock to the snails when the slime they produce comes in contact with it.

Biological Control of Snails and Slugs

Biological control is also similar to the natural slug control. This constitutes the use of slug predators such as hedgehogs, ducks, chickens, and frogs. These animals prey on slugs and snails for food.

The Use of Chemical Control

Chemical control implies the use of commercially produced pesticides. Examples of these are Metaldehyde, Multiguard Slug, and Snail pellets.

Metaldehyde is considered to be a molluscicide. It kills all slugs and snails and it is also toxic to all other animals that accidentally eat it. This can be applied to the snail baits to make it highly toxic. But be careful as this substance can poison pets, other animals, and birds.

Multiguard Slug is a toxic substance t hat is fatal to the snails and slugs when ingested but is environmentally friendly with no ill effects for other plants and animals, including humans.

Snail pellets are supposed to be sprinkled over your gardens so the snails will mistake it for food. Some variants will work for as long as two weeks. Snail pellets can prove to be good slug control remedies.

While sea slugs aren't going to give you a problem, you may find yourself studying chemical and natural control methods for land snails. You can comfort yourself that every other gardener in the world is doing the same thing as these creatures are among the most common garden pests.

Related Articles

Garden pests - How do you deal with them?
Look out! Are aphids hiding around leaves?
Beware! Grasshoppers may wipe your entire garden
Be it berries, roots or barks! Squirrels have to taste everything

Bookmark this Page Email this to your friend Add this page to del.icio.us