Effective ways to combat garden snails without harming plants
Snails in the garden can be really bothersome and cause considerable damage. Unfortunately, dealing with them is not easy. However, there are ways to address the problem.
7:21 PM EDT, August 20, 2024
Many garden owners have a persistent issue with snails. The worst are slugs (Limacidae), which lack a shell. They appear in our gardens just after winter ends and stay until fall.
These snails can cause significant damage, destroying fruits, vegetables, and shrubs. They gnaw on the shoots, tubers, and leaves of plants, leading to their slow death. How can we get rid of them? There are proven methods to tackle this problem.
Many people use table salt. While it is an effective method, it can also damage your crops. Using salt in large quantities can cause sodium buildup, weakening plants' ability to absorb nutrients and water, inhibiting flowering, and increasing the risk of disease.
Proven ways to get rid of snails from the garden
So, how can you effectively and safely deal with the problem? Basalt flour works excellently here, which is powdered basalt rock rich in valuable microelements and is used as a fertilizer. Additionally, it helps to fight aphids and ants.
Basalt flour works by coating the pests, making it difficult for them to move and breathe. Moreover, the copper content effectively repels snails, similar to copper tape.
Cinnamon is also excellent for fighting snails, as mollusks cannot stand its smell. So, when we sprinkle the spice around plants, there's a good chance they will find another place to graze.
Eggshells and garlic also work well in the fight against snails.