Snails are capable of destroying a garden if given a chance, and the slightest touch from their cousin the slug sends shivers up an unsuspecting gardener's spine. You'll probably never be able to completely rid your garden of slugs and snails, and since they are a part of the ecology of your garden, you probably shouldn't even try. What we want to do is maintain a balance in the garden, and the tips below are about helping you keep the slug and snail population down a reasonable minimum.
According to a study published in Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment you can reduce slug and snail damage dramatically by watering in the morning instead of the evening. The study showed that lettuce watered only in the morning had only 1/5 the damage that lettuce watered in the evening had.
Here are some additional guidelines that will help you control the slug and snail population in your garden:
Encourage reptiles to take up residence in your garden. Toads, turtles and snakes all prey on slugs.
If you see evidence of these pests avoid dense groundcovers and mulches that provide a hiding place. Oak leaf mulch will deter slugs and snails.
Handpick slugs and snails at night. Use a flashlight, and drop them into a bucket of soapy water.
Lay boards in the garden to trap slugs and snails. Check your trap early in the morning and remove the slugs and snails as they collect.
Drench the soil with wormwood tea.
Line the garden with copper strips. Slugs receive a shock when they touch copper, and they will not cross the barrier. When using this method, make sure you trap the slugs OUT and not IN.
Slugs love beer. Bury a shallow container of beer in the garden, with just the lip above the ground. When they go in for a drink, they will drown.
One commercial product that really works without harming the environment is Escar-Go. ( Escar-Go! is a unique blend of iron phosphate (it occurs naturally in soil) and a bait that lures slugs and snails away from their hiding places. )
source:
www.helpfulgardener.com
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