In the last few years snails have become a major problem in my garden. I can't afford to employ a full-time snail-collector, I can't put a copper ring round every single plant , and I've given up hoping for the arrival of an army of song thrushes or even a few hedgehogs. Is there anything I could use which would not endanger the birds that live in the garden or visit the feeders? Are birds likely to pick up slug pellets?
If you put out an old flowerpot, upside down and proped up on a stone, snails will love to hide inside during the day. All you have to do then is pick them out each evening and drop them into a bucket of soapy water.
I have also heard that if you mash up some garlic and soak it in water, then spray the liquid over your plants, snails hate the taste. Though this might be slightly tongue in cheek, given a certain item of french cuisine...
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Another great tip Chris, thank you :)
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Hi Jandy, sorry to hear of your slug problem. I have tried copper tape round my pots - it just comes off and other little bugs get trapped, so don't really like it. Have also tried copper mats under my pots - they don't work! would never dream of using slug pellets (not sure about the birds actually picking them up, but I think the problem stems more from birds / hedgehogs etc eating the 'poisoned slugs' and the poison can then be stored and builds up in the bird / hedgehog, which can be v. harmful - but someone please correct me if I am wrong)! I have heard that crushed egg shells sprinkled round your plants can work, and I have even seen a product that is made from sheeps wool, so is 'organic' ish and over time just breaks down into the soil -although I have never tried either. luckily I have a hedgehog and song thrush that are fairly frequent visitors, so let them take what they want - the biggest problem I have in my garden is actually with the birds - they don't seem to want to share my blueberries with me - they always seem to get to the ripe ones first!!
good luck - would be interest to hear how you get on!
Another suggestion is to put your used coffee grounds or sharp sand around plants.
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Slug and snail traps are commercially available, and they can easily be made from empty plastic pots (e.g. large yoghurt pots) buried to half their depth in the soil and filled with a special bait solution, milk and water, or beer. The slugs and snails will climb up the sides, enter the tub and be killed. These traps can be especially useful around newly planted out seedlings to help protect them until they grow away. Sometimes this sort of trap also catches the large, black ground beetles. Make sure the lip of the trap is at least 2 cm above the soil surface to stop beetles getting in. As they eat slugs and snails and help polination, they need to be encouraged, not killed.
I like your cats! I've tried most of these ideas, but we've got a fairly big garden and I'm talking hundreds of snails! Oh well, "all things bright and beautiful..." I've given up on the blueberries; as they ripen sequentially, there are never enough ripe at one time for me to pick them, so the birds are quite welcome to them! This year, however, a pair of woodpigeons have taken a fancy to us, and sometimes invite a friend along too. I was puzzled that what had seemed to be a good blackcurrant crop no longer seemed so good - then I caught them at it! Not my favourite birds.
You can find lots of information on non-toxic slug and snail control here - http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/gardening/unwantedvisitors/index/slugs/index.asp
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I agree it is best to use natural means. We created a pond and this is the fourth year that we have had toad spawn in it.One of our little friends hibernates in a little corner he has created in a small wall. He does a fantastic job in the garden of keeping it clear of slugs, which were a major problem for me previously. Encouraging blackbirds, thrushes and others also helps.
Hi Jandy
Las year I discovered snails and slugs feasting on CAT biscuits, they seem to love them. Even if they are not visible, as soon as I put the biscuits out they quickly appear. It fills them up and they will not eat your plants. I shall try and take pic. of them. :o) People think I am mad when I tell them I feed slugs. LOL
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I love the idea of snails feasting on cat biscuits! I will definitely try it, Maureen. And thanks to all for your advice. I'm going to have a look at the suggested RSPB page now.