{"id":21011,"date":"2023-03-03T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-03T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/?p=21011"},"modified":"2023-03-28T14:20:59","modified_gmt":"2023-03-28T13:20:59","slug":"snails-in-the-garden-how-to-get-rid-of-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/snails-in-the-garden-how-to-get-rid-of-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Snails in the garden: how to get rid of them"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Do your plants thrive, then suddenly die off? Have you noticed little slime trails across your soil? It sounds like you\u2019ve got snails in your garden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Snails are a common pest in the garden, and getting rid of them can be challenging. And while some gardeners decide to use chemical pesticides to control the infestation, there are several natural approaches to controlling snails which are safer and more sustainable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article will explore the various ways of effectively eliminating snails in the garden and maintaining a healthy and pest-free environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are snails?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"A
Little snail family<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Snails are small, slimy molluscs with a soft, muscular foot, which they use to move around your garden, leaving a slimy trail in their wake. They’re usually brown, grey, or black and leave a slimy, mucous-like trail as they move. They range in size from tiny slugs to large, globe-shaped snails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Snails have a hard, protective shell they can retreat into if they feel threatened. They feed on various plants and can be found in many environments, from deserts to forests to domestic gardens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Snails are hermaphroditic – this means they have both male and female reproductive organs and can reproduce without a mate. This makes them very difficult to control, and why snail infestations occur and spread rapidly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Role of Snails in the Garden<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Snails play an essential role in maintaining the balance of the garden ecosystem. They feed on decaying plant matter, helping to keep the soil healthy and full of nutrients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They also provide food for other animals, such as birds, amphibians, and other beneficial insects. In addition, snails help to aerate the soil, which assists with water drainage and allows air and water to reach plant roots more easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benefits of snails in the ecosystem<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Snails provide many benefits to the ecosystem. They help to maintain soil structure and fertility by feeding on decaying organic material and humus, which helps to keep the soil full of nutrients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They provide food for other species, such as birds and frogs, and help control the population of other organisms, such as insects and weeds, which helps keep the ecosystem in balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drawbacks of snails in the garden<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Snail
Snail eating a cabbage<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The main drawback to having snails in the garden is that they cause damage to plants by eating their leaves and stems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They feed on garden vegetables, fruits, and flowers. They’ll also eat the leaves of trees and shrubs, leaving them wilted and unhealthy. Snails can even eat tree bark, leaving the tree vulnerable to disease and insect infestations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, they can carry parasites and diseases that harm humans, plants and animals. If you’re handling snails, it’s essential to wear gloves and wash your hands afterwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Identifying Snails in the Garden<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Brown
Brown garden snail – Photo by Zden\u011bk Mach\u00e1\u010dek<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You can identify snails in the garden by their shells, which are usually spiral-shaped and can be seen on the ground or on plants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They leave behind slime trails, and their presence can also be identified by feeding marks on the leaves and stems of plants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also identify a snail infestation by looking for eggs – usually found near the base of plants or in damp areas near the soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the physical characteristics of snails?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Snails have soft, slimy bodies and two pairs of tentacles; one pair for sensing and orientating and the other for movement. They have large, spiral-shaped shells, which protect their bodies, and a large foot – used to crawl along the ground. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They also have a mucous-filled lung that helps them breathe and stay moist and a rasping tongue-like organ called a radula, used for feeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Different species of snails commonly found in gardens<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are many different species of snails commonly found in UK gardens, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n