| I am often asked what advice I can give gardeners regarding slug and snail invasions and how to stop them naturally. This is always a tricky question with never an easy answer. Whether eco-oriented or not, gardeners, planters, growers, and allotmenteers are always out for the kill on these two species, the gardens must be perfect, and no one wants these species munching on their crops. I do understand, however – My initial response is usually met with disdain: ‘ Embrace their presence and bring in more wildlife!” It needs to be received. However, finding an absolute natural solution is sometimes very challenging. People forget that snails and slugs are decomposers and recyclers and are a valuable part of the ecosystem. They feed on dead leaves, rotting vegetation, insects, and the like. They clean up the crappy parts of the garden, and yet they are not loved by gardeners. If we attempt to eradicate them from our gardens and allotments thoroughly, we could potentially harm the balance of our ecologies. Gardeners and growers alike are very quick to forget that they serve as part of the natural food chain – birds, snakes, mice, shrews, moles, frogs, toads, slowworms, squirrels and foxes, and hedgehogs love slugs and snails. Snails are just as much of a pest but fare slightly better because they look prettier in the shell. However, robins, magpies, owls, blackbirds, thrushes, starlings, jays and gulls love slugs and snails. While embracing the presence may not be welcomed, it still comes back to doing more to encourage wildlife of an eclectic variety to your green space, especially if you are looking for natural ways to deter slugs and snails. Other natural options include reducing the hiding spaces that slugs and snails enjoy, like containers, tiles, logs, and bark chips. Yet, these locations also serve a gardener well for attracting wildlife. By encouraging more wildlife into your growing areas and green spaces, you welcome more of an eco-balance – the ‘you can’t have one without the other’ so embrace it. Healthy populations of slugs and snails should be seen as hugely beneficial to gardeners. Their presence will naturally introduce and encourage other wildlife needed for our green spaces – like birds and hedgehogs. Hedgehogs are declining rapidly in some areas of the UK. Their fate is not helped by gardeners who insist on using chemical deterrents for slugs and snails, like slug pellets. These pellets remain toxic in species, and the poison then spreads throughout the wild food chain. Introducing wildlife that feeds on slugs and snails is one of the best methods for dealing with their presence. I am no longer against the presence of these molluscs. They are usually found in my compost heap because if l find them anywhere, l put them there, encouraging the slow worm who loves slugs and snails to visit the heap. The hidey holes—logs, containers, pots, and so on—I wrote about are also needed because they encourage frogs, toads, and hedgehogs. The best strategy is to introduce natural pest control tactics and methodologies. |
| Below are methods l have found success with. Planting mint, garlic, sage, lavender, geraniums, fennel, and chives can deter slugs and snails from your borders. Slugs and snails are not impressed with crawling over dry substances like coffee grounds, sand, grit, and ash. This is because these substances can be abrasive and uncomfortable for their soft bodies, which can cause problems for these molluscs. However, if it rains, the ingredients must be located again. Take charge of your garden’s health by ensuring regular maintenance. This includes hoeing over weeds and piles of leaves and/or bark chipping, which slugs especially love to live under. Remove waste areas from your garden, such as isolated bricks, upturned planting pots, old carpet or cardboard, and wood piles, and dispose of them or recycle them into hotels, havens, or hidey holes for wildlife species. You could try hunting and removing slugs and snails by hand on an evening after the rains, and if you have an active compost pile, introduce them to it; chances are they will stay put. Water your plants, shrubs, flowers and vegetables in the morning, as slugs and snails are nighttime foragers and feeders, and it is this time when they are at their most damaging. Encourage more wildlife in your garden, especially species that enjoy eating snails and slugs, such as birds, hedgehogs, and frogs. Build a frog, toad hotel, and even a hedgehog haven, as these species love snails and slugs. Plant sacrificial flowers or vegetables, which are varieties that slugs and snails prefer, to lure the species to them rather than your prized plantings. For example, marigolds, nasturtiums, lettuce, and kale are often attractive to these pests. Finally, consider the possibility of coexistence. By learning to embrace and live with them, you can find a balance in your garden’s ecosystem. Remember, where there is a will, there is always a way. |
The Gardener's Curious Journal 
Very informative! Thank you for sharing, Rory.
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Pleasure Betty 🙂
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I remember when you hunted slugs in your old garden. Times change, and so do tolerances I guess. 😄
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Very true Grandma – 2018, l remember the great snail hunt all too well – however you’ll recall, that l also threw all of those snails into my compost heap alongside the worms 🙂
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