Fighting slugs and snails in your garden

Too many gastropods can wreak havoc in your garden. Slugs and snails feed on plants with a tender and soft texture such as lettuces or flowers. They also attack seedlings, fruits and particularly appreciate roots, bulbs and tubers.

Prevent the appearance of the slug and snail

The approach of autumn is the best time for the hatching of snail and slug eggs. These molluscs enjoy the wet weather because the soil is softer and more humid, favorable to their proliferation. The gardener can therefore find a large quantity of eggs during this period.

When the plants start to sprout, the slugs and snails make short work of them. If they are not yet present in too large numbers in the vegetable garden, you can simply prevent their appearance by:

• Removing plantings and grasses where the vegetation can putrefy from the compost;
• Creating barriers around vegetable gardens and plantations to repel gastropods. Since they need moist soil to move about, sawdust , wood chips, eggshells, ashes, coffee grounds or linen sequins will be highly prized;
• Making mulch using pine needles. They have the advantage of being sharp, perfect for stopping the progression of slugs.

Use natural methods when gardening

When the garden has too many pest snails or slugs, there are a few tricks to consider to limit the damage:

• Limit watering as much as possible;
• Provide protection around plants with thorny branches;
• Spray ammonia and water on the plants and add crushed garlic;
• Using beer to attract snails and keep them away from young plants;
• Create shady and moist areas;
• Keep vegetable waste and peelings;
• Use ferric phosphate , safe for pets.

Read:Do without pesticides:here are the natural alternatives

Attract natural predators

Looking for a very effective trap against slugs and snails without resorting to chemicals? Then you can attract natural predators such as toads, hedgehog, moles, frogs or birds.

You can also use auxiliaries like nematodes that will eradicate slugs. These are invisible worms that will parasitize snails and kill them. You can buy them as a powder to spread.

Finally, ducks and chickens are also recommended to control slugs in your garden.

Recommended products for organic farming

For natural slug biological control, it will be possible to use granules composed essentially of ferramol . They pose no danger to humans, domestic animals or natural predators. They are also non-toxic to nearby plants and crops.

This repellent has the mission to block the production of mucus , allowing these pests to move. Thanks to its resistance to humidity, it is long-lasting. It is recommended to use this natural repellent in the evening, after a rain shower.

Other solutions to fight slug invasion

To eradicate or keep gastropods away from your plantations, other solutions exist such as the use of salt for example. You can scatter it on the ground in order to curb the snails. Near plants, shrubs or flowers, it will also be possible to use coffee grounds . Finally, garlic and onion are known to be very effective solutions for keeping gastropods away but also other insects that can destroy your plants.