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Slug and Snail Control

Get Rid of These Common Garden Pests

Slug and snail control. Find out how to keep them under control.

Slug and snail control for your garden. Find out how to keep them under control.

The main difference between a slug and a snail is that a snail has a shell to help protect them when it’s dry and hot. They are also in different families of the gastropods.

A slug and snail infestation can do real damage to your gardens especially vegetables. They love to eat roots, tubers, seedlings, and young plants.


Snail and Slug Control

Snail and Slug Control


There are many ways to get rid of slugs and snails. Here are a few ways:


  • Slugs and snails have many predators, hedgehogs, toads, and birds being the main ones. It’s very beneficial to encourage these slug and snail predators and many others like snakes and ground beetles into your yard and gardens. Even ducks and chickens will eat slugs but they might dig up your garden a little.
  • Like aphids and Mealybugs, you can hand pick the slugs and snails off your plants and put them in a container of soapy water or rubbing alcohol. You would have to go at night because that is when they are more active.
  • You can also make a trap for slugs and snails. Turning a flower pot upside down and put something under it to lift it enough for them to crawl under and hide during the day. You will have to check it every day and put them in some soapy water to kill them.
  • Try drowning them in a shallow bowl of beer. Bury the bowl to the top edge so they will be able to crawl into it. They will drown in the beer. Again, check it every day and dispose of them.
  • Wrapping copper wire around your plants is another way to detour snails and slugs away. The copper gives off an electric charge that they don’t like.
  • You can also use things like a vinegar and water mix or sprinkle salt directly on them to get rid of slugs and snails.

As you can see there are several natural ways to get rid of garden snails and slugs. 


However, they have their benefits as well. They are part of the earths natural balance.

Besides becoming prey for a number of animals and insects, they also recycle any organic matter that comes from plant debris and other living organisms. It's only when garden snails start to eat our plants that they need to be dealt with.

Garden snails carrying it's baby's on it's back.

Slug and Snail Info

Did You Know:

When garden snails and slugs are coming out of hibernation looking for moisture to live in, they can be heard crawling under shrubs when the plant leaves are starting to come out.

When met with challenging surroundings, snails can go into their shell and can become dormant for up to 4 years.


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