Snails and slugs always live in our kitchen gardens,even if we do not notice them. Their presence can be guessed by the characteristic eaten leaves of lettuce and cabbage. In addition, another visible sign are traces of mucus, as well as a bunch of feces that they leave behind. Such manifestations indicate that it is time to begin the fight against pests.





How to deal with snails and slugs


There are three ways to combat "spineless enemies":



  • mechanical;

  • ecological;

  • chemical.


The mechanical way means that snails andslugs collected manually - using tweezers. In view of the need of small pests to stay in the daytime in cool and humid places, one should prepare traps for them. To do this, on the tracks between the beds lay out wetted fruit juice or beer old bags, boards, rags, cabbage leaves or burdock. During the day slugs and snails use them as shelters. By evening it will be enough to just collect them. It is also possible to dig a shallow container level with the ground, pour liquid into them, and then cover with rags. To kill shellfish, use a strong saline or soap solution.


For the ecological method of fighting on the siteNatural enemies of snails and slugs - hedgehogs and toads - are attracted. To attract the latter can be done on the site of a small pond, and the first can be attracted by dog ​​food. To ensure that your hedgehogs and toads live permanently, you need to equip them with shelter for wintering.



In the fight against pests, assistants arebirds. Starlings, thrushes, wagtails and jays willingly eat slugs and snails. In order to attract birds to the site, you can use birdhouses and feeders. If you accustom feathered friends to feed in the garden in the winter, they will continue to do so in the summer.


Finally, you can apply the chemicalmethod of struggle. For example, you can use methylaldehyde. This chemical attracts and destroys mollusks. In addition, "Thunderstorm" and "Meta" are effective in the form of blue granules, packaged in sachets. One pack is designed for processing 2 m2. All snails and slugs will slip into this small territory, after which they will inevitably perish. It is worth remembering that methaldehyde is a poison dangerous to humans and animals, and therefore it is worth learning how to deal with snails and slugs more safely.


Effective means against slugs and snails in the garden


For soft-bitten enemies, lime orsuperphosphate. It is enough to fill them in 2-3 strips with a distance of 15 cm. These substances quickly absorb moisture and mucus from the surface of the pest's body, which immobilizes them.



Shellfish do not like the smell of spicy herbs. If you plant parsley, sage, rosemary, garlic or laurel on the perimeter of the garden, it will scare away from the beds of creeping enemies. You can also spray the garden with bitter pepper or mustard. The usual coffee, if you dilute 2 tsp. powder for 200 g. boiling water. It will not be pleasant to them and nettles, if it is cut off and put on beds.


Use a special trap for slugs andsnails. To do this, take the old bowl and cover with an umbrella-roof. Such a trap should be installed in the ground in such a way that the entrances to it are at the level of the ground surface. This bowl can be filled with fruit juice or beer - you need the liquid to have an attractive scent. Regularly in the morning do not forget to check and empty these traps.


Katerina Sergeenko

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