Snails pose a major challenge to the hobby gardener. Some species of snails, such as the Roman snail, are protected by law and are considered beneficial insects in the garden, while other reptiles such as slugs are unpopular pests. One thing is for sure – they have no place in vegetable gardens and raised beds. In this article we will explain to you how you can get rid of snails in raised beds using natural means.
Where do snails hide in raised beds?
Feeding spots on crops are a sign of a snail infestation. However, the alleged perpetrators are not always immediately visible. They are between cracks in the wood, in the earth or under stone slabs right next to the raised bed. In order to find the snails, you have to look for the pests in the evening.
Types of snails in the garden: distinguish between pests and beneficial insects in raised beds
Many species of snails are actually useful for the garden. These are for example
- the snails that can be found in gardens near forests. This species of snail prefers calcareous, moist soil. If you find the reptiles in the raised bed, you can attract them with freshly picked lettuce in a bowl and then collect them and release them into the forest.
- The Roman snail is a protected species. The reptiles eat wilting, soft and dead parts of plants. So if you find a snail in the raised bed, this indicates waterlogging or rot. Check the plants and, if necessary, correct the watering.
- Grove snails are also completely harmless and feed on lichens and moss (for example on the wood of the raised bed).
However, there are also pests that you should either get rid of or combat. Particularly problematic is the Spanish slug, an invasive species that comes from Spain and Portugal. It eats crops and the feeding sites often begin to rot. Field snails are also very dangerous for crops and like to help themselves to salads.
Fortunately, there are certain home remedies that help with snail infestation and that are not harmful to the animals. Man
Snail trap with milk carton against red snails
The red snails are probably slugs, which are considered real pests in raised beds. They should be removed as quickly as possible and prevent a new infestation.
You can catch the slugs with a milk carton trap and then relocate them. Proceed as follows: Put 3 tablespoons of oat flakes in a bowl, pour hot water over them and let them soak overnight. Then put the oat flakes in a milk carton (tetra pack) and leave the milk carton in the bed. The snails are fromattracted to the oatmealand crawl into the milk bottle. After a while you can close the full milk carton and relocate the snails.
Make your own snail collar: get rid of mini snails in raised beds
Mini snails in raised beds are actually newly hatched snails. The eggs usually end up in the compost that is used to fertilize the vegetable patch. Distributing these can prove to be a challenge. It is best that they protect your plants. If the snails can no longer find food in the raised bed, they will
The principle is very simple - once you have recognized the signs of an infestation, you can make a snail collar for the young plants yourself. To do this, simply take a large yogurt cup and cut off the bottom. Then push the cup into the soil at least 5 cm deep so that it forms a protective ring around the plants.
Sheep's wool against snails in raised beds
Sheep's wool tape can prevent snails from reaching and eating the vegetables in the raised bed. The tape is wrapped around the plants and secured with earth hooks every 20 cm. Snails have great difficulty getting to the plants because they cannot crawl over the sheep's wool.
Pine needle against small gray snails in raised beds
If you have noticed small gray snails in the raised bed, then they are most likely the slug - a type of slug. It is about 4 cm long and has a yellow body with dark blue stripes. This makes the reptile's body look gray.
Pine needles can provide protection from small gray snails in raised beds. These should form a dense cover on the floor so that the animals cannot crawl on them. The pine needles are a good substitute for eggshells.
Animals and plants against snails
Snails and slugs also have natural enemies. The following animals, birds and insects eat snails:
- ground beetles and their larvae,
- fireflies,
- shrews
- blackbirds,
- Magpies
- Blind crawlers
- Turtles
- Hedgehog
All of the above-mentioned beneficial insects like to stay in a garden that is as close to nature as possible with lots of shrubs, hedge plants, grasses and flowers. In addition, you can set up nesting boxes for the birds and insect hotels for the insects near the raised bed.
