How to Get Rid of Snails
Snails can consume up to 40 percent of their weight and do considerable damage to your garden. They become active when the spring weather starts to warm, and stay out and about until fall, when they return to hibernation. They are hermaphrodites, possessing both male and female sex organs, which increases their likelihood of mating and laying eggs. Their shells are large enough to contain their entire bodies, making them able to survive periods of dryness; they retract into their shells and seal off the openings to preserve moisture. They are well-suited for survival, and can easily take over your garden. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Remove snails from your garden by hand. They are more active at night when it's cooler, so look for them with a flashlight after dark. Place them in a bucket and relocate them far enough away from your garden to make their return unlikely.
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Use a soil cover that's dry and rough to deter snails. Rather than using soft organic mulch that attracts snails, try pebbles with jagged edges instead. Their surfaces are too rough for a snail's liking, and will discourage shelled visitors from approaching your garden plants.
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Create a border of crushed eggshells around the perimeter of your garden, ensuring that there are no gaps to allow the snails to pass through. Eggshell pieces are sharp enough to harm snails and will deter them from crossing.
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Use beer traps to drown the snails if you don't mind killing them. Wash tin cans, dig holes in the soil the same size as the cans, and insert them into the soil so that the open ends are level with the surface of the soil. Pour enough beer in each can to attract the snails and drown them when they enter.
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References
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