How to Kill Snails With Vinegar

Snails are closely related to slugs, another common garden pest.

Snails are common garden pests from the mollusk family. Snails feed on plants by chewing holes in flowers, leaves and stems. Snails require plenty of moisture to thrive, and hide in cool, dark places during the day to keep from drying out. Common snail remedies such as salt and metaldehyde can harm plants and animals. Attract snails with a trap and use white vinegar as a safe, effective pesticide.

Things You'll Need

• Small wooden plank or melon rind
• Spray bottle
• White vinegar

Instructions

1. Set a wooden plank or inverted melon rind on damp soil in your garden. This provides a cool, dark place for the snails to hide.

2. Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar.

3. Lift the wooden plank or melon rind the next day and spray any snails with a liberal amount of vinegar.

4. Move the wooden plank or melon rind to another area in your garden. Repeat lifting and spraying each day as needed until the snail problem subsides.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not spray vinegar directly onto plants.

References

• WinterSown: Slugs and Snails
• University of California: Snails and Slugs