The top 3 recommendations and buying guides

Our recommendations

The metal snail fence - consisting of ten one meter long fence pieces and four corner connections - can be easily put together. The sheets should be approx. Extend 15 centimeters into the ground so that they protrude about ten centimeters. If you erect the fence around the garden bed, hungry snails have no chance - they would first have to overcome the 90 degree barrier to get inside. Most Nudibranchs do not manage to do this, as the various product reviews on the Internet show. However, snail infestation can occur if there are still animals within the bed. The snail fence is non-toxic, will last for many years and can be left outside even in winter.

Plant hoods like this snail protective ring are also non-toxic and therefore harmless barrier methods. Of the Snail protection is quick and easy to install, without having to put any components together: simply put the hood over the freshly planted plant, done! The hoods are made of a non-toxic, weather-resistant and recyclable PET plastic and keep the voracious animals away with a downward-curved, circumferential ring. The protective ring not only keeps snails away, but can also be used to protect plants - for example from Young plants from cool weather - use by covering it with a matching plant hat combine.

Slug pellets(€ 7.43 at Amazon *) is the remedy of choice for many gardeners against snails and should therefore not be missing from our list. The blue colored granulate is easy to use and very effective because the active ingredient metaldehyde is fatally toxic to the animals. Unfortunately not only for snails, but also for other animal garden dwellers - dogs in particular are very sensitive - and also for children. Therefore, both children and pets must be kept away from areas treated with slug pellets! Another disadvantage is that the granulate is broken down very quickly by moisture (this creates water and carbon dioxide) and therefore has to be sprinkled every day.

Purchase criteria

Art

Barrier methods: There are various barrier methods that rely on a very simple principle: They should prevent the snails from getting to the plants in the first place. This includes, for example, the snail fence, which is made either of metal or plastic, but also so-called plant hats or hoods. The latter also have the advantage that they protect the plants from bird damage and unfavorable weather conditions at the same time.

Chemical methods: Chemical methods naturally rely on the resistance of chemical substances, although it does not always have to be poison. So-called snail coatings such as the Schnexagon from Lugato also fall into this category. This coating does not kill the animals like the well-known slug pellets, but simply prevents them from getting along.

Snail traps: Snail traps, on the other hand, are designed to catch the snails, although some models are killing traps. If you don't want to kill the animals, you can use a live trap. The snails trapped in it can later be released in nature several kilometers away from the garden

use

As diverse as the different types of snail protection are, just as different are their applications. The most uncomplicated is probably the slug pellets, which you simply sprinkle around the plants - this has other disadvantages. A snail fence, on the other hand, is a bit more expensive to buy and has to be assembled first, but it will last for many years. Traps, on the other hand, have to be set up and emptied regularly - this should be the most effort.

material

Those who opt for a barrier method can choose between metal or plastic snail fences. The latter is cheaper to buy, but metal lasts a few years longer. In terms of effectiveness, however, it does not depend on the material, but on the design and the question of whether there are small gaps somewhere. A weak point in many models are the corners, which are often not buckled. There the snails have a chance of getting through.

durability

In terms of durability, a snail fence is superior to the popular slug pellet: once installed, the bed is protected from the voracious animals for many years. You have to spread slug pellets daily (with a bit of bad luck, several times a day). Even the snail paint has only a short lifespan, as it is usually washed off with the first rain and therefore has to be renewed.

Ecology and toxicity

It cannot be emphasized enough: even if the blue granules look harmless, slug pellets are poisonous. Dogs in particular like to eat the granules and can either suffer from severe symptoms of poisoning or even die from it. Small children also like to try the blue granules, even if bitter substances are usually added to the slug granules. Even wild animals such as birds or hedgehogs can be affected.

frequently asked Questions

Which snails like to eat garden plants?

There are different types of snails in the garden, but not all of them are interested in your plants. Shell snails such as the Roman snail or the common garden tapestry snails are completely harmless to your garden plants. The latter feed primarily on moss and algae. On the other hand, there are many outspoken pests Nudibranchs, especially the red colored Spanish slug.

Are there any useful snails?

In fact, there are useful species of snails, which is why you shouldn't kill all of them. Roman snails, for example, prefer to eat the clutches of nudibranchs and thus keep their populations small. There is also the Großer Schnegel - also as Tiger snails - a native nudibranch species that lives predatory and hunts other nudibranchs.

Which predators do snails have and how do I lure them into the garden?

Fortunately, the voracious nudibranchs have many natural predators which, once established in the garden, limit their numbers. Different birds (e.g. B. Blackbirds and magpies), Hedgehog, Shrews, blindworms and toads like snails to eat. Lure the animals into the garden with hiding places, for example in the form of dense hedges, piles of leaves, wood and stones, etc.

What else can help against snails in the garden?

Generally like Snails no dry surfaces, which is why you should always keep the garden bed clean of weeds. One Mulch cover made of bark mulch, lava rock or other coarse materials also reliably keeps the animals away - in the strawberry patch, straw that is not too finely chopped has proven itself for this purpose. This even provides extra nutrients as it rots over time.

Why shouldn't you set up a beer trap?

The beer trap is an old home remedy from grandma’s times that consists of a glass filled with beer and buried in the bed. The snails are attracted by the smell, fall into the trap and drown. The beer trap is actually very effective, but it has a problem: it not only lures the snails into the trap, but also from far away into the garden.

Can I also hold ducks against snails?

Actually be Ducks repeatedly recommended as a natural measure against the snail plague. The lively animals can be kept well in the garden - as long as you keep them away from the vegetable patches. Ducks namely not only like to eat snails, but also all kinds of greens such as lettuce. In addition, ducks need a lot of space, a spacious stable and a place to swim.

equipment

Copper tape

Pots, tubs and other planters in the garden and on the terrace can be protected from snails with a self-adhesive copper tape. To do this, simply attach the tape once around the pot. Copper tape is also suitable for (smaller) raised beds or for beds with a border. Make sure that the copper tape is at least two inches wide.