What about snails: chemistry or nature?
When thinking about what to use on plants, it is worth bearing in mind that their presence in the garden is not always undesirable. for they eat rotting or dead parts of plants, weeds and their seeds, they are also food for other animals. However, when there are too many of them, our plants in the garden are exposed to serious danger, because they can eat whole leaves and nibble plants in such a way that they lead to their death. The easiest way to eradicate it may seem to be to use a ready-made chemical agent for slugs in the garden. However, it should be remembered that this type of preparation may have a negative effect on natural allies in the fight against eczema, such as hedgehogs or birds. Therefore, if we reach for such a measure, let’s choose a preparation marked with the V symboldue to its low toxicity. Certainly, you should not use aggressive chemistry on your own – it is safer to use the services of a specialized pest control team.
However, before we do this, it is worth trying natural methods to scare or eradicate. It is good to ensure that hedgehogs or birds that feed on snails come to our garden. By hanging nesting boxes for birds, we gain natural allies in the fight against snails. Additionally it is worth spreading the cut leaves of the male cashew on the beds between the plants. Consumption of this plant can cause severe poisoning, so snails avoid it like the plague. There are also species of plants that, although they are not poisonous, snails do not like. Therefore, around flowerbeds with plants that nibble, it is worth planting repellent by smell and taste: onion, garlic, marjoram, chamomile, sage, mustard, thyme, savory or yarrow.
What’s good for snails? Deterrence!
What’s good for? It is worth reaching for natural methods of repelling these pests. Like some plants, they don’t like the smell of coffee and cinnamon. That is why it is worth spraying plants at risk of snail attack with cooled and diluted coffee infusion (preferably with the addition of cinnamon), and just sprinkle coffee grounds around the plants. Baking soda will also act as an invisible obstacle, which is enough to sprinkle around the beds. Laying out has a similar effect copper tapehowever, soda is a much cheaper solution.
What about shellless snails? Traps and natural barriers
And what on without a shell can help? The naked are indeed the greatest threat to our crops. Because they are not protected by a shell, they are very sensitive to dehydration. They absorb water both with food and with the whole body, so they look for places where it is moist. So it’s worth luring them into a homemade trap: lay the old boards in such a way that a damp and shaded place is created under them, putting bait, e.g. lettuce leaves, underneath. Snails will look for a safe shelter here – just empty the trap regularly. An even better way to lure snails is to use beer. We bury a tall jar in the ground, filling it 1/3 with beer. Snails attracted by the smell of the drink will crawl to the trap and fall into it. Here, too, it will be necessary to empty the trap regularly.
Another way to snails, in particular naked, is scattering sand mixed with ashes, gravel, sawdust, crushed eggshells, or a ready-made preparation of this kind around the plants. they do not cope well with moving on loose ground, in addition, this type of dry substances stick to their bodies, promoting dehydration. Basalt meal, which can be sprinkled on plants, has a similar effect. Whereas to get rid of eggs and juveniles, it is worth digging and loosening the soil around the plants: we will then expose them to drying, and additionally they may fall prey to other animals.
What about snails on the plot? Prevention!
What will be the best way on the plot? Definitely prevention. In order to prevent the plague of pests from appearing, it is worth preventing them from settling on our plot, i.e. not creating conditions in which they feel good. Therefore, you should regularly mow lawns, pull out weeds, rake leaves and keep the plot in order (as few potential hiding places as possible). It is good to water the plants only in the morning (snails feed mainly in the evening). It is worth planting spices that repel snails, which will not only protect the plants on our plot, but we will also be able to use them in the kitchen. However, if snails appear in our area, it is good to simply collect them by hand and take them – at least 20 meters outside of our crops, preferably to the meadow.
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Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
