How to avoid snails in the garden

Wondering how to avoid snails in the garden, like many gardeners, is a common gardening conundrum. First and foremost it is worth remembering that slugs and snails have been recognised as beneficial to gardens and no longer classed as garden pests. Although if they are nibbling away at your precious plants, you may feel otherwise! Because they are good for biodiversity, preventing snails in the garden and deterring them from getting to your plants is the best course of action and organically doing so is all the better. We have found some ways that can really help, so give these a try. 

Don't use pesticides

There are many natural ways to avoid snails in the garden. Please don't use chemicals. They will not only do harm to the snails but will also affect your plants' growth and soil's health. Applying these tips is the best way to prevent snails in your garden. Please visit our garden centre in Esher, Surrey and Titchfield for beloved evergreen plants, shrubs, fruit trees, perennials and any garden tools you'll need for garden jobs.

Use water and garlic

One of the best ways that are backed by some of the most expert breeders and growers is the garlic and water solution. It is a natural way to deter both slugs and snails, which won't do any harm to the environment.

• Boil two full bulbs of garlic in a saucepan of water.
• Squash the bulbs down to get as much of the garlic juice out as you can.
• Pour the moisture through a sieve and dilute it to spray or water your plants using two tablespoons in 5 litres of water.
• Ideally, use once a week and after rainfall. 

Eggshells and coffee grounds

Well-known ways to deter snails and slugs are to use broken eggshells and coffee grounds. Crushed eggshells are an annoyance to slugs, and they don't slide over them well at all, so they tend to turn around and slide away! Both the smell and texture of coffee grounds are meant to do precisely the same thing, although this one has a mixed reaction from gardeners as it works for some and not others. 

Rough mulching 

Just like eggshells which are rough, snails do not like to make their way over anything rough, or that can get stuck on them. So rough mulch and using grit can work really well. Think of anything that is relatively small, rough, even spiked and get some of that around your plants and in your plant pots. 

Copper rings and tape

For newly planted seedlings or young plants, especially, copper rings placed around the base of the plant are a great way to keep snails away. If you are growing in pots and containers, using copper tape stuck around the pot will help to deter them come up the pot and eating your plants. 

As you see, there are many options to prevent snails from your garden plants without using chemicals. For slug deterrent options, visit us in store in Esher, Surrey and Titchfield.