How to Get Rid of Snails: 7 Effective Tips!

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Snails are some of the most annoying pests that can invade your garden. They eat away at plants and leave a slimy trail behind them as they go. Snail control is difficult, but not impossible! Keep reading to find out how to get rid of snails with a few simple pest control methods.

What Are Snails?

Snails are a type of mollusk, like a slug. They are most common in moist environments, though they can live just about anywhere! These slimy pests have been around for at least 400 million years and grow up to eight inches long.

Snails and slugs are similar pests. They are both gastropods and can be found in a variety of environments, including gardens.

Why Do I Have So Many Snails In My Yard?

Snails are attracted to moist, humid environments. If you see them in your garden, it’s usually because they’re looking for some food to eat or a nice place to lay their eggs.

They usually look for food and shelter under moist leaves and plants, so there is probably a larger snail population than you think lurking around in your garden.

Snails are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals. They’re capable of eating up to 25% of their body weight in a day!

The brown garden snail is what you’ll most commonly see in your yard. Brown garden snails love a wet climate and moist soil.

Garden snails mostly eat plants – green plants like lettuce or spinach. If there is not a lot of green to eat, garden snails will also eat other plants like flower bulbs.

So, if you have any of these greens, plants, or flowers in your yard, you’ll likely see at least a few snails lurking.

Why Should You Get Rid of Snails?

Snails are a common pest in gardens and landscapes. They have no natural predators, and snail populations can multiply without control. Here are a few reasons to keep snails out of your garden:

• They eat away at your plants. They love to eat your leafy greens, fruits, and vegetables as much as you do. Unfortunately, as snails eat your food, they can often make it unappetizing to harvest and eat for yourself.
• They will reproduce and make themselves at home. The longer you leave them in your garden, the harder they will be to remove. They lay their eggs in moist, dark areas such as your garden bed or mulch. If you have a snail infestation, there is no time to waste getting them out!
• They can spread harmful diseases and parasites. Snails will happily eat anything while they’re munching on your plants, including other pests. Snails and their eggs may carry dangerous pathogens such as E Coli or rat lungworm disease.
• They can contaminate water sources. Snails sometimes feed on feces, spreading intestinal worm infections like schistosomiasis to people who use the same water source for irrigating vegetables.

Snails can lay anywhere between 100 – 800 eggs at once (depending on the species). It’s essential to get rid of any adult snails that you see before they have time to lay eggs in your garden again.

Get them out of your garden ASAP!

How Do I Know If I Have Snails In My Garden?

Snails are usually less of a problem in the vegetable garden, where they can be picked off and dealt with. In flower beds or around trees, snails will often come out at night to eat foliage before retreating underground again during daylight hours.

If you notice your plants looking wilted or damaged after being watered, there’s a chance that you’ve got snails on the loose!

Look Around

A few places you should check to see if you have snails include:

• Garden areas.
• Near leaky pipes that are sheltered from sunlight.
• Pots that haven’t been moved recently.
• Under logs or leaf litter.
• Shady spots near your fencing.

Look for Signs

If you’re not sure if snails have damaged your plants or flowers, start looking for these signs:

• Chewed holes or damage to your plant’s leaves.
• Slimy trails on leaves or other surfaces near plants.
• Dried brown patches where there was once lush green foliage.
• Discarded snail shells in planters and gardens.

If you see these signs, be sure to act immediately.

How to Get Rid of Snails

It can take a little work to keep these pests away, but below are a few methods to help you remove snails from your yard.

1. Physically Remove Them
2. Use A Snail-Killing Formula
3. Snail Traps
4. Plants the Repel Snails
5. Copper Tape
6. Coffee Grounds
7. Prevent Them

Physically Remove Them

One of the most straightforward ways to get rid of snails is physically removing them from the area. This can be done by hand but is also possible with the use of a rake or hoe. Sift through your soil and remove any snail shells you find, as snails will not be able to survive if they are without their shell for too long.

If you remove them by hand, use a cup or bucket to catch the snails, then transfer them somewhere else. If you are using a rake or hoe, be sure that they don’t escape back into your garden and put them in an area where there is no organic material left behind for their shells to cling onto.

Be sure to use gloves when removing these pests by hand.

Use A Snail-Killing Formula

A snail-killing formula will work to kill snails without you needing to touch them.

Many formulas can be used, but most come in the form of a one-time application added directly into an area with high concentrations of slugs and snails. You need to reapply these treatments after some time.

Monterey has developed a snail killer formula with iron phosphate, Sluggo, that is effective and safe for pets.

If you’re looking for an organic formula, we love the Organic Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth Powder from the Diatomaceous Earth Store. It is safe for pets and kids and is 100% organic.

Killing these pests using this method has no detrimental effects on other animals or plants, making it a good choice if your garden contains more than just vegetables!

Snail Traps

This is a quick and easy way to kill snails in your garden. Snail traps are products that use snail bait, usually beer (yes, beer!), as the lure for these pests. Check out this handy beer trap.

You’ll bury the snail trap slightly underground so that the snails have easy access. These traps lure the snails in and trap them. The snail cannot escape from the liquid, and it drowns after a short amount of time.

Snail traps are available to purchase online or at your local garden store. We like the ones we’ve found on Amazon.

Plants That Repel Snails

Snails are known to be attracted to certain plants, so another effective tactic for getting rid of snails is by planting those that will repel them. Some examples include lavender, rosemary, mint, and garlic.

Some of the best plants to repel snails includes the following:

• Lavender: This plant is perfect for repelling snails because of the oils it releases. These oils are too strong for snails to handle, and their natural defense mechanism activates so that they no longer munch on your plants or flowers.
• Rosemary: This herb produces a strong fragrance that is also effective for repelling snails. The oils released from the plant are strong enough to keep snails at bay.
• Mint: Similar to lavender, this plant is in high demand with gardeners because of the many benefits it offers. It’s an excellent natural insecticide and repels bugs like mosquitoes and aphids as well as snails.
• Garlic: You can also try growing garlic in your garden. Garlic is known for its pungent smell that will help keep snails away.

Copper Tape

Copper tape is a common method for snail control. They are another form of barrier against slugs, snails, and other pests designed specifically for gardeners who want to protect their plants without using chemicals.

The science behind this method is still commonly debated. Some people say there’s no evidence that it works, but others use it often and swear by it.

Don’t expect 100% effectiveness with this method, but it is a great way to protect some of your vegetables and plants from slugs.

Lay down copper tape around any plants or vegetables you want to protect from snails, and they won’t cross over the copper to get to your plants. This type of barrier can be installed on the ground around your plants or directly on your plant pots.

Check out this short video to see copper tape working in action.

Coffee Grounds

People often want to know how to get rid of snails with a more organic approach. One of the easiest ways to do this is by spreading some coffee grounds around your garden plants (and potted plants too!) which will deter slugs and snails without any chemicals.

Coffee grounds, when spread around your garden, are thought to make the soil more acidic.

It is thought that the coffee grounds are a natural deterrent because snails have sensitive skin and don’t like to go near anything too acidic.

The acidity in the soil might also make it difficult for slugs or snails to breathe while protecting your plants at the same time.

The best thing about using coffee grounds for snails is how it doesn’t harm the environment or animals (other than slug). You can use old coffee grounds from last night’s pot!

Some opt for other natural methods, such as using sharp egg shells to deter snails.

Prevent Them

Once you’ve gone through the hard work of getting the snails out, the last step is making sure they don’t come back. The most basic method of keeping snails away is by preventing an environment attracts them. Here are a few tips to keep snails from lingering in your yard.

• Keep your garden and backyard clean and well-maintained.
• Remove dead plants from your garden.
• Remove any leaf litter, plant debris, or other food sources that may attract snails or other insects.
• Get rid of standing water near your home so that there’s no place for the snails to mate and lay eggs.

Conclusion

You’ll more than likely need to use as many of these methods as possible to get those snails and slugs out and keep them out.

Keep all of these methods in mind. You most likely will need to use all of these methods to remove snails and slugs and keep them from coming back.

If you’re still having trouble with these critters, you should get in touch with your local pest control company (and save the beer for yourself).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a snail an insect?

Snails are not insects; they’re actually mollusks.

How long do snails live for?

The lifespan of any given snail will depend on its species; some may live as little as six months while others can last up to three years!

Are snails and slugs the same?

Snails and slugs are closely related. Slugs are much larger than snails, and they lack a shell. Snails usually live in wet places such as gardens because they need water to survive, whereas slugs can go without it for a longer period of time.

Are snails good for the garden?

No, snails are not good for the garden. They will eat plants and vegetables, causing a lot of damage!

What animals eat snails?

Typically, animals such as frogs, lizards, and dogs will eat snails lurking in your backyard.