Snails are the nightmare of every gardener – they feed quickly and can completely ruin many days of work. Therefore, it is worth protecting yourself against them now. What’s more, you don’t have to use expensive, specialized products, just what most of us have at home.
The moment when the soil temperature exceeds the threshold of 5 degrees Celsius and the air becomes more humid is the time when they begin to leave their winter hiding places. In early spring, their activity focuses on the most juicy and young plant tissueswhich are extremely sensitive to damage in this growth phase. Therefore, it is worth reacting early – securing crops in March will help slow down the development of the snail population and avoid damage that is difficult to control.
One of the most frequently repeated pieces of advice among gardeners is: using caffeine as a natural blocker against uninvited guests. Leftovers from morning coffee can become an effective weapon, as long as we know how to dose them appropriately.
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Numerous studies have proven that caffeine is a toxic substance to the nervous system of mollusks. Its operation can be divided into three stages:
- Deterrence – the intense smell discourages snails from staying near protected places.
- Disturbing vital functions – caffeine negatively affects the movement efficiency of snails.
- Elimination – in very high concentrations, caffeine leads to the death of pests.
Nevertheless Obtaining a solution at home with a concentration of approximately 2% that would be lethal to snails is difficult – a standard cup of the drink is usually 20 times weaker. Therefore, in the garden, coffee mainly serves as a deterrent. It is also worth remembering that excess grounds may acidify the soil and inhibit the germination of plants, so they should be used sparingly and sparingly. It is best to use this method after each heavy rainfall. The grounds themselves can also be mixed with a small amount of soil.
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Effective snail control often requires combining several methods, especially if the invasion is larger. A good option are copper wires that generate an electrochemical microreaction in contact with snail mucus, which effectively discourages him from crossing the barrier.
When choosing ready-made preparations, it is better to choose those with iron phosphate – this ingredient is safe for birds, hedgehogs and pets. It is also important regular removal of potential hiding placessuch as old boards, piles of stones or thick weeds. This allows you to naturally limit the living space of pests.
Egg shells are a good, but short-term effective option – they soften quickly when exposed to moisture, so they would need to be refilled frequently to be effective. Despite its popularity, it is better to avoid salt – it destroys the soil structure and harms plants. In addition it is worth avoiding watering the flowerbeds in the evening, because moisture remaining overnight is an open invitation to feeding snails.
