Anyone else dealing with Snails???

15 years ago

I've lived here in our house for 10 years now and just yesterday noticed an invasion of...Snails! Sure, we've had a lot of daily rainfall, the mold level is up there, but snails?

I'm used to scooping up a slug now and then and tossing them into the alley, but I'm surprised to see so many snails. At 1st I thought the little brown bumps on my plumeria branches were tiny nests of some kind. Upon closer inspection, they were snails about the 1/4 the size of dimes. How bizarre.

My question-are snails beneficial or should I grab the spade and give them a toss?

Thanks guys,

Sue.

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Comments (15)

the_musicman
15 years ago
hahaha, I've noticed that too.
My garden seems to have become some kind of Snail-Woodstock.
They are EVERYWHERE.
I haven't noticed any damage to plants, yet...
I know snails can be bothersome to certain crops, but I don't know how much of an impact they have on gardens in general. Never seen so many at once. Strange.
tropicalfreak
15 years ago
Something is easting snails here. I have found empty shells. Birds? Iguanas? Any ideas?

LOL
Tropicalfreak
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barbcoleus
15 years ago
funny you should mention this. I have bunches of snails in my orchids but I don't know if they're damaging them.
atreelady
15 years ago
YES - It's escargot time. hehehe. I don't have the nerve to try it but I think they are supposed to be edible. I have loads of snails and they eat some of my plants and they love strawberries.
Martina DeLuca
15 years ago
Same with me too. They are all over one of my vines and on the trellis. They are not eating it though?? This is the first year I have had these.
butterflygardener
15 years ago
I am brutal with snails and slugs! I use crushed eggshells. I am also experimenting with copper screening in the bottom of pots over the hole to keep them from crawling up from the bottoms. I also go out at night sometimes, flashlight in hand and baggie with a little salt. (okay, maybe I am a little demented, but they are so destuctive!)
*** frogs and toads love them too Cliff, that maybe what is eating yours.
Kat
tony_k_orlando
15 years ago
Snails are my gardens worst problem, but manageable if you use snail bait on a regular basis. If you dont, you will be sorry. They arent on your plants for a 'good reason' !
cycadjungle
15 years ago
Yes, I have had a terrible time with snails in the past. This year hasn't been bad so far, but the ones I have are many times over and inch in dimaeter. They shread my gingers and the softer Agaves like my "Joe Hoaks" I couldn't keep a Joe Hoak in a saleable condition in both 06 and 07. Right after a good rain they would come out in the ealry evening and I would go out on the stomping patrol and take out 100 each night as a goal. After about 10 times of that, the number reduced and this year I am seeing my stomping has paid off. I also know they eat up Philodendrons and they probably like the other Aroids as well. They also eat a lot of things in the garden, but I haven't had a garden since the hurricanes dropped a big tree on my square foot garden plots about 3 years ago and haven't had to worry about that.
solstice98
15 years ago
This year they are eating everything! Huge holes. Everynight I try plucking them off and crushing them in the street, but there are always more. I have finally started using Bug-etta again. I stopped for a while because everyone on this forum pointed out that it can be toxic to pets, but my dogs don't get the run of the garden anyway. I'll limit the use of it.
coffeemom
15 years ago
Possums eat snails,too, don't they? I love possums for that reason.
I used to go out after the rain and handpick the snails and throw them in a ziplock or 2. I used lightweight disposable gloves as they are slimy. If it's a single,I use the toss and stomp method. They love crinums and ground orchids.
I guess I better check the garden.
SaintPFLA
15 years ago
Ugh! I have so MANY slugs and snails right now! They seem to prefer my blue lake beans, vinca and anythin in a pot.

Do egg shells work? I admit -- I've done the 'salt' thing too...felt a little guilty, but didn't lose sleep. Mostly they get tossed over the fence to my neighbor's yard who is not a gardener. I figured, the slugs/snails may help my neighbor with weed control.

I have seen the Starlings (or maybe they are Grackles?) cruising my yard and eating a few slugs. Other than that, I don't know what else to do.
laura1
15 years ago
I've have a lot of slugs/snail this year. Lots of the little snails in the front yard and giant slugs in the back yard. I use the clippers and cut them in half.
I hate getting that slime on my hands...it won't come off!! I'm going to get some snail bail but I haven't gotten around to it. I hate those slimmy buggers.
suegrew
Original Author
15 years ago
You are too funny laura! You actually grab your clippers and cut them in half? Did you know that when you do that, they'll then morph into more? (Just kidding)
Grab the salt shaker. My son loves coming to the rescue and giving those slugs a nice dousing of sodium. Hopefully, their "friends" are watching and get the message.
Good luck,
Sue
annafl
15 years ago
So far, I've only seen a few, but last year I had a lot more and was picking them every dawn and dusk for a while. With the recent rains I'm sure I will find more, so I've already started stomping.

Iron phosphate products (Sluggo or Escar-go!) are safe, non-toxic products that are very effective against snails and slugs if the picking doesn't work. Some say that coffee grounds are effective repellents too, but I don't know if it kills them.
babalu_aye
15 years ago
Last year and the year before I had a terrible problem with snails. The decimated my orchids and begonias to the point that the plants actually died.

This year they are not nearly so bad, I think because with water restrictions I've only been watering one day a week. Before that, the timer on my sprinkler system was broken and it was going off every day. A fine from the city of St Pete finally motivated me to replace the timer and now I'm glad I did!

In addition to less frequent watering, I stomp the ones I see, and I've also used snail pellets that are supposedly not harmful to pets.

I still find them now and then, mostly smaller ones, usually after a good rain.

Anyone else dealing with Snails???

Comments (15)

the_musicman

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Anyone else dealing with Snails???

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