How to get rid of gastropods: Easy ways to remove snails from your garden
IF you’ve ever looked in a garden you’ve probably seen a snail or slug at least once.
But did you know snails and slugs aren’t insects? They are infact gastropods!
What is a gastropod?
The gastropods are commonly known as slugs and snails.
They both belong to the mollusk phylum, and have similar bodies and bilolgy.
The main difference between the two is that slugs are without the snail’s external shell.
They both move forward with a muscular “foot” that secrets a slimy mucous to help them glide.
Both types of gastropods prefer cool temperatures and are most active during th night.
When temperatures are high, they’ll seek areas of shade to be away from the heat and bright light.
During cold weather, they will hibernated under anything that can provide shelter.
How to get rid of gastropods
Copper
The natural salts that form from oxidizing copper also act as a repellent.
You can use uncoated copper flashing, banding, and mesh are all suitable options.
An adhesive copper tape is a great option as it will stay place.
Vaseline and Salt
Smearing the underside of planter rims with vaseline and salt work wonders as a repellent.
This is because they tend to be a favourite hiding spot for Gastropods.
Coffee Grounds
Caffeine tends to be highly toxic to snails and slugs.
Simple sprinkle a little used coffee ground around the edge of a flower and veggie beds.
Be sure to use full caffeine and not decaf.
Barriers
As Gastropods have delicate stomach lining, any sharp materials will irritate their undersides.
You can build a small three ich wide barrier using crushed egg shells, or crushed oyster and clam shells.
What do gastropods eat?
Gastropods can feed on many things in your garden.
They tend to chomp on leaves with the help of its microscopic ribbon-like teeth, called radula.
Land gastropods usually consume fungi, soft bark, rotting vegetation, stems, algae, animal waste, and leaves.
They also eat shells, eggs or flesh of other snails and slugs.
These species feeds on a huge range of vegetables, and seedlings, and such other soft plants.
As well as snack on flowers, leaves and stems using their sharp tongues.