Hello Robert (a.k.a.
Xtremehort)
Xtremehort)
I’ve recently moved from
the cool, humid gardening of Scotland to the arid, sun-scorched earth of
southern Nevada. What an adventure – complete opposites in the gardening world.
the cool, humid gardening of Scotland to the arid, sun-scorched earth of
southern Nevada. What an adventure – complete opposites in the gardening world.
I discovered your blog
while searching for help with plants and I’m enjoying reading your posts and
learning a lot about gardening issues here in the desert. And I spotted your older post on snail
problems and thought your readers might like to know what I tried.
while searching for help with plants and I’m enjoying reading your posts and
learning a lot about gardening issues here in the desert. And I spotted your older post on snail
problems and thought your readers might like to know what I tried.
 |
| Vacant snail shells picture from the reader |
I discovered hostas one
day, while exploring a big gardening exhibition, and decided I had to have
these fabulous plants in my garden. So I
bought several varieties, took them home and had fun planting them out.
day, while exploring a big gardening exhibition, and decided I had to have
these fabulous plants in my garden. So I
bought several varieties, took them home and had fun planting them out.
 |
| Readers Hostas |
Big mistake. It was like
putting up a neon sign saying, “Free Caviar Here Guys” as snails
descended on my garden. Now I should add that I hadn’t seen many snails up to
this point. So how the heck did they
know I had planted hostas? Overnight
they stripped a few of my young plants to almost bare stalks so war was
declared.
putting up a neon sign saying, “Free Caviar Here Guys” as snails
descended on my garden. Now I should add that I hadn’t seen many snails up to
this point. So how the heck did they
know I had planted hostas? Overnight
they stripped a few of my young plants to almost bare stalks so war was
declared.
As we had a variety of
pets at that time, and a resident hedgehog under the shed, I wanted to avoid
using anything that could be toxic.
pets at that time, and a resident hedgehog under the shed, I wanted to avoid
using anything that could be toxic.
I had tried several of the
suggestions you mention in your blog, but without much success. I also tried using:
suggestions you mention in your blog, but without much success. I also tried using:
- crushed egg shells and
coffee grounds mix – limited success. - crushed garlic and coffee
grounds – again limited success. (But
this works well around the base of roses and keeps the bug population down) - chunks of orange and lemon
peel - pieces of slightly
crushed-up aluminum foil around the plant - cocoa bark mulch
But none of these proved
to be good long-term solutions.
to be good long-term solutions.
 |
| Scottish recommendation |
By adding hostas I was
obviously offering 4-star Michelin cuisine, and my garden was rapidly being
overtaken by snails and their extended slug families. So I decided to dig up
all my hostas and put them in large clay pots.
That solved the problem for a short time.
Then I discovered the
perfect answer, after chatting to friends who were gardeners.
perfect answer, after chatting to friends who were gardeners.
Vehicle grease.
It worked 100%. I smeared
Castrol multi-purpose chassis grease, about 2 inches up from the base of each
pot. They couldn’t go through it. And if
you apply a thick layer, it lasts for ages.
Castrol multi-purpose chassis grease, about 2 inches up from the base of each
pot. They couldn’t go through it. And if
you apply a thick layer, it lasts for ages.
For added protection, I
also sat the pots on sharp gravel. At last my hostas started to thrive and look
beautiful.
also sat the pots on sharp gravel. At last my hostas started to thrive and look
beautiful.
Until one day I noticed
familiar munching marks on a few leaves.
That’s when I discovered that snails are clever little blighters. And not easily deterred. They were dropping onto the hostas from
overhanging plants. After a bit of relocation and plant pot checking to catch
the ones that were hiding, I solved that problem too. I’d finally won the war.
familiar munching marks on a few leaves.
That’s when I discovered that snails are clever little blighters. And not easily deterred. They were dropping onto the hostas from
overhanging plants. After a bit of relocation and plant pot checking to catch
the ones that were hiding, I solved that problem too. I’d finally won the war.
I hope this might help some of your readers with their snail
problems. Happy gardening and thanks for
all your grand advice.