Q. I have been noticing tiny little snails climbing up my
red brick planter during the fall. I have thousands of those shells all through
my planters and yard. My roses have now developed powdery mildew disease which
they never have in the past. My lawn is thinning I think because of the snails.
I have shade in my yard because of some older mulberries. I sent you some
pictures of my yard.
red brick planter during the fall. I have thousands of those shells all through
my planters and yard. My roses have now developed powdery mildew disease which
they never have in the past. My lawn is thinning I think because of the snails.
I have shade in my yard because of some older mulberries. I sent you some
pictures of my yard.
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| Readers yard with shade |
A. After seeing the pictures and reading your description
I think that the shade is contributing to a number of things going on.
Increased shade causes plants and the soil to stay wet longer.
I think that the shade is contributing to a number of things going on.
Increased shade causes plants and the soil to stay wet longer.
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| Snail shells from another readers question |
Staying wet longer favors snails
and slugs. Increased shade increases the probability of powdery mildew and
other diseases. Increased shade causes lawns to thin and eventually fail as
well.
and slugs. Increased shade increases the probability of powdery mildew and
other diseases. Increased shade causes lawns to thin and eventually fail as
well.
You will
see an improvement in everything if you remove some lower limbs of the trees.
Limb removal will allow more light on your property and improve the roses,
reduce disease problems, thicken the lawn and reduce snail problems.
see an improvement in everything if you remove some lower limbs of the trees.
Limb removal will allow more light on your property and improve the roses,
reduce disease problems, thicken the lawn and reduce snail problems.
Cool season lawn grasses like
fescue and ryegrass needs direct sunlight at least five hours a day or filtered
sunlight so that no more than 50% of the lawn is shaded. Shading lawns and
flowering plants more than this is going to hurt them.
fescue and ryegrass needs direct sunlight at least five hours a day or filtered
sunlight so that no more than 50% of the lawn is shaded. Shading lawns and
flowering plants more than this is going to hurt them.
Shady lawns are not vigorous
enough to withstand any kind of traffic. The lawn will thin and bare soil will
appear in the more shaded areas.
enough to withstand any kind of traffic. The lawn will thin and bare soil will
appear in the more shaded areas.
Plants that flower, like roses,
have fewer blooms and the blooms will be poor quality in the shade. Powdery
mildew loves the shade. Powdery mildew also likes splashing water. If there is
overhead irrigation that is splashing on the leaves of roses and they are
shaded, it will spread powdery mildew from rose to rose.
have fewer blooms and the blooms will be poor quality in the shade. Powdery
mildew loves the shade. Powdery mildew also likes splashing water. If there is
overhead irrigation that is splashing on the leaves of roses and they are
shaded, it will spread powdery mildew from rose to rose.
Snails
are difficult to control. The usual control methods are trapping and baiting.
Trap snails by placing wet newspapers or cardboard between the plants. When the
sun comes up, snails and slugs like to have parties under wet paper or
cardboard.
are difficult to control. The usual control methods are trapping and baiting.
Trap snails by placing wet newspapers or cardboard between the plants. When the
sun comes up, snails and slugs like to have parties under wet paper or
cardboard.
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| Powdery mildew on rose |
Pick them off of the underside
of the cardboard or from the ground and put them in a plastic bag for disposal.
If you do this on a regular basis, say weekly, you will start to put a dent in
their population.
of the cardboard or from the ground and put them in a plastic bag for disposal.
If you do this on a regular basis, say weekly, you will start to put a dent in
their population.
Snail and slug baits also works
well on snails. These are typically spread around the plants periodically and
according to the label. These can be purchased in most nurseries and garden
centers or online.
well on snails. These are typically spread around the plants periodically and
according to the label. These can be purchased in most nurseries and garden
centers or online.