In my yard, the snails and slugs are just waiting to mow down my seedlings and flowers – especially lupine and delphinium. It can be devastating to put so much work into your garden and overnight they can completely clear out an area and leave you with stubs.
My yard is really loaded with a couple different types of snails, plus slugs. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to get rid of them (they hitchhike into my yard in nursery plants) but I’m getting better at keeping them from destroying my plants.
As a gardener, few things are more frustrating than finding chewed up leaves and holes in the foliage of your prized plants. If you’ve noticed this type of damage on your American beautyberry shrub, you likely have a snail infestation. While chemicals may seem like the easiest solution, you can actually banish these slimy pests naturally and protect your shrub without toxins. In this article, we’ll explore home remedies that use common household items to repel snails and keep them from munching on your beautyberry.
Understanding Snail Behavior
Before implementing controls it’s helpful to understand what attracts snails to gardens so you can curb those factors. Snails thrive in damp conditions and are most active at night when humidity is higher. They lay transparent egg clusters in soil, compost, and other moist organic material. The baby snails that emerge feed on tender new plant growth and can decimate seedlings literally overnight.
Controlling snails involves breaking their life cycle by making the environment less hospitable for them to feed, breed and lay eggs. Let’s look at natural ways to accomplish this goal.
Repelling Snails With Natural Household Items
Crushed Eggshells
Eggshells create a gritty, sharp barrier that snails avoid crawling over Rinse used shells, dry fully, then crush into a powder Sprinkle the powder around the base of plants and anywhere you’ve seen snails. Reapply after rain or watering.
Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds repel snails due to caffeine. Scatter wet grounds around the soil surface. As they dry out, reapply fresh grounds. You’ll also boost soil nutrients!
Diatomaceous Earth
This powder of natural sediment cuts into snails’ soft bodies, causing dehydration. Lightly dust the top of soil and leaves, taking care not to inhale the dust. Reapply after rain or watering.
Copper Tape
Snails are repelled by copper when it reacts with their slime. Wrap strips of copper tape around pots or plant bases to create barriers.
Trapping Techniques to Catch Snails
Beer
Snails are attracted to beer. Set out shallow dishes filled with cheap beer and they’ll crawl in and drown.
Lettuce Leaves
Damp lettuce makes great snail bait. Place leaves around plants in the evening and collect snails off them in the morning.
Boards
Prop up boards or shingles near plants. Snails will congregate underneath during the day. Collect them from there and dispose.
Preventive Measures
Once you’ve tackled the existing snails, implementing some simple practices will discourage reinfestations:
- Remove snail hiding spots like boards, stones, and dense groundcovers.
- Clear away leaf litter and organic debris.
- Water plants at soil level in the morning to minimize moisture on foliage.
- Attract birds that feast on snails, like ducks, chickens, and songbirds.
- Handpick any snails you spot and drop into a bucket of soapy water.
- Use drip irrigation instead of sprinklers to keep foliage dry.
- Maintain a perimeter of bare soil or gravel around garden beds.
Be Vigilant Against Repeat Invasions
Keep a close watch on your American beautyberry shrub and take action at the first sign of damage. Reapply natural deterrents and traps to ensure snails don’t get reestablished. With some diligence using these chemical-free methods, you can protect your beautyberry’s graceful foliage from becoming snail food!
Frequency of Entities:
snails: 21
American beautyberry shrub: 7
plants: 6
foliage: 5
soil: 4
eggs: 2
compost: 2
garden: 2
water: 2
leaves: 2
chemicals: 1
households: 1
barriers: 1
toxins: 1
humidity: 1
seedlings: 1
organic: 1
copper: 1
tape: 1
beer: 1
lettuce: 1
boards: 1
birds: 1
debris: 1
gravel: 1
vigilant: 1
diligence: 1
Snail & Slug Battle Tips
Keep areas clear of hiding spots. Clean up any areas that stay moist and cool (yes, I know that isn’t always easy!).
Whenever possible, only water in the morning so snails/slugs can’t enjoy your moist garden at night to get around.
Use a flashlight in the evening to pick them up. If you or your neighbors have chickens, they will be much appreciated!
How to Get Rid of Snails (4 Easy Steps)
FAQ
How to get rid of snails on hibiscus?
What is eating my Beautyberry bush?
Are beautyberry bushes low maintenance?
Callicarpa americana, the American beautyberry shrub, is a delightful plant that will reward you with stunning purple berries that last through the fall and winter. If you are growing beautyberry bushes in their native region, these plants are low-maintenance.
Do beautyberries repel insects?
Although the American beautyberry’s leaves may help to repel insects from your garden, the plant’s charming berries work as wildlife magnets throughout the fall and winter! That’s because beautyberries are rather nutritious and hold lots of moisture, too.
How do you care for a beautyberry plant?
Water well when young. No need to fertilize. In warmer areas, this shrub may be pruned back in late winter to about two feet less than the desired size. Beautyberry is drought-tolerant once established, though it performs better with more hydration. And as we mentioned above, if you plant it in full sun, you’ll need to really dump the water on it.
Do beautyberries need special care?
Although young beautyberries require special care, established plants are also surprisingly easy to take care of. The charming beautyberry is a woody deciduous shrub. This low-maintenance perennial is best known for the beautiful purple berries it produces.