It was recently sown and showed its first leaves a few days ago. Now these have been completely eaten away. The traces of slime suggest snails. Can the comfrey still be saved or does this mean its end?
Is comfrey at risk of being eaten by snails?
If snails have no other delicate food sources available,eattheyfoodlike to eat comfreyfullIf the plant is already established and has plenty of leaf mass, thendoes it harmhardlyEven if there was radical damage, comfrey would sprout again.
Do snails like comfrey?
Snails like comfreynot particularly, but will still eat it if there are no other suitable plants available to them as food. The rough texture of the comfrey leaves and the alkaloids and allantoin they contain don't make the snails' mouths water, but they can tolerate a portion. However, if the comfrey has freshly sprouted, the content of unappetizing substances is low and snails find it much more attractive to eat.
How can you use comfrey to repel snails?
Plant comfrey in the directneighborhoodofcropsthat aresusceptible to slug damage such as sunflowers, marigolds, dahlias or zinnias. Experience shows that snails (particularly slugs) are put off by a fully grown comfrey and prefer to move further along the path than directly past it.
Does comfrey tolerate snail damage?
NormallytoleratesSymphytumSnail eating Snails mainly eat the leaves and stems of younger specimens, which is not a problem as the plant also dies can be driven out again after a radical attack by snails. It has its roots to thank for this, which extend deep into the ground and have stored enough energy to sprout again.
How can you protect comfrey from snails?
If you have specifically planted comfrey and don't want to see it on the snail menu, you can put asnail fence around the comfrey. Other barriers such as sand, needles of conifers, lime and sawdust can also keep the snails away from the comfrey.
What can I do with eaten parts of the comfrey plant?
You can cut off the eaten parts of the comfrey plantanduse them for manure. Comfrey is an excellent fertilizer that is suitable for numerous garden plants.
Tip
Looking for snails: Look under the leaves
Snails like the lush leaf mass of comfrey. Its large leaves provide them with valuable shade and they like to relax under them at the foot of the comfrey. So if you're looking for snails, lift the leaves of the comfrey and look underneath.
