Bushy violet-blue flowers adorn the liver balm when it is in bloom. He uses them to enhance many a perennial bed like an artist. Many gardeners know that it is poisonous. But did you know that it is also a popular food for snails?
How do I protect liver balm from snail infestation?
Liver Balm is known to attract snails as they prefer the flavor of the plant. To prevent snails from infesting liver balm, natural barriers or beneficial insects can be used or the plant can be used as an attractant.
This perennial promotes the spread of snails
Snails like to eat liver balm. If you have the choice between it and other perennials, it will definitely be your choice. They love the taste and can smell the liver balm from afar.
Therefore, liver balm promotes the spread of snails. You shouldn't plant this perennial in huge quantities! Unless you like snails, it is also advisable not to plant the liver balm too densely and to allow the soil between the individual plants to dry out from time to time.
Protect liver balm from snails
If you plant liver balm to admire its flowers, you should protect it from snails. It is not always necessary to collect the animals in the evening hours. There are other options such as keeping beneficial insects:
- Hedgehog
- Frogs
- Toads
- Running Ducks
- Design your garden close to nature
- Provide shelter: hedges, dead wood, piles of leaves, bushes
You can also create natural barriers to keep snails away. Among other things, these slimy animals don't like to crawl over anything that's dry like:
- Lime
- Sand
- Rock flour
- Wood ash
- Sawdust
Here are more methods to keep snails away from liver balm:
- Attach a snail fence (at least 15 cm high, with sharp and outward-facing edges)
- regular hoeing of the soil destroys snail eggs
- Frame planting made from aromatic-smelling herbs such as thyme and hyssop
Liver balm as bait for snails
Some gardeners also plant liver balm because they want to use it to keep snails away from other perennials or vegetable plants. The snails prefer liver balm to most other plants. To do this, you should place the liver balm in the immediate vicinity of other endangered plants that are worthy of protection, preferably in several specimens.
Tip
Although snails love liver balm. That doesn't mean it's completely harmless. It is poisonous to us humans.
