Snails overwinter in frost-free or protected locations in the garden. Find out below why snails don't freeze to death and how you can fight them in winter.
What do snails do in winter and how can you fight them?
In winter, snails hibernate or hibernate to escape the cold temperatures. Many seek frost-free winter quarters or use antifreeze in their blood. Snail control is possible in winter by digging up and using beneficial insects such as hedgehogs, chickens or geese.
What do snails do in winter?
Some species of slugs die in the fall and lay eggs beforehand, but most snails have developedOverwintering strategies:
- Many species of shell snails seek out frost-free winter quarters at the beginning of winter (e.g. deeper layers of earth) and close the shell entrance with a layer of lime.
- Other species of snails have antifreeze in their blood and thus prevent their bodies from freezing.
The latter snails wake up when temperatures are milder and go in search of food. In general, it can be said that snails hibernate or hibernate. This means that they significantly slow down their body functions and eat little or no at all.
How do you fight snails in winter?
Since snails are not at all or barely active in winter, the time is ideal to fight them:
- Dig up your garden on frost-free days. This will expose snail eggs, snails and the eggs and larvae of other pests and allow you to collect and dispose of them.
- Place treats such as lettuce near overwintering sites such as woodpiles, piles of leaves, compost, etc. and collect hungry snails in the evening or morning. This is especially useful at the end of winter when the snails wake up from their hibernation.
How do I use beneficial insects against snails in winter?
The following beneficial insects eat snails in your garden:
- Hedgehog
- Chickens
- Geese
- carrion beetle
- moles
- Harvestmen (snail eggs)
Do not remove piles
Do not sift through or remove piles of leaves or wood in winter!hedgehogsoften hibernate in it. These beneficial insects will help you fight snails: snails and snail eggs are at the top of hedgehogs' menu.
Chickens, birds and geese against snails
Chickens, geese and birds also love eating snails. If you have the opportunity to “borrow” these animals, you can send them to your garden after digging. You can attract birds to your garden with feeders.
Tip
Which snails are beneficial and which are pests?
Not all snails are pests! Shell snails are useful in most cases because they only feed on dead plant parts or even snail eggs, such as the Roman snail. Therefore, only fight slugs such as slugs that tamper with your plants.
