In no time, snails can eat up flower boxes and laboriously grown vegetables on the balcony. The good news is that snails on the balcony are relatively easy to control. Find out below what you can do against the snails.
How can I effectively combat and prevent snails on the balcony?
The best way to combat snails on the balcony is to collect and dispose of them, install snail fences or set up snail traps. Spreading the soil on foil and using snail protection barriers have a preventative effect.
What to do about snails on the balcony?
There are a number of measures to combat snails on the balcony. However, not all of them are effective or recommended. Below is a table of the recommended measures and their effectiveness:
| Theoretical effect | Efficacy | |
|---|---|---|
| Copper tape | Reported to be toxic when in contact with snail slime | Controversial; on the balcony only makes sense as a preventive measure |
| Eggshells | Supposed to be too sharp for snail feet ->That's nonsense, since snails can even crawl over razor blades thanks to their mucus layer | Not effective |
| Coffee grounds | Supposed to deter snails and even have a deadly effect | Low; On the balcony it only makes sense as a preventive measure |
| Beer Trap | Attracts snails; the animals drown | Generally controversial as more snails are attracted; but an option on higher balconies |
| Slug pellets | Snails eat the poison and die | Very effective but very harmful to other small animals, pets and even children!!!! |
| Snail traps | Snails are attracted and go to the trap; will be disposed of | Very useful on the balcony |
| Collect | Snails are collected and disposed of | Best option!!! |
Some measures that are controversial in the garden because they attract more snails are definitely an option on higher balconies, as there is no risk of attracting more snails.
When and how do I collect snails on the balcony?
The best measure, as I said, is to collect the snails. This is best done attwilightorafter a downpour when the snails are most active.
- Take a tall bucket so that the snails take some time to crawl out.
- Unless you feel disgusted, collect the snails without gloves if possible. Snail slime is extremely he althy for the skin and your hands will thank you.
- Dispose of the snails in the organic waste bin or in a field - definitely far enough away from gardens that could infest the snails.
How to prevent snails from coming to the balcony?
If you take precautions, you can save yourself a lot of trouble. Snails almost always get onto the balcony through contaminated soil. To prevent this, you can spread thesoil on foil on the balconyand leave it in the sun for a day. This kills pests and dries out the eggs. Birds also feast on any snail eggs.
You can protect individual balcony boxes and flower pots from snail infestation usingsnail fences.
Tip
Hunger makes you evil
Where there is a lack of food, all snail barriers are of no use. When there are snails on the balcony, the food supply is very limited and snails will not be stopped by home remedies to satisfy their hunger. Therefore, snails on the balcony must either be collected and disposed of or killed. You can't drive them away because: Where should they go?
