Snails snails snails

Morning!

Any ideas on the best way to deter snails? We get loads & they just love a good munch on my pretty plants. I’ve even planted some primroses in one pot away from everything else on the hope they go to one place, probably a silly idea .
Putting anything around the compost doesn’t work for us as we have 3 dogs that like eating the compost

 

I get thousands of snails around especially on damp nights after rain.

The only thing that actually works in keeping down the numbers, for me, is slug pellets, but with compost eating dog's, not really an option .

A torch and two bricks.
Do you have any French friends?

 

Take up Morris Dancing and practice on damp nights.
There are nematodes for slugs, but these don't work well for snails.
Snails will also find there way back from the neighbour's gardens so throwing them over the fence doesn't help.
Encourage thrushes and ground beetles as both eat snails.
Snails like young growth so get your plants as big as possible before planting out.
For special plants nightly patrols are the only real answer, removing hiding places can also help.

 

If you want to save on beer, a solution of Bovril seem to be a good way of turning your garden into a slug and snail haven.
Put some out for the foxes and the thing was full of them when I looked later.

 

Stay away from beer traps or stuff like that. Most of the time the slugs will only call in some more buddies.

Wait for a rainy evening or morning, get a bucket filled with soapy water and throw them in there. Once it is full and they stopped moving, down the storm drain they go.

Edit:
They can also be repelled by putting down used coffee grindings or spent tea leaves. Seems like a soft squishy underbelly and lots of slime isn't ideal if you want to crawl over highly toxic caffeine.
But unless you have a severe addiction, this wil probably only work for a few select high-value plants. Sometimes I put a bin next to the coffee machine at work with a sign on it "dispose your old coffee grounds here". Gives me a lot more ammunition in the neverending war against those slimy invaders.

 

I use sand,may stop your dogs eating the compost too..its not cheap

 

Hi John,does it work for anything else as i work at Motorway services and can get coffee grounds from costa unit ? thanks....sorry i know its off topic of thread

 

Has anyone tried this, my kind neighbour gave me half a bag.

 

Hi i use used fresh coffee it works most of the time

 

We have a new method to dispose of slugs and snails……..we have acquired a hedgehog.
I don’t know how he got in but he/she is a blessing.
We saw these strange poos on the patio firstly thinking it was cats but dissecting the evidence there were bits of snail shells inside.