Pests
Slugs and Snails
Solution
Don't get slimed. Get rid of slugs and snails
If the leaves of your plants start to look like a green version of Swiss cheese, snails or slugs could be dining in your garden. They lay their eggs in garden debris, then come out for a few hours at dawn and dusk to turn your plants into doilies. An easy way to control them is to spread some OrthoŽ Bug-GetaŽ Snail and Slug Killer or Ortho® EcoSense™ Brand* Slug & Snail Killer. Here are a few quick tips for controlling snails and slugs in your garden.
Prevention and Maintenance
Don't Let Them Feel at Home
Snails and slugs like cool, moist areas to hang out in and deposit eggs. The underside of garden debris is just about ideal for them. Clear out that debris and your garden suddenly becomes a less desirable slug habitat.
Invite Some Slug-Hunters
Hard as it is to imagine, some creatures love to eat slugs and snails. Toads, spiders, and birds are especially fond of them. Increase the diversity of your garden plants, and you'll attract more of these helpers.
Be a Spring Slugger
Spring is your best time to start to control slugs and snails before they get a toe hold in your garden. Remove old pieces of wood, old leaves, and anything that provides a cool, moist area for them to hide in during the daylight hours. Taking a few simple steps like these can really help to knock them out of your garden.
Slugs and Snails Defined
Snails and slugs are mollusks, which means that they're related to oysters and clams. Snails are the ones with the shells. Both of them secrete mucus, which helps them glide along. They hide in damp, cool areas under logs and leaves during the day, and feed at night or early morning.
