Annuals, Perennials, and Bulbs: Snails and Slugs

Problem
Seedlings are sheared off and eaten, with only the stems emerging from the ground. Silvery trails wind around on the plants and soil nearby. Snails or slugs may be seen moving around or feeding on the plants, especially at night. Check for them by inspecting the garden after dark with a flashlight.

Analysis
These pests are mollusks, and are related to clams, oysters, and other shellfish. They feed on a wide variety of garden plants. Like other mollusks, snails and slugs need to be moist all the time. For this reason, they avoid direct sun and dry places, and hide during the day in damp places, such as under flower pots or in thick ground covers. They emerge at night or on cloudy days to feed. Snails and slugs are similar in appearance, except that the snail has a hard shell into which it withdraws when disturbed. Slugs lay masses of white eggs encased in a slimy mass in protected places. Snails bury their eggs in the soil, also in a slimy mass. The young look like miniature versions of their parents.

Solution
Apply a bait containing metaldehyde in bands around the areas you wish to protect. Also use the bait in areas where snails or slugs might be hiding, such as in dense ground covers, weedy areas, compost piles, or pot storage areas. Before applying the bait, wet down the treated areas to encourage snail and slug activity that night. Repeat the application every 2 weeks as long as snails and slugs are active.