Snails are flourishing this year as never before. An early warm spring and quite wet is when the snail thrives best. But the main cause of the nuisance lies in the soil. Indeed, soil life is in a dramatic state. As a result of too much nitrogen, Dutch soil contains fewer and fewer fungi and bacteria, soil insects and worms. A snail lays an average of five hundred eggs, and when it is swarming with life, most of the snail eggs are eaten. But so that is currently no longer the case….

Please note that the slug is harmful to your garden and crops; its companion with a house is a harmless waste eater.

A few tips to combat slug infestation:

• Manual removal: Collect snails in the early morning or evening when they are most active. Use a flashlight and a bucket of water with some soap to remove them.
• Natural enemies: Attract natural enemies such as birds, hedgehogs, frogs and toads by hanging birdhouses and creating shelters with wood piles or stones.
• Barriers: Use copper tape around pots and raised beds. Egg shells and coffee grounds can also deter snails.
• Beer traps: Place small pots or bowls in the ground and fill them with beer. Snails love beer and drown in it.
• Biological control: Use nematodes that infect and kill the slugs or iron phosphate-based slug pellets that are safe for other animals and the environment.
• Plants that repel: Plant herbs such as thyme, rosemary, sage and garlic. Snails do not like their strong smell.

This approach effectively protects your garden from slugs. Good luck!