Eco-friendly snail protection works with snail fence and snail collar. We give tips on how to build it yourself.
We invest a lot of effort and time in our beloved garden and are only too happy to share the joy it brings us with others. Shell snails are also welcome, because they usually only eat withered leaves and other plant parts that are no longer quite as crunchy. On the other hand, we don't like to share the beds with slugs. Because they passionately nibble on fresh plants and fruits overnight. This creates nasty surprises in the morning. You can counteract this in an environmentally friendly way with snail fences and snail collars: These lock out snails and let them live.
How do snail fences and snail collars work?
For an explanation, it is worth taking a look at the snail's locomotion mechanisms. She propels herself with an undulating motion of the sole of her foot, sliding on secreted mucus. This creates a negative pressure, which is why it can climb up smooth surfaces. This adhesion mechanism is disrupted by a smaller contact surface. Snail fences and snail collars take advantage of this. Due to its special geometric shape, the material is so narrow that pintos rightly fear that they will not be able to find a foothold there. The edge of the fence is bent twice at a 90° angle at the transition to the fold, which poses a danger to the animals. The snails therefore avoid passing these obstacles - especially upside down, so as not to challenge gravity.
Snail fences against slugs
Slug Fences are mechanical barriers that enclose an entire bed. To get inside, snails would have to overcome this obstacle. However, this is difficult because of the structure of the fence described above - as long as care is taken that there are no gaps in the snail fence and no plant parts hang over the barrier, similar to a bridge.
Tip: By the way, there are also plants against snails,which are avoided by the little animals and sometimes even drive them away.
Advantages and different forms
Snail fences made of metal - they are also known as snail plates - and snail fences made of plastic are commercially available. Although those made of galvanized sheet steel are expensive, they do not rust, withstand all kinds of stress and therefore last forever. Plastic snail barriers are cheaper. However, these quickly become porous due to the effects of the weather - especially UV radiation - and cannot withstand loads for as long. After one season, they are often already broken and need to be replaced. In doing so, they often leave a few small, unwanted plastic splinters in the bed.
Metal snail fences
Metal fences come in different designs, mostly 20 or 25 cm high. Some require additional corner elements to connect the long side pieces, others can do without them. Plastic models can be built from foil or bought as a complete fence with variable modules.
Snail Lattice
A wire mesh snail fence is flexible and pliable. Therefore, snail grids can be easily shaped and also used for non-rectangular beds. Unlike continuous materials, wire mesh does not cause water retention. Depending on the culture - whether the water requirement is high or rather low - the watering behavior must be adjusted. It is essential to choose a narrow mesh size so that no slugs can crawl through. The mesh should not be larger than 5 mm, after all there are also very small slugs that can even fit through tiny gaps.
Electric Auger Lock
Like willows, flower beds can be protected with some sort of miniature electric fence. This consists of copper wire or tape with an applied voltage of around six to twelve volts. Electricity flows from a battery or a rechargeable battery or comes from a small solar module. If a snail touches the copper device, it will receive an electric shock and retreat. The applied voltage is basically not dangerous for people or pets, but it can certainly be a little frighteninghunt in Protection only exists as long as the current is flowing. Unfortunately, electric snail fences are prone to malfunction and short circuits can occur - for example due to rain or irrigation water.
Build your own snail fence
In spring, when the ground is no longer frozen, a snail fence can be set up. First of all, it is necessary to calculate how much of the desired material is needed. This depends on the size of the area to be protected. Therefore, measure the length of the bed border and note that the fence should be around 25 to 30 cm away from the outer planting. For models with additional corner joints, the number of these corners must be known.
If you have obtained all the necessary materials, the bed should first be freed from all snails before construction. It is best to collect these in a lockable container that allows air to be exchanged so that they do not suddenly get back into the bed during assembly. To eliminate the snailworms hidden in the ground, dig up the soil about 10 cm deep. Predators and the sun will do the rest. The substrate should then be punctured at least 10 cm deep with a spade where the fence is to be fastened.
For the exact assembly procedure, it is best to follow the manufacturer's instructions. In any case, make sure that you have sufficient stability and that the barrier lies against the ground so that no snails can crawl under the fence. Finally, the soil should be firmly pressed on both sides of the fence. Feel free to take a look over the bed to make sure there are actually no more slugs there.
Overview - build your own snail fence:
- Measure the perimeter of the bed
- Note the edge with a distance of 25 to 30 cm to the planting
- Collect snails
- Dig up the bed against snail eggs
- Prick out the base 10 cm
- Assembly according to the manufacturer's instructions
- Note the stability and bottom edge
- Bumping ground around fence
Snail collars and protection rings
Unlike a fence that is placed around an entire bed, snail collars only protect individual plants and only up to a certain size. Such snail protection rings therefore help those who are particularly susceptibleYoung plants and can be removed later - when the plants are strong enough.
Advantages and different forms
Just like snail fences, snail collars are available in metal and plastic and have corresponding properties. Their mode of action is also based on the same principle. A special feature of the snail rings is that they can also be converted into a mini greenhouse. Since they are quite small, a lid can be placed over the opening to protect the plants from frost, drying out or heavy rain. An upgrade is possible with close-meshed fruit and vegetable protective nets or fly screens, which also keep other garden animals away.
If you don't want to build a large snail fence or put umpteen snail collars in the bed, or if you still want protection after dismantling such barriers, you can use another method. This is slug pellets that permanently eliminate the mollusks. In contrast to many other grains, our Plantura organic slug pellets are a highly concentrated and reliable protection for fruit and vegetables that continues to work even after a few rainy days and is also gentle on beneficial insects and pets.
Make your own snail collar
The easiest way is to build snail collars yourself out of old buckets. If possible, these should be transparent. This is particularly important for young plants, as otherwise they would be in the shade for a long time. Larger plants that are already overhanging the edge will have fewer problems with an impermeable bucket. A bucket at least 12 cm in diameter is suitable for most small plants. A height of around 15 to 20 cm guarantees that the vessel can be stuck into the ground. Larger buckets must also be used for larger plants. For example, those for bird seed are suitable.
Once you have found the right bucket, the bottom is removed. The lid, if present, is best kept as it can be used later. Since the bucket is unlikely to have a suitable rim like that of a commercially available snail collar, fruit and vegetable netting or fly screens can be stretched over the opening and attached to the bucket. Now the protection only has to be placed around the plant and the earth pressed down. Make sure that no parts of the plant create a bridge over the edge into the interior, otherwise the snails will find a way to the covered garden buffetfind.
The talented craftsmen among us can also try their hand at edging a snail collar or fence out of zinc sheet. Anyone who has a cant bench can make excellent use of it. Otherwise, a hard edge, a large hammer and some patience are required. The sheet metal should not be too thin, otherwise it will sag under load. 1 - 1.5 mm provide sufficient stability, but can also be edited. The sheet should measure a good 20 cm in height. The double edge consists of two individual edges at 45° each. The outer edge must point inwards towards the standing wall, as can be seen in the previous pictures.
If you want to learn more about other ways to protect against snails, we recommend our other article.