Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Eco way to kill snails

145 replies

posalie · 10/05/2022 18:41

What's an eco way to kill snails and slugs? We inherited a beautiful garden, and it's just full of snails (and some slugs) at the moment. The previous owner had lots of slug pellets and similar, but we're worried these will also harm hedgehogs and other wildlife. Is there an eco way to kill them?

(I know some people prefer not to kill them at all, but I need to kill them I'm afraid.)

OP posts:
SanFranBear · 10/05/2022 22:00

WTaF is with the 'snipping in half' suggestions... those poor fucking animals 😯

dubyalass · 10/05/2022 22:07

We’re in the middle of a biodiversity crisis and people are discussing the best way to kill creatures. Fuck me. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

What’s the point, anyway? Remember the saying “nature abhors a vacuum”? Kill the slugs and snails and others will take their place. It’s utterly pointless. Encourage other wildlife into your garden and they’ll do the pest control for you.

When did we become so disconnected from the world around us?

midlifecrash · 10/05/2022 22:09

Would clumps of cat hair work as a deterrent instead of wool pellets? I can get LOTS of cat hair

daisyjgrey · 10/05/2022 22:22

Get a few chickens, they enjoy them as a snack. Much less psychotic that cutting them in half with scissors...

bananaboats · 10/05/2022 22:23

I cant believe there's people out there cutting up slugs with scissors! Just when I think I've seen everything on this app...

Oscarthedog · 10/05/2022 22:25

I have planted native hedgerows. My garden is now frequented by many more birds now and a hedgehog. I can now easily grow Hostas with no issues from the slugs. Plus I get to see the fat hedgehog and robins.

Oscarthedog · 10/05/2022 22:27

The only things I actively kill is blackfly and cabbage white caterpillars. Everything else gets eaten by other wildlife.

userxx · 10/05/2022 22:28

Oscarthedog · 10/05/2022 22:27

The only things I actively kill is blackfly and cabbage white caterpillars. Everything else gets eaten by other wildlife.

You kill butterflies??

donquixotedelamancha · 10/05/2022 22:29

Butter, garlic, lots of salt and fresh parsley.

LizBennet · 10/05/2022 22:29

bananaboats · 10/05/2022 22:23

I cant believe there's people out there cutting up slugs with scissors! Just when I think I've seen everything on this app...

It's seriously weird behaviour 😑

CorsicaDreaming · 10/05/2022 23:17

Just curious if all the people who are so worried about cutting a slug in half are vegans?

If not, never research what happens to male chicks in some egg farming practices...

And if you are meat eaters, it's a weird value set if you think about it.

I'm neither veggie, vegan, nor a slug-snipper but if I was going to get vexed about killing any animals it would be one quite a bit higher up the sentient chart. Like pigs. Or octopus.

SnowdropsInSpring · 10/05/2022 23:27

CorsicaDreaming · 10/05/2022 23:17

Just curious if all the people who are so worried about cutting a slug in half are vegans?

If not, never research what happens to male chicks in some egg farming practices...

And if you are meat eaters, it's a weird value set if you think about it.

I'm neither veggie, vegan, nor a slug-snipper but if I was going to get vexed about killing any animals it would be one quite a bit higher up the sentient chart. Like pigs. Or octopus.

That's right….. support cruelty or be vegan. Nothing in-between. (I don’t eat meat, but this is a silly attitude)

Deadringer · 10/05/2022 23:36

Enjoy them with fava beans and a fine Chianti.

Singleandproud · 10/05/2022 23:38

Dig a pond, even if its only a small, sunk washing up bowl with a few plants. You'll attract frogs which will eat the slugs and snails, plus you'll encourage other wildlife to your garden.

Pinklimey · 10/05/2022 23:39

There is no eco way to kill a living creature. The very act is damaging to the ecological system.

HTH

minipie · 10/05/2022 23:46

I regularly collect a tupperware full of snails from my garden and take it to the local park. I am more success at growing snails than plants it seems.

However they just come back again, we have a fully walled garden so I think they must climb over the wall.

Would crushed eggshells along the top of the wall work do you think??

CorsicaDreaming · 11/05/2022 00:02

@SnowdropsInSpring - the point I'm making is we do far crueller things to animals we kill for meat. We just don't usually get our own hands dirty.

The slug will feel far less fear and pain being snipped in half in a couple of seconds than lambs driven miles to abattoirs and then waiting to be killed.

But we are not confronted with it as we just buy the meat at the end, so can ignore it more easily.

I have had to hold a sheep while it was euthanised due to fly strike. So I'm not just speaking from ignorance or being "silly".

Poppins2016 · 11/05/2022 00:14

Ifailed · 10/05/2022 20:41

chucking them over the fence might not work as they can apparently 'home'.

Apparently they won't return if you move them more than 20 metres away from your garden. Trouble is, I can't stand the things and don't want to carry them that far (even in a container)!

worriedatthistime · 11/05/2022 01:11

Could be worse try having them in your kitchen ( slugs) even worSe coming down bare feet

BlackeyedSusan · 11/05/2022 01:26

Look up which slugs are a problem. I think it is the little black ones in soil.

Original poster
posalie · 11/05/2022 07:05

No, the black ones are not the problem apparently- they eat rotten matter

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/aug/08/five-steps-gardeners-take-control-of-slugs-natural-way this article shared by a pp, not sure if on this thread or in gardening, also suggests snipping them in two with a knife 🤷🏻‍♀️ is that really that psychotic?

OP posts:
Sunnierdays · 11/05/2022 07:08

There’s some horrible suggestions on this thread, no wonder the world is in such an awful state 😢 those cutting them in half should be ashamed , it’s totally repulsive 🤢

LizBennet · 11/05/2022 07:09

I find being able to cut a living creature in half with scissors pretty awful yes, I just wouldn't be able to do it.
I don't kill spiders either so 🙅🏼‍♀️

reluctantbrit · 11/05/2022 07:29

We have only beer traps in the flower beds. Otherwise DH is throwing them into the alleyway but I heard they do know how to go "home".

Currently looking to use copper bands around our strawberry plant pots.

EvilPea · 11/05/2022 07:36

There’s a lot of new evidence to suggest invertebrates feel pain. Humans are just arrogant to have thought they don’t due to them having different bodies to us.

Seems a mad thing to be doing when it won’t have a real affect on the population, and they are just munching plants. That’s it. just munching plants we put there.

put them off, find other ways of dealing with them, plant less tasty stuff, dig a pond and wait for the frogs. Use the garlic spray, wool pellets are good as well. There’s no need to go round chopping stuff up because it’s taken a fancy to your dahlias.