HELP!! Who knows how to keep the snail population away from my lobelia?

[PestoMonster]

I never normally see snails in my garden, but the pesky things have been munching away at my newly-planted lobelias and I'm seriously fed up. I don't really want to poison them, but I've just bought another 2 trays of plants to replace the ones that have been eaten and don't want to just keep throwing my money away. I have 2 dds and next-door neighbours cat who also use the garden, so I would prefer a non-chemical method if possible.

i can't grow them (presume you mean the big lobelias not the little things) nor dahlias as snails eat the lot. slug pellets is your only hope

Yes, they're not seeds, and I would say just about as big as a teacup. But they are getting smaller and smaller.. Grrr!

That looks good Califrau thank you. By the way I made your cookies on Sunday.... But I got the proportions a bit wrong so they turned out like brandy snaps!! Quite delicious though

Bran.

salt dissolves them

Ouch! I wouldn't want salt anywhere near my lobelia thank you very much.

I manage to keep a colourful garden without the use of slug pellets...I throw the dead heads back onto the ground, near the nice healthy flowers, and it seems to keep the slugs happy enough and my flowers, although nibbled inplaces are not chewed down to the root.

Lol, yes, I misread that word too Spider!

Salt sounds good and CharlieCat I will try what you suggested once they've started flowering. Thanks for all your suggestions.

Offer to dead head your neightbours garden in the meantime LOL...also broken eggshells surrounding your plants, apparently they dont like going over the sharp bits...scrambled egg for supper for you tonight

Agree with charliecat. I don't like using poisons or anything harmful in the garden. I just think it's cruel and unnecessary and not (dare I say this) a very good example to children.

Put broken egg shells around your lobelia ('cos they find it really difficult to crawl over them), and put your vegetable peelings and dead heads in a corner for them to munch on. They're just after food - give it to them, and they'll leave your plants alone.

Nemaslug is the biz.

Oh dear i've just read this title as:
HELP!! Who knows how to keep the snail population away from my labia! I didn't notice what topic it was under so wandered in wondering WTF. I'll go now....

he he
fooled ya!