Ash against snails: the secret of the natural allies revealed!

Ash against snails: the secret of the natural allies revealed!

Ljubljana, Slowenien - snails are a common problem for many hobby gardeners. However, fighting these pests often proves to be challenging. A widespread home remedy for snail defense is the use of ashes. This method is supposed to make the soil drier and thus hold the snails. Studies show that ashes are particularly effective against housing and tiger snails, while it has less effect on Spanish. A practical test of the Schneckenhilfe shows that the use of a wide and thick layer of ash is sensible to deter small snails.

The type of wood of the ashes plays a crucial role in its effectiveness. A study from 2020 at the University of Ljubljana has shown that ashes of grape oak, red beech and common spruce can ward off over 50 % of the snails. In contrast, ashes of noble chestnut, white fir and hornbeam are less effective. However, it is important to only use untreated wood ash because painted or burned materials can contain heavy metals that are harmful to plants. T-Online also indicates that the high pH of the ash How azaleas and peony can have.

advantages and disadvantages of the ash method

The advantages of using ashes are available in their availability and their benefits as fertilizer, since it contains valuable minerals and trace elements. Nevertheless, there are also some disadvantages. The protective barrier from ash only works as long as it stays dry. Rain or wind can remove this barrier immediately, so that after rainfall, a new application is necessary. Ash also increases the pH of the soil, which is not advantageous for all plants.

alternative control methods

In addition to the ash method, there are numerous alternative approaches to fighting snails. Biological methods are particularly popular with natural hobby gardeners who reject chemical aids. These include creating natural enemies such as running ducks or the insertion of nematodes that parasitize snails. Mechanical barriers such as snail fences or snail collar are also popular options. Gartenjournal also names home remedies such as coffee grounds and liver moss, which can also be used to displace snails.

Overall, these methods show that fighting snails in the garden offers many facets. The combination of different techniques can help effectively reduce the voracious pests and keep the plants healthy.