Good Snails Came to My Rescue!

2 Materials
$40
12 Months
Easy

I really dislike using any type of chemicals in my garden. I prefer to keep the ''garden in balance'' using natures methods. I like to think for every bad bug there's a beneficial bug just waiting to devour it.


That's not to say I get discouraged from time to time and feel like tossing a grenade out there.

These that we see so frequently are the common Brown Garden Snail (Helix Aspersa) a terrestrial gastropod mollusk - one of the best known species in the world.To say this guy gets around is an understatement!


They love my Hollyhocks, ( and anything else that's green ) one time I counted 5 on one stem.I try to go out every morning and pick snails.Sometimes I stomp, squish, smash....


BUT


I don't have to do that too much anymore.The herd has dwindled. (Happy Dance!)



Last year I started noticing different types of snails in my gardens.I thought 'Oh great, they've sent word out to ALL their cousins! They're having a garden party!'


Figuring I wouldn't have much of a garden left, I threw my hands up in despair and went in the house.Had a conference with myself, then decided to research these new uninvited visitors.


A Decollate Snail(Rumina Decollta)


My new best friend here ventures out at night to quench it's voracious appetite for garden snails, slugs, and their eggs.They live for about 2 years and lay 200 eggs per year!Woo Hoo!Yippee ki yay!!!


During the colder months they bury themselves in the soil for overwintering.


I was out pulling weeds and came upon a graveyard of sorts ewwThere was a piece of scrap wood laying over the hoses that hadn't been picked up. When I picked it up I was surprised to see all these empty garden snail shells.  I think the decollate's found someone's hiding place....Unbelievable! 




At about 1 inch long they must have a good metabolism to eat all they do. As they age the tip of the shell breaks off indicating adulthood.


It just goes to show you that given time and a lot of patiencefor every ''bad bug'' there is a ''good bug'' that comes along (eventually ) to help keep the garden in check.( ok, ok, it took them 24 years to find me, but they finally did! )And I see even more of them this year!


While researching I was surprised to find that you can purchase Decollate Snails at several online garden stores. As an example they run about $40 for 50 snails.Who even knew there were predatory snails for your garden snails?


For more info, photo's, and other gardening posts check out my blog


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Debbie/Dragonfly Treasure
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