Snails are hermaphrodites, meaning they have both male and female organs, thus they can mate and reproduce or self–fertilise. This is why their population increases at an alarming rate.
There are several methods you can use to get rid of snails from your kitchen garden. You can sprinkle copper pellets around the base of the plants you want to protect.
Copper acts as a repellent due to its reaction with the mucous or slime on the snails and this produces an electric shock. You can also tie a copper tape around the periphery of the garden if it’s a small piece of land.
Crushed egg shells can be sprinkled at the base of the crops to make the snails not to climb the plants as they have sharp edges.
You can also place ground coffee at the base of the plants and the smell will repel the snails. Ducks, geese and other domestic animals can be used to feed on the snails.
Beer traps can also be used, whereby alcohol can be put in shallow containers which are partially buried into the ground especially at night when the snails are most active.
The smell of beer will attract the snails after which they become drunk and as they climb on the containers they drown.
Hand-picking can also be done if it’s a small piece of land.
This may be unhygienic but you can put on gloves.
