This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
Snails on mahonia
Staceyj
Posts: 62
Aaargh! Last autumn I planted a lovely mahonia which was showing great promise in the spring and early summer. However, it has been absolutely decimated by tiny snails which have shredded the leaves and any of the new green pointed shoots as they emerged from the centre. I have tried picking them off to no avail. I have even resorted to a few pellets which I avoid using as a rule as we are trying to make the garden wildlife friendly. I know snails are wildlife and I tend to put up with them and have plants that are not too susceptible. I assumed mahonia would be ok, thickish spiky leaves etc but no. Should it go, be moved or any other suggestions?
0
Posts
I would start buy creating a hedge hog hole in the fence of the garden, hopefully you will be able to encourage one in to eat a lot of those snails. You could also try a snail barrier tape although that might not be as easy as it sounds, you could also consider putting down a circle of broken egg shells or sharp grit/gravel around the plant. I use pea shingle to keep the snails away from my Hostas and that has worked very well. If you are placing a barrier around a plant you need to consider other ways onto the plant like are any of the leaves touching a fence panel or another plant? This will create another route of access for the snails to travel along. I hope you get some more advice! Good luck.
Thank you kevindylan. I think one of the things you said might be part of the problem. The mahonia is amongst other plants which are almost touching at the moment. Will give that and your other suggestions some thought.
Last edited: 04 September 2017 16:28:37