Snails

Slugs can cause great damage in the home garden. So action is called for - but all regulatory measures should be in harmony with nature and not additionally directed against the ecosystem. Because a high snail occurrence indicates anyway an imbalance, knows the author of this volume, and advises against three things (probably the typical reflexes of the gardener, who sees his salad constantly endangered and all dahlias already completely gnawed off): to be annoyed too much about the pests, to look hectically for fast solutions in the form of chemical means or to fall even into helplessness. There is a herb for everything; and against slugs, for example, that of bracken or worm fern, rhubarb, wormwood or begonia, whose leaves can be prepared as an extract, slurry or tea to strengthen the defenses of the plants in the garden. First of all, however, Schnitzer's guidebook deals with the way of life and reproduction of the creepy-crawlies. Quite simply, only those who know their hiding places in the garden and preferences can successfully contain the slug population. In the vegetable patch, mixed cultivation is recommended, i.e. combining plants that basically get along well with each other, making them healthier and significantly more resistant to pests and diseases. At the same time, one should always try to create more habitats in the garden for beneficial insects such as hedgehogs and toads, which also enjoy slugs. And finally, Schnitzler recommends, in addition to mechanical means such as slug ring and slug fence, especially the regular and persistent collection of the animals as the most efficient method and shows in great detail in which places - such as under wooden boards, in gaps in the soil in the vegetable patch, in earthworm tubes, under stones and bricks - their favorite hiding places, sleeping and egg-laying places are to be found (and also how they can be lured there well).