It's only February, but we dare to predict that 2025 will be a top year for snails. There's a good chance that they'll soon be slithering through your garden en masse and feasting on your young plants. But how is that actually possible? The answer lies largely in the mild, wet winter we've just had. That may sound like nice garden weather, but for snails it's an ideal situation to survive in large numbers and grow explosively.
A mild winter: surviving without problems
In the past, a severe winter was the natural enemy of snails. Temperatures below zero ensured that a large part of the snail population did not survive. Snails do retreat into the ground or under leaves in cold weather, but many of them still freeze to death in prolonged frost. A severe winter therefore served as a natural reset for the snail population.
This year was a different story. Temperatures remained mild, with only sporadic night frost. Snails were able to spend the winter in a semi-sleep, without having to go into survival mode. In fact, in some regions they remained active and started looking for food. This means that there is now a significantly larger snail population ready to start right away in the spring.
Lots of rain makes the soil perfect for snails
Snails love moisture . A dry soil is their biggest enemy, because without a wet environment they quickly dehydrate. Unfortunately, this winter brought not only mild temperatures, but also a lot of rain. A combination that is perfect for snails to move comfortably through the winter.
All that rain has left the soil wonderfully moist, with plenty of hiding places between leaves and plant remains. As soon as temperatures rise a bit more, the snails are ready to lay eggs and reproduce at breakneck speed. What makes this scenario even worse? If spring becomes rainy again, conditions will remain ideal for snails to emerge en masse.
What can you do to be prepared?
Fortunately, there are ways to protect your garden from a slug invasion. Here are some practical tips:
- Prevent hiding places: Clear away leaves and other garden waste so that snails have less opportunity to hide.
- Deploy nematodes: These biological control agents work preventively by tackling young snails in the soil before they become a problem.
- Copper as a barrier: Place copper bands around vulnerable plants. Snails get a shock from copper and prefer to stay away from it.
- Make a slug trap: Place a bowl of beer in the garden. Slugs are attracted by the smell and disappear into the trap.
More tips on combating snails? Read our blog !
Use these tips in time, so that you do not have to deal with a slimy plague later. Because although we are happy with a green, blooming garden, that does not apply to a garden that is completely taken over by snails. Be one step ahead of them and keep your plants healthy!
