Tiny Garden Snails

Snail Species

• Two of the more common garden snails seen in the United States are the brown garden snails (Cornu aspersum) and the decollate snails (Rumina decollata). Both snails are approximately 1 inch long and are not native to the United States. Since they are invasive species, brown garden and decollate snails do not have any natural predators, competing with native snails for food and shelter. Another tiny garden snail is the rosy wolf snail (Euglandia rosae), a snail that grows up to 1.5 inches long. These snails prey on other snail species. Rosy wolf snails are native to the southern United States, but introduced species have caused ecological damage to gardens in Hawaii.

Tiny Pests

• Snails play a vital role in the earth's ecology by feeding on decaying plant material. However, snails also devour live plants, much to the chagrin of gardeners. Snails do not discriminate on which plant part they eat; their diet includes the plant's roots, leaves and stems. These mollusks also damage the fruit and bark of trees. Strawberries, lettuce and cabbage are some of the most frequent victims of snail damage. Also, snails reproduce in mass numbers and gardens are prime locations for nesting areas. The brown garden snail lays up to six clutches of eggs per year; a clutch has approximately 60 to 80 eggs.

Damage Control

• In order to prevent snail damage, gardeners deploy a variety of traps and barriers to keep snails from invading their plants. One trap, according to the University of Arizona Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, offers bait (rotten fruit, cheap beer) to snails and, once the snails are inside, the lid of the trap closes. Passive traps are also available; these traps are containers with an opening for snails to crawl into, but these traps do not use bait. The University also recommends copper barriers since the slime on snails causes an electric-shock reaction when the snail touches the copper.

Water Gardens

• Many gardeners ascribe land snails as pests, but gardeners developing water gardens use snails for ecological reasons. Water garden snails feast on the water's algae and fish waste. Gardeners do not have to replace snails in their water gardens often, since snails rarely leave the garden and lay eggs underneath the plant's leaves. The University of Minnesota Extension program advises waiting approximately four to five weeks after planting to release snails into the garden.