Dear Sibe,

I have a cordyline in a container which is very healthy, but last night I noticed that there are hundreds of tiny snails hiding under the leaves on the stem - obviously they have hatched there. What is the best way to get rid of these snails without harming the cordyline?

Thanks for your help,

Sarah Wilson.

Our Gardening Expert replies:

Hello Sarah,

This is quite common. Slugs and snails often spend times during the day on the sides of plants with grassy-like leaves. I suppose it is cooler for them adhering to a vertical surface and they need to stay moist to survive. It is also safer as they are mostly out of sight. Most people would be quite surprised if they looked along the base of leaves of Iris or plants with a similar growth habit and observed the masses of slugs and snails there during the day. At night, they tend to spread out and feed upon tastier plants, rarely drawing attention to themselves.

The best way to remove them is simply to put on a pair of rubber gloves and hand-pick them off. There are also a number of deterrents you can use to try to get rid of slugs and snails, or at least to keep them at bay. Slugs and snails do not like sharp edges, so by breaking up eggshells and scattering them around your plants, this will act as a barrier and the slugs and snails will move away. Wood ash or soot is also said to deter them if scattered around the plant, as is sawdust - particularly cedar.

Epsom salts is probably the most popular way of getting rid of slugs and snails. For the most effective results, sprinkle lightly on the ground near the problem area. Be aware that a little Epsom salts will probably do no harm but used to excess can cause problems in the soil.

If you are still having problems after all that, try the Slug and Snail Shocka, available from Green Gardener on (01394) 420087. A unique copper device designed to keep the little blighters away from your plants, strawberries and salad crops, the Slug and Snail Shocka has been used by professional growers for years and is now available for only £9.99. See A Gardener's Welcome for more info.

I hope one of these methods works for you!

All the best,

Sibe.

For more advice on keeping those unwanted visitors out of your garden see Pest Control.