Have you ever seen a bunch of slimy snails in your garden or flower bed?  They are usually most active during the evening hours.  If you are like me, you don’t enjoy picking up these nasty things.  A very effective way to control the snails is to use the Improved Slug and Snail Bait, a Hi-Yield product.  This bait contains Metaldehyde and Bitrex.  It is a very easy to use chemical.  This slug and snail bait is formulated to attract them, then paralyze them until the sun dehydrates them and they die.  Slug and snail bait is even labeled for gardens.  Sprinkle a ring of pellets around affected plants.  1 lb covers 4400 square feet, lasting longer than 3 to 4 weeks.

Another Fertilome product that is an all natural chemical is Bug, Slug & Snail Bait.  It contains iron phosphate and spinosad.  It is safe to use around flowers, gardens, turf, and ornamentals.  This product lasts up to 4 weeks.  1 pound treats 2000 square feet.

Either of these will do a good job, but the Bug, Slug and Snail bait is much safer to use around your pets.  Another thing that the iron phosphate does is help with moles.  I’m sure you would use a lot more per foot to do this but if it helps at all that would help.

As always, please read the label.

(Mitzi Thomas owns Minden Farm & Garden LLC. Watch for her column on Fridays in Webster Parish Journal. Email Mitzi questions at  mitzithomas40@yahoo.com.)