The next time you order escargots at an expensive French bistro, perhaps you should reconsider, remember your history, and save some money by ordering the onion soup; the most common snail causing problems in California gardens is the brown garden snail (Helix aspersa) which was introduced from France during the 1850s for use as food.

Snails and slugs, both members of the mollusk phylum, similar in structure and biology except for the fact that slugs lack the snail’s external spiral shell, are among the most bothersome pests in many garden and landscape situations. Problematic slugs include the gray garden slug (Agriolimax reticulatus), the banded slug (Limax marginatusi), the tawny slug (Limax flavus), and the greenhouse slug (Milax gagates). Slugs are hermaphrodites and can stretch to 20 times their normal length, enabling them to get to seemingly unreachable food sources.

A very effective biological control for the brown garden snail is the predatory decollate snail (Rumina decollate) which has been released in southern California citrus orchards. It feeds only on small snails, getting a head start on controlling the brown snail population. However, the decollate snail's very predaceous nature has led to a ban of its use in California outside of Fresno, Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Madera, Orange, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, San Diego, Ventura or Tulare counties.

Both snails and slugs use a muscular “foot” for movement, which secretes mucus, which then later dries to form a silvery slime trail signaling the presence of either pest. It's rather like a trail of bread crumbs leading the originating slug, along with others, directly back to the host plant to feast at another time.

And those host plants that are particularly susceptible to snails and slugs include basil, beans, cabbage, dahlia, delphinium, lettuce, marigolds, strawberries, our beloved hostas, and many other vegetable plants.

Have you ever lifted up a rock and seen a grouping of at least 80 spherical, pearly white eggs in the topsoil? These are probably the work of an adult brown garden snail, two years of age. They may lay eggs up to 6 times a year! Slugs, on the other hand, mature after only 3 to 6 months, and lay clear oval to round eggs in batches of 3 to 40 under leaves, in soil cracks, and in other protected areas. So don't let the leaves from your deciduous trees remain in corners where you think visually it won't matter. Gardening is sometimes an icky job.

This brings us to how to rid ourselves of these pests. You can squish them: sprinkle them with salt: drown them in a jar of soapy water (we strongly suggest wearing gloves if you use this method): become a night detective and using a flashlight, search for their shiny trails: place ceramic flowerpots upside down where the snails and slugs will accumulate to rest in the shade (eating your hostas can take a lot of energy!), and when you overturn them remove the snails daily - eventually the infestation will be eradicated: but our favorite method of removal is to sink a shallow jar into the ground so that the top is flush. Then fill the jar with beer and wait for the snails and slugs to fall in and drown.

However, if a prolonged and often futile battle does not appeal to you, try one of the baits with iron phosphate as the active ingredient, which can be found in of our garden center.

Also, be wise and plant a snail and slug resistant garden. Begonias, California poppy, fuchsias, geraniums, impatiens, lantana, nasturtiums, purple robe cup flowers, ornamental grasses, and the highly-scented lavender, rosemary, and sage, are not attractants to these destructive creatures, yet will provide color, texture, and scent to your garden.

Happy hunting!

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