Snail fence – product advice: variants and experiences

How does a snail fence work?

A snail fence consists of a straight section on which the snails first have to migrate vertically upwards. That in itself is not a problem for the animals.

The obstacle is the upper part of the snail fence, which in most cases is angled downwards. The snails first have to crawl downwards at an angle. When trying to get over the edge, they crash and fall.

On some models, instead of the angle, there is a shaggy structure on which the snails cannot find a hold. However, in order for the snail fence to work, it must be properly installed.

The use of the protective fence

The snail fence can only fulfill a real protective function if it is used correctly, depending on the model. To do this, the fence – also depending on the design – is dug ten to fifteen centimeters deep into the ground. The surrounding earth must then be knocked or trodden so hard that the fence is safe and stable on its own. The corners and sections between the individual sections must be tight so that no snails can penetrate here either.

In addition, no parts of the plant may hang over the snail fence, because the snails can pull themselves up on them or drop onto the contents of the bed.

benefits

The snail fence has a number of advantages. These include:

• Easy installation
• Long durability
• Unlike traps, snails are not attracted
• The animals are neither injured nor killed
• Plants inside the snail fence are safely protected
• No dangerous or toxic substances
• Hardly any maintenance required
• Long-term inexpensive alternative

In contrast to the well-known slug pellets or the so-called beer traps, the slug fence neither needs to be changed nor emptied. In addition, it does not contain any toxic substances that could pose a risk to children and pets. In addition, neither attractants nor dead snails attract other animals. And the snail fence is also an ideal solution for animal lovers. Because the snails are not injured, killed or tortured by this form of defense.

The disadvantages of defense

Even if the snail fence has numerous advantages, this form of defense is not completely free from disadvantages.

• Correct installation required
• Initially partly high price
• Possible visual restriction in the garden
• Distance to other plants necessary
• For some versions, a continuous power supply must be guaranteed
• Regular cutting of the plants in the bed and in the surrounding areas is necessary

In order for the snail fence to fulfill its function, the plants must neither grow beyond the boundary nor adjoining plants protrude over the fence. The snail fence must therefore be visible in any case and stand relatively free. The appearance of the garden may therefore be negatively affected.

The installation of the snail fence is usually simple, but it still requires some effort to attach it. In the case of versions with integrated power, a sufficient supply must also be ensured. This may require laying a cable or accommodating a battery.

And even if the investment is worthwhile in the long term, snail fences are initially more expensive than beer traps or slug pellets.

variants

Not all snail fences are alike. There are simple designs that only have a defensive effect due to their shape. There are also snail fences on the market that can be electrified and give the snails a slight shock. Basically, a distinction is made between snail fence materials:

• metal
• plastic
• wire

In addition to this distinction, form and function are also used. This is how snail fence designs can be found:

• The upper part of which is angled outwards
• The edge is studded with knobs
• Which have a defensive effect through electricity

Plastic snail fences

A plastic snail fence is one of the simplest designs available. And correspondingly inexpensive.

Plastic snail fences can be found in different colors. In addition to the low price, the visual adaptation in the garden is also an advantage. In addition to the angled shapes, they also offer knobbed variants of the defensive area. One of the disadvantages of plastic snail fences is that the material is comparatively easily damaged and weathered. A falling branch, years of exposure to the sun and freezing temperatures can affect the plastic. And cause it to break or crack. In this case it is necessary to replace the snail fence. Even with high-quality plastic, a change and the associated effort is therefore required more often. As well as a repeated investment.
The plastic snail fence is ideal for testing the effect and function in your own garden first. But if you want to make a long-term commitment, you would be better off with versions made of metal.

Metallene Copies

A snail fence made of sheet metal is usually quite expensive. But also very durable. The material is resilient and shows itself to be robust and unimpressed even in the harshest weather.

If stones or heavy branches accidentally fall on the edge, the edge can bend – but it will not break. Dents and dents can be repaired independently with a little manual skill.

In the long run, the snail fence made of high-quality sheet metal is therefore the cheapest option.

In addition to the price, the limitation of the shape is also a possible disadvantage. Metal fences only have one angled top section. There are no models with knobs. In addition, the metal usually stands out visually from its surroundings. That doesn’t have to be a disadvantage, but it can negatively change the look of the garden.

Snail wire fences

Wire mesh snail fences represent a compromise between plastic and metal designs. They are just as inexpensive as plastic models, but are much more durable. Once the fence bends, it can be quickly and easily restored to its original shape.

In addition, such designs do not accumulate water in the bed. However, this can be both an advantage and a disadvantage, as it may require more frequent watering.

Another clear advantage is the flexibility of the material. This does not necessarily have to be used to create rectangles. Instead, circles, ovals or completely free borders can be drawn. Optically, the helical wire is therefore clearly guided.

However, the wire mesh snail fence also has a decisive disadvantage. However, this only applies if the selection is not made based on density. If the material is comparatively large-meshed, nudibranchs and small garden snails can easily fit through. The pests are therefore “sifted” but not completely kept away from the plants. For this reason, only close-meshed models should be selected.

Defense with electricity

In addition to an angle, some versions made of sheet metal also have another deterrent function: They can be energized.

This is a weak voltage that is normally not dangerous for humans and other animals. The snails don’t even have to crawl far up the barrier. Instead, if they come into contact, they’ll be shocked by a light electric shock, preventing them from getting over the fence.

This type of snail defense works very quickly, but it also requires a constant supply of electricity. For this purpose, either a cable has to be laid or a battery has to be housed in a weatherproof place. Apart from this effort and the initial investment, there are also other ongoing costs for operation.

Experience with snail fences

If the family includes playful dogs and cats who do not shy away from licking a snail, slug pellets are not used to combat the slimy pests.
As well as the notorious beer traps that seem to attract snails from every nook and cranny. Unless something more appetizing can be found.

Watching the night so that the lovingly grown marigold flowers do not suffer the same fate as the lettuce is not particularly entertaining either.

That leaves a snail fence. But which material should it be and does it really work as well as the manufacturers promise? Only experience will show that.

Test 1 – plastic

The choice fell on the Natural Control snail fence set from SWISSINNO. Annoying digging is almost completely eliminated with this model. This is ensured by the lower edges, which have proven themselves with tips.
The introduction is correspondingly simple.

Once set up, the plastic snail fence is quite stable. The green color is visually appealing, even if the outer pattern is a bit too noticeable.
And then the practical test: after the first night there are a few specimens around the snail fence. In the bed, however, not. The plastic snail protection fence fully fulfills its purpose.

A few weeks later, the first negative surprise appears after a wild soccer game. A piece of plastic is blown out at the outer edge. This doesn’t seem to detract from the defensive effect, but it’s not exactly nice to look at.

It is to be feared that the plastic will become downright crumbly after a few years in the sun and frost. Until then, however, it would certainly serve well in a less crowded garden.

metal sheet

The next candidate is the worm plate with matching corner parts from bellissa.

This does not have to be buried either. Instead, it is sufficient to make furrows with the spade and insert the parts and connect them to the corner pieces. After that, the snail protection is surprisingly strong and stable.

The result is more or less convincing. The snail sheet protrudes only 10 cm from the ground and therefore has little impact on the look of the garden. However, it is precisely this low height that also appears to be a problem. Because the sheet metal keeps some snails, but by no means all. Larger specimens without a house in particular manage to overcome the angle. On the other hand, the metal snail fence is really robust and can withstand one or the other game attack without any problems.

Wire mesh

The chosen snail fence from Beckmann is the cheapest. Because it is made of close-meshed wire mesh, it is flexible. This is also used by laying a curved bed form.

The integrated corner pieces are initially useless, but the snail fence also acts more as a piece of jewelry than as a visual disruptive factor.

However, the construction is a bit more complex, because the upper edge has to be bent first. This in turn allows more creative freedom. Instead of an angle, a rounding is also possible, for example.

To do this, the wire mesh only needs to be bent over a pole or a round stem.
With a total height of 25cm, the snail fence protrudes neatly from the ground. In order to get over this hurdle, the pests have to make a real effort. Smaller specimens, however, have an easier time. Because some of them fit easily through the mesh.

Personal recommendation

No snail fence emerges as a real clear winner. Instead, the suitability of each individual model depends on its own requirements and the conditions in the garden.
For example, versions made of plastic or metal also serve as a water-saving pouring rim, while models made of wire mesh are better suited for plants that are to be kept dry.
In any case, care should be taken to ensure that the snail fence is of high quality and well thought out. Wire mesh should be very close-meshed, metal sheets should be as stable as possible and plastic variants should be weather-resistant. Then every material can prove itself.

Conclusion

The snail fence – whether it is made of sheet metal, plastic or mesh – is an environmentally friendly and economical alternative to slug pellets and traps. Correctly selected and used, it keeps snails away and is even inexpensive in the long term.