Back off, snails

On the snail trail: protecting the leaves of hostas from marauding molluscs is a never-ending task

- Alan Titchmarsh

WITH their squeaky, succulent leaves, it's no wonder hostas are seen as five-star hotels by slugs and snails.

In a damp spring, the marauding molluscs await their moment, honing to perfection their rasping mouthparts so that they can make unbelievable inroads during the space of a single soggy evening. This year, we had a dry start to spring and many hostas managed that crucial spearing of the soil with their tightly scrolled leaves unfurling in pristine condition. Then came the rains and the slugs and snails woke up, but at least we—and our hostas—had a head start.

Like most gardeners, I have tried just about every slug control known to man. I long ago stopped using metaldehyde-based slug pellets, which left the pests writhing in agony and the birds and the ever-rarer hedgehog facing a poisoned diet. The pleasure of hearing a song thrush use a stone as an anvil to crack open a snail for a luncheon of fresh escargot is one of this wildlife gardener's favourite sounds.