Biological control of snails

Encourage natural snail predators like birds, frogs, toads, hedgehogs, slow-worms, and ground beetles into the garden. 

- In winter, turn over likely hiding places to expose snails for thrushes and other birds to feed on. 

- Provide a pond or other water body where tadpoles can develop. It is helpful to have at least one side of the pool that gradually slopes up to dry land. This enables the young amphibians to leave the water in mid summer once the tadpole stage is over. Small amphibians can be heavily predated by birds, so grow plants around the pool to provide some cover. Also give them a place to overwinter. Log piles provide good shelters but frogs, toads and newts will also find suitable places in hedge bottoms, compost heaps and under stones. Sometimes they will hibernate in the bottom of ponds. To avoid disturbing amphibians, especially in the hibernation period, ponds should not be cleaned out unless this is really necessary. 

- Hedgehogs like dense undergrowth and grasses for hiding and nesting. You can also build or purchase hedgehog homes.

- The nematode used against slugs is unlikely to control snails.