Episode: #6 7/10/2006
Presenter: Kim Syrus

Snails may be slow but they quick to find newly planted seedlings. There are a few home remedies you can try. Coffee grounds sprinkled around the seedlings or beer traps placed in the garden are pretty good at slowing them down a little.

The best way to control them is with snail bait like Yates Blitzem Snail Pellets. It is so effective at attracting and ridding the garden of snails and while it is easy to apply, there are a couple of really important things to remember.

Always wear gloves and sprinkle a few pellets at a time. Even though the pellets are made to taste terrible, never pour into one big pile, this makes it far too easy for a child or pet to eat a large amount and can result in serious injury. Instead, spread out over a large area and then water as this softens the pellet, making it hard to pick up.

Plants, like agapanthus are havens for snails. Sprinkle some bait through the canopy. This will really assist in reducing their numbers and help to keep your garden snail free.

Keep a close check on your roses. Lots of new growth and a few rainy days can easily bring on problems so having a ?ready to use? spray handy means you can find a quick solution when you need it.

Yates Rose Spray control?s fungal diseases like blackspot and powdery mildew, while also keeping those sap sucking aphids in check. Spray onto the plants to give each a great start for the season.

To keep citrus trees happy and healthy, start with a good dose of citrus feed to the drip line of each tree. This provides the right balance of nutrients and trace elements for good growth. Our recent dry winter means regular, deep soaks will be important in maintaining correct soil moisture. Follow up with a good layer of mulch. Spread out past the drip line and remember to keep away for the tree base - this avoids the problem of collar rot.

If you are looking for an answer to your garden questions then why not join our Garden Gurus online club. Simply go to the website and follow the links to become a member and enjoy a super range of benefits.

Featured Products

Yates Rose Gun

• Controls various insects, mites and diseases on roses and ornamentals
• Controls the most common rose pest & disease problems.
• Highly effective combination of a low toxic synthetic pyrethoid insecticide and a systemic broad spectrum fungicide.
• The insecticide works via both contact and stomach action, and the fungicide is absorbed into the plant's system and is translocated around the plant to control disease - works from the inside out.
• Controls mites and whitefly.
• Easy-to-use trigger pack - no mixing recquired, no measuring, no mess.

Yates Citrus Food

• Specially developed granular fertiliser for feeding garden planted citrus.
• Balanced blend of nitrogen for healthy foliage growth and phosphorus and potassium for large juicy fruit.
• A fast acting granular plant food.
• Specifically formulated for all types of citrus.

Blitzem Snail and Slug Pellets

• Kills snails & slugs by dehydration
• Economical - only requires 5 grams per m2.
• Contains a bittering agent to help prevent accidental consumption by children and pets.
• Pellets are mould resistant.
• Eventually biodegrades into carbon dioxide and water.
• Easy to apply straight from the pack.