Getting rid of snails and caterpillars does not have to be a full time job if you know a few tricks.
There is nothing worse than walking outside to check your garden and seeing leaves that look like Swiss cheese. Snails, caterpillars, and other leaf-munchers can turn a thriving vegetable bed into a sad, half-eaten mess fast. Sure, you can try chemical sprays, but a lot of us want ways to cut down on pests without coating everything in stuff we cannot even pronounce.
The good news is there are smarter, low-key ways to handle the problem. Some are simple shifts in how you plant or water. Others are ways to trick pests or set up your garden so they just do not want to stick around. These twelve garden secrets will not make your space 100 percent pest-free, but they will make it a lot less appealing to the most annoying visitors.
1. Grow plants that snails and caterpillars are not excited to eat.
The easiest move is planting things they just do not love, according to Fryd. Snails and caterpillars are picky in their own way. They go for tender, soft leaves and avoid strong-smelling or tough plants. Grow more herbs like rosemary, thyme, sage, and lavender. These plants naturally repel a lot of garden pests, including snails and many caterpillar species.
Mixing them into your beds can protect more vulnerable crops. Even vegetables like fennel, leeks, and garlic tend to get passed over. Having a few less-tasty options in the garden creates natural “no thanks” zones. Pests are more likely to move on to somewhere easier.
It will not stop every attack, but if you set the table with food they hate, they will not be lining up for a feast. Think of it like adding hot sauce to the buffet—you are making your garden way less fun for the ones you do not want hanging around. And the added bonus is that these herbs often attract pollinators and beneficial insects too, giving you even more garden wins in the process.
2. Skip overhead watering if you do not want to invite pests.
Snails and caterpillars thrive in damp conditions. Overhead watering turns your garden into the perfect environment for them. Wet leaves, soggy soil, puddles—they love it. Switch to watering at the base of plants with a drip system or soaker hoses.
Keeping the leaves dry makes it harder for pests to settle in, as reported by Garden Design. Caterpillars prefer humid, sheltered spots to lay eggs. Snails and slugs move better across wet surfaces. Drying out the garden a bit without stressing your plants makes your whole setup less inviting.
It is also better for your plants overall. Wet leaves can cause fungal issues, and dry soil surfaces discourage snails from traveling across them. It is a simple shift, but it can seriously cut down on how attractive your space is to garden pests. Plus, your plants will be healthier and more resilient too, which makes them less likely to suffer even if a few pests do show up.
3. Create physical barriers they cannot cross.
Sometimes old-school tricks work best, as stated by The Spruce. Barriers are one of them. Snails and caterpillars are not adventurous if it means crossing something unpleasant. Surrounding vulnerable plants with rough materials can slow or stop them. Crushed eggshells, sharp sand, or even copper tape are all things snails hate sliding over.
For caterpillars, floating row covers work wonders. They physically block moths and butterflies from laying eggs on your crops. Lightweight and easy to move, they protect plants without smothering them.
It does not have to be fancy. Even a simple raised bed edge treated with copper tape can turn your garden into a no-go zone. Sometimes making it harder for them to get there is enough to save your plants. And the nice part is, once set up, barriers do the work for you so you do not have to constantly monitor the beds.
4. Attract birds and toads who snack on your pests for free.
You do not have to fight snails and caterpillars alone. Set up your garden so it invites natural predators. Birds, toads, even certain lizards love snacking on the pests you hate, according to Sow True Seed.
Add birdhouses, shallow water dishes, and dense shrubs where birds can perch and hunt. Toads like shady, damp corners. If you have a small water feature or even just a hidden pile of rocks, you can turn your garden into a five-star resort for helpful predators.
These animals work 24/7 without you having to lift a finger. They will not get every snail or caterpillar, but a few regular visitors can seriously knock the population down to manageable levels. And once these helpful guests get used to visiting your yard, they tend to stick around season after season, giving you an extra layer of natural protection.
5. Trap snails before they get to your plants.
Snail traps are one of those old tricks that still work. Set out shallow containers of beer near your vulnerable plants at dusk. Snails are attracted to the yeast, crawl in, and cannot get back out.
You can also lay down boards or pieces of cardboard overnight. Snails will hide under them during the day to avoid the sun. In the morning, flip the boards over and collect your visitors.
It is not glamorous, but it works. Snail trapping does not eliminate them all at once, but over time it cuts down the population and keeps your plants safer without chemicals or complicated setups. And because you can reuse the traps or boards again and again, it is a cheap, low-effort option that fits into any garden routine.
6. Keep your garden beds clean and clutter-free.
Snails and caterpillars love hiding places. Old leaves, weedy corners, and piles of debris are perfect homes. If your garden has lots of clutter, it is like rolling out a welcome mat.
Regularly clean up fallen leaves, dead plants, and any kind of shady, moist spot. Trim back overgrown areas and weed regularly. The fewer hiding places you leave, the fewer pests will stick around.
Clean gardens are not just prettier, they are also tougher for pests to thrive in. Simple, low-effort maintenance goes a long way in making sure snails and caterpillars do not turn your garden into their private playground. And keeping things tidy also makes it easier to spot pest problems early, so you can jump on them before they get out of hand.
7. Encourage beneficial insects to hang out.
Not all insects are the enemy. Certain wasps, ladybugs, and lacewings feed on caterpillar larvae and other soft-bodied pests. Attract them by planting things they love—dill, fennel, yarrow, and marigolds are great choices.
Beneficial insects do not wipe out pest populations overnight, but they keep the balance tilted in your favor. Once established, they act like your garden’s private security team. You will still get some caterpillars, but you will not be dealing with an army.
Growing a mix of plants and flowers is not just good for pollinators, it is good for pest control too. A diverse garden is a healthier, stronger one overall. And the more welcoming you make it for good bugs, the fewer problems you will have with the bad ones.
8. Plant sacrificial crops to distract the damage.
Sometimes the best way to protect your good plants is to give pests something else to eat. Grow sacrificial crops like nasturtiums or certain lettuces nearby. Pests tend to flock to the easier, tastier options first.
Nasturtiums are especially good at pulling caterpillars away from your vegetables. They will happily lay eggs on the sacrificial plants, keeping your tomatoes and greens safe in the meantime.
It sounds sneaky because it is. You are setting up a decoy buffet to save the stuff you actually care about. Once the pests settle on the sacrificial plants, you can remove them and thin the population without touching your main crops. It is one of the simplest and smartest tricks to buy your veggies a little peace.
9. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth where pests walk.
Diatomaceous earth is a fine powder made from fossilized algae, but for soft-bodied pests, it might as well be barbed wire. It scratches and dehydrates snails, slugs, and some caterpillars that crawl across it.
Sprinkle it around the base of your plants or create thin barriers along rows. It has to stay dry to work properly, so reapply after rain. It is harmless to people and pets but devastating to the pests you are trying to keep out.
It is a low-effort, highly effective way to give your plants an extra layer of protection without resorting to sprays or traps. And because it works mechanically rather than chemically, you do not have to worry about harming beneficial insects that are just passing through.
10. Water in the morning to dry things out before nightfall.
Snails and caterpillars do their best work at night when things are damp and cool. Watering in the evening gives them perfect conditions to settle in. Switch your watering schedule to early morning instead.
This gives the soil and leaves time to dry out during the day, making it less cozy for pests overnight. It is better for plant health too, cutting down on fungal diseases that thrive in wet, dark environments.
A small change in timing makes a big difference. Dryer gardens at night mean fewer pests camping out when you are not around to stop them. And as a bonus, watering in the morning also helps your plants handle summer heat better, giving you one more reason to shift your routine.
11. Rotate crops to confuse pests year after year.
Snails and caterpillars can become regulars if you grow the same crops in the same spots season after season. Crop rotation helps break their life cycle. Move vulnerable plants around the garden each year so pests have a harder time finding their favorites.
Rotation also improves soil health and reduces the buildup of soil-borne diseases. It is an easy habit that adds up over time, making your garden tougher and more resilient with very little extra effort.
Even small backyard gardens benefit from simple rotation. Changing the location of key crops from one year to the next can throw pests off enough to keep damage down. And if you combine this with other tricks on this list, it makes your whole garden feel way less like a buffet.
12. Keep your soil healthy and your plants stronger.
Healthy plants resist pests better. Strong roots, sturdy leaves, and balanced nutrients all make it harder for snails and caterpillars to do serious damage. Compost, mulch, and good watering habits give your plants what they need to fight back naturally.
Stressed, weak plants send out chemical signals that pests can detect. Well-fed, healthy plants are less likely to be targeted and more likely to recover quickly if they do take a hit.
Building up your soil’s health does not pay off overnight, but it is one of the best long-term strategies to keep your garden thriving without constant battles. And the stronger your plants get, the less effort you will need to put into chasing pests around every season.