Today in the orchard
(Today’s report by Skylar again). I spent my time continuing to weed around the apple trees at Finley Lane. It is a big project that we chip away at slowly. Our goal is to cut back the grasses and bedstraw (Galium album) while leaving the perennial “companion” plants.
Amber Snails (Novasuccinea ovalis) and a Tawny Garden Slug (Limacus flavus) on a Finley Lane apple tree, June 25, 2025.
The dense “weeds” around the young apple trees hold moisture, leaving the bark continually damp, and providing the perfect environment for slugs and snails. I was curious about the impact these guys are having; the slugs and snails are all over the place, but they are not causing any visible damage. The slugs are what I believe to be Tawny Garden Slugs (Limacus flavus), and the snails are Amber Snails (Novasuccinea ovalis). They typically feed on tender plant material, like leaves and fruit, rather than woody bark. They can be fairly destructive to young trees and once killed a row of newly grafted trees that had been planted out near the edge of the nursery and then forgotten in the weeds. At the Finley Lane Orchard new trees are planted each year, but the majority are older and can tough out any slug or snail damage. As soon as we free up space around the trunks of the apples, the slugs and snails began to retreat to new locations. It is helpful to have some of their natural predators around. Insects such as Ground Beetles (family Carabidae), Rove Beetles (family Staphylinidae), and Fireflies (family Lampyridae) (all of which I’ve noticed hanging out in apple orchards) love to munch on slugs and snails. If ever you see these insects in your garden or orchard, you can thank them for the good work they do and let them be on their merry way.
