Iron phosphate - Pests it manages & Pros and Cons, how to use

Iron phosphate is the active ingredient in pet-safe snail and slug baits. It's every bit as effective as the old blue metaldehyde pellets, but safe around pets, birds and wildlife — which makes it our pick for slugs and snails.

Pests it manages:

• Slugs and snails

How to use it:

1. Scatter the pellets thinly over the soil where slugs and snails are active — around seedlings and in damp, shady spots.
2. Reapply after heavy rain, or every couple of weeks.
3. The slugs and snails stop feeding straight away and die out of sight, so you won't be left with a mess.

The good:

• Safe around pets, kids, birds and wildlife.
• As effective as metaldehyde.
• Breaks down into iron and phosphate — both harmless plant nutrients.

The catch:

• Works a little more slowly than metaldehyde (you won't see dead snails everywhere — that's normal).
• May need reapplying after rain.

If slugs and snails are chewing your seedlings, iron phosphate is the safe, effective choice. For the bigger picture, see our guide to managing pests safely.

Plan your patch: our free planting calendar shows what to plant now where you live. Ready to grow? Browse our raised garden beds or build your own with the garden bed builder.

Image: Beko, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.