Metaldehyde - Pests it manages & Pros and Cons

Metaldehyde is the blue pellet in most traditional snail and slug baits. It works — but it's also poisonous to pets, birds and wildlife, which is why we don't recommend it around a home veggie patch when there's a safer option.

Pests it manages:

• Slugs and snails

Why we're cautious:

• Toxic to dogs and cats — even a small amount can be fatal, with tremors and seizures.
• Also harmful to birds, frogs and other wildlife.
• Can contaminate waterways.

The safer swap: iron phosphate baits kill slugs and snails just as well but are safe around pets and wildlife — that's what we'd use. If you do use metaldehyde, scatter it thinly to the label, never in piles, and keep it right away from pets and children.

Our honest take — skip metaldehyde and use iron phosphate instead. 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: sunsets_for_you, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.