Multiguard Snail & Slug Killer 1kg – Iron EDTA Pellets by Multicrop

Multiguard Snail & Slug Killer 1kg: Iron EDTA Pellets by Multicrop

Multiguard is a new-generation snail and slug bait from Multicrop, developed to give more effective control with far less concern about pets and wildlife than traditional baits. It's a bran-based, rust-coloured pellet applied exactly like ordinary snail pellets, but the active ingredient is what sets it apart: 60 g/kg Iron EDTA Complex.

Iron EDTA is something we come across in everyday life, as a food additive to prevent rancidity, in medicine to treat anaemia, and as a trace element in fertilisers. Harmless enough in those contexts, but a deadly stomach poison to slugs and snails. It contains no metaldehyde or methiocarb.

How It Works

Snails and slugs find Multiguard highly attractive and will eat the pellets in preference to your plants. Once they've fed, they lose their appetite and head back to their shelters to die. That means the feeding damage to your plants stops as soon as they take the bait, rather than continuing while the bait takes effect.

It also means you'll rarely see dead snails lying around the garden. That's completely normal with this type of bait and isn't a sign it hasn't worked, they simply crawl home first. Judge it by the damage stopping, not by shells on the ground.

Works When Other Baits Don't

Multiguard stays effective at low temperatures and in cool, damp conditions, which is a real advantage. Snails and slugs are at their most active and destructive in exactly that cool, wet weather, and that's when many traditional baits become least reliable.

Low Risk to Pets, Wildlife and Soil

Multicrop developed Multiguard specifically to reduce the risk to animals and wildlife. It's low risk to domestic pets including dogs and cats, and to native birds and lizards, when used as directed on the packaging.

It's also a genuinely good fit for food gardens and for the soil itself. The active breaks down into iron, which plants use as a nutrient, so it won't damage your soil. It's harmless to earthworms and beneficial insects, which makes it compatible with organic and IPM-style gardening, and it's ideal for use on vegetables, herbs and flowers.

Note that as with any bait, poultry and livestock shouldn't be allowed to feed on treated areas, so check the withholding period on the pack if you keep chooks.

How to Use

• Rate: scatter roughly 70 pellets per square metre around the plants you're protecting. The 1kg pack treats around 200 square metres.

• Never heap the pellets. Scatter them thinly and evenly. Even coverage means more snails and slugs come across a pellet, so you get better control from the same amount of bait.

• Timing: apply in the evening, when snails and slugs come out to feed, and after rain or watering when they're most active.

• Where: around vegetables, herbs, flowers, seedlings and ornamentals, and in the damp sheltered spots where snails hide during the day.

• Reapply when pellet numbers get low, or after heavy rainfall.

Product Details

• Active constituent: 60 g/kg Iron EDTA Complex

• Pack size: 1 kg (treats approximately 200 m²)

• Made in: Australia

• Contains no metaldehyde or methiocarb

Key Features & Benefits

• Iron EDTA Complex at 60 g/kg, no metaldehyde or methiocarb

• Low risk to dogs, cats, native birds and lizards when used as directed

• Snails stop feeding straight away, so plant damage stops

• Effective in cool, damp conditions when snails are most active

• Harmless to earthworms and beneficial insects

• Breaks down into iron, a plant nutrient, so it won't harm your soil

• Ideal for vegetables, herbs and flowers

• Economical, 1kg treats around 200 square metres

• Australian made

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the ingredients in Multiguard?
The active constituent is 60 g/kg Iron EDTA Complex, in a bran-based pellet. It contains no metaldehyde or methiocarb.

How do I use Multiguard Snail & Slug Killer?
Scatter approximately 70 pellets per square metre around the plants you're protecting, spread thinly and evenly rather than in heaps. Apply in the evening or after rain, and reapply when pellet numbers drop or after heavy rainfall.

How much area does 1kg cover?
Around 200 square metres.

Does slug killer kill snails too?
Yes. Snails and slugs are both molluscs with the same feeding behaviour, so Multiguard works on both.

What is the best snail and slug killer?
It depends on your situation. If you're growing food, or you have pets, chooks or native wildlife around the garden, an Iron EDTA bait like Multiguard is generally the preferred choice, it stops snails feeding immediately, works in cool damp weather, and is low risk to pets and wildlife when used as directed.

Why don't I see dead snails after using it?
Because they crawl back to their shelters before they die, which is normal with this type of bait. Look for the damage to your plants stopping rather than for shells in the garden.

Can I use it around vegetables and herbs?
Yes. It's well suited to vegetables, herbs and flowers, and the active breaks down into iron that plants use as a nutrient.

Is it safe around earthworms?
Yes. It's harmless to earthworms and beneficial insects, which makes it a good fit for organic and IPM-style gardening.