Pest identification
What's eating my african feather grass?
Aphids
Signs: Soft insects massed on fresh shoot tips; sticky deposits may cause sooty mould.
Control: Jet of water; insecticidal soap or neem oil spray for persistent colonies.
Slugs & snails
Signs: Ragged or eaten young leaf blades at soil level after wet weather.
Control: Iron phosphate pellets; clear debris from the plant base; hand-pick at night.
Sod webworm caterpillars
Signs: Blades grazed at night leaving stubs; silken tubes visible in the thatch layer.
Control: Apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) at dusk; water to expose larvae to predators.
Keep african feather grass pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
African feather grass pests — FAQ
What is eating my african feather grass?
African feather grass is a tall, vigorous ornamental that is largely pest-resistant but can be invasive in warmer US states. Aphids attack new growth, and slugs damage young shoots. Sod webworm caterpillars occasionally graze blades in summer. Birds sometimes eat the seeds — a feature, not a problem, for wildlife gardens.
How do I get rid of aphids on african feather grass?
Soft insects massed on fresh shoot tips; sticky deposits may cause sooty mould. Jet of water; insecticidal soap or neem oil spray for persistent colonies.
How do I get rid of slugs & snails on african feather grass?
Ragged or eaten young leaf blades at soil level after wet weather. Iron phosphate pellets; clear debris from the plant base; hand-pick at night.
How do I get rid of sod webworm caterpillars on african feather grass?
Blades grazed at night leaving stubs; silken tubes visible in the thatch layer. Apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) at dusk; water to expose larvae to predators.