Pest identification
What's eating my blue fescue?
Aphids
Signs: Small soft insects on new growth causing leaf curl, yellowing, and sticky honeydew; rarely a serious problem.
Control: Wash off with a strong water jet or spray with insecticidal soap. Rarely requires anything stronger; encourage ladybirds and lacewings.
Rust (Puccinia spp.)
Signs: Orange-brown powdery pustules on leaf blades in humid or wet conditions; affected leaves may wither.
Control: Improve air circulation; avoid overhead watering. Remove infected foliage. Apply sulfur-based fungicide if rust is persistent.
Slugs and snails
Signs: Irregular grazing and holes in fine leaf blades; silvery slime trails on and around the clump, worst in shady or damp positions.
Control: Use iron phosphate slug pellets around the clump or copper tape barriers; hand-pick at night. Improve drainage and reduce mulch immediately around the crown.
Keep blue fescue pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Blue Fescue pests — FAQ
What is eating my blue fescue?
Elijah Blue Fescue is largely trouble-free in a well-drained, sunny site. Aphids are the most documented insect pest, and rust can appear in humid conditions. Slugs and snails may graze the fine foliage in damp sites. Heat and wet soils cause more decline than pests. Deer and rabbits avoid it.
How do I get rid of aphids on blue fescue?
Small soft insects on new growth causing leaf curl, yellowing, and sticky honeydew; rarely a serious problem. Wash off with a strong water jet or spray with insecticidal soap. Rarely requires anything stronger; encourage ladybirds and lacewings.
How do I get rid of rust (puccinia spp.) on blue fescue?
Orange-brown powdery pustules on leaf blades in humid or wet conditions; affected leaves may wither. Improve air circulation; avoid overhead watering. Remove infected foliage. Apply sulfur-based fungicide if rust is persistent.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on blue fescue?
Irregular grazing and holes in fine leaf blades; silvery slime trails on and around the clump, worst in shady or damp positions. Use iron phosphate slug pellets around the clump or copper tape barriers; hand-pick at night. Improve drainage and reduce mulch immediately around the crown.