Pest identification
What's eating my boulder blue fescue?
Aphids
Signs: Soft-bodied insects massing on new shoots; sticky honeydew residue and minor yellowing of shoot tips.
Control: Water blast or insecticidal soap spray. Encourage ladybirds and parasitic wasps. Rarely needs chemical intervention.
Rust (Puccinia spp.)
Signs: Orange-brown pustules on upper leaf surfaces during humid, rainy weather; blades yellow and die back.
Control: Ensure adequate spacing for airflow; water at soil level only. Remove infected foliage promptly. Apply sulfur fungicide if rust recurs seasonally.
Slugs and snails
Signs: Irregular chewing of fine blades at or near soil level; silvery slime trails around the clump.
Control: Iron phosphate slug pellets applied around the clump; hand-pick after dark. Improve drainage and reduce overhead cover that retains moisture.
Keep boulder blue fescue pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Boulder Blue Fescue pests — FAQ
What is eating my boulder blue fescue?
Boulder Blue Fescue is a rugged cultivar with few pest vulnerabilities. Aphids occasionally colonise new shoots, and rust can flare in wet seasons. Slugs may nibble foliage in cool, damp positions. Deer and rabbits generally leave blue fescues alone. Excess moisture is the greater enemy, not insects.
How do I get rid of aphids on boulder blue fescue?
Soft-bodied insects massing on new shoots; sticky honeydew residue and minor yellowing of shoot tips. Water blast or insecticidal soap spray. Encourage ladybirds and parasitic wasps. Rarely needs chemical intervention.
How do I get rid of rust (puccinia spp.) on boulder blue fescue?
Orange-brown pustules on upper leaf surfaces during humid, rainy weather; blades yellow and die back. Ensure adequate spacing for airflow; water at soil level only. Remove infected foliage promptly. Apply sulfur fungicide if rust recurs seasonally.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on boulder blue fescue?
Irregular chewing of fine blades at or near soil level; silvery slime trails around the clump. Iron phosphate slug pellets applied around the clump; hand-pick after dark. Improve drainage and reduce overhead cover that retains moisture.