Pest identification
What's eating my common rush?
Slugs and snails
Signs: Grazing on tender new shoots in spring; rarely serious on established plants.
Control: Use ferric phosphate slug pellets or a beer trap around young plants. Established clumps rarely need intervention.
Aphids
Signs: Occasional small colonies on stem bases causing slight yellowing; seldom significant.
Control: Knock off with a water jet or apply insecticidal soap. Populations usually crash naturally once beneficial insects arrive.
Keep common rush pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Common Rush pests — FAQ
What is eating my common rush?
Common Rush is highly resistant to pests and is even avoided by deer. Slugs and snails may nibble young shoots in spring in damp conditions, and aphids can occasionally settle on stems, but neither cause serious damage to established clumps. Good water access and air circulation keep problems minimal.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on common rush?
Grazing on tender new shoots in spring; rarely serious on established plants. Use ferric phosphate slug pellets or a beer trap around young plants. Established clumps rarely need intervention.
How do I get rid of aphids on common rush?
Occasional small colonies on stem bases causing slight yellowing; seldom significant. Knock off with a water jet or apply insecticidal soap. Populations usually crash naturally once beneficial insects arrive.