Pest identification
What's eating my deer grass?
Aphids
Signs: Small colonies on new spring growth leave sticky honeydew and cause minor leaf distortion on emerging shoots.
Control: Blast off with a firm water jet; insecticidal soap for heavy colonies; natural predators including parasitic wasps handle most outbreaks.
Gophers and Voles
Signs: Roots and crown tissue eaten underground; plants wilt suddenly or are pulled below soil surface; gopher mounds nearby.
Control: Wire mesh gopher baskets installed at planting; surface-placed traps for established infestations; underground hardware cloth barriers for large plantings.
Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda)
Signs: Caterpillars chew blades rapidly at night, creating ragged defoliation patches on the dense clumps in summer.
Control: Apply Bt or spinosad at first detection; check plants after warm, humid weather when outbreaks peak in the southwest and southeast US.
Keep deer grass pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Deer Grass pests — FAQ
What is eating my deer grass?
Deer Grass is a drought-tolerant California native that is largely pest-resistant. Despite its name, deer rarely browse it. Aphids may cluster on young spring growth, and armyworm caterpillars can damage blades in summer outbreaks. Gophers and voles sometimes target roots. Rust is possible after wet winters. Established clumps tolerate most conditions without serious pest intervention.
How do I get rid of aphids on deer grass?
Small colonies on new spring growth leave sticky honeydew and cause minor leaf distortion on emerging shoots. Blast off with a firm water jet; insecticidal soap for heavy colonies; natural predators including parasitic wasps handle most outbreaks.
How do I get rid of gophers and voles on deer grass?
Roots and crown tissue eaten underground; plants wilt suddenly or are pulled below soil surface; gopher mounds nearby. Wire mesh gopher baskets installed at planting; surface-placed traps for established infestations; underground hardware cloth barriers for large plantings.
How do I get rid of fall armyworm (spodoptera frugiperda) on deer grass?
Caterpillars chew blades rapidly at night, creating ragged defoliation patches on the dense clumps in summer. Apply Bt or spinosad at first detection; check plants after warm, humid weather when outbreaks peak in the southwest and southeast US.