Pest identification
What's eating my deparia acrostichoides?
Slugs & snails
Signs: Ragged holes and missing sections across the soft frond surface
Control: Iron-phosphate pellets scattered around crowns; remove decaying debris; set beer traps between plants
Deer
Signs: Fronds browsed to stubs; colonising shoots eaten before they expand
Control: Physical deer fencing; repellent sprays; plant among other less-palatable woodland species for camouflage
Aphids
Signs: Curled, sticky emerging fronds with soft-bodied insects on undersides
Control: Water jet to dislodge; insecticidal soap; encourage natural predators like lacewings
Keep deparia acrostichoides pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Deparia acrostichoides pests — FAQ
What is eating my deparia acrostichoides?
Silvery glade fern (Deparia acrostichoides) is a soft-fronded native US woodland fern. Slugs and snails are the primary pest on its delicate fronds. Deer will graze it in open woodland gardens. Aphids occasionally appear on new growth in spring. Its preference for moist, shaded soils keeps it in prime slug territory.
How do I get rid of slugs & snails on deparia acrostichoides?
Ragged holes and missing sections across the soft frond surface Iron-phosphate pellets scattered around crowns; remove decaying debris; set beer traps between plants
How do I get rid of deer on deparia acrostichoides?
Fronds browsed to stubs; colonising shoots eaten before they expand Physical deer fencing; repellent sprays; plant among other less-palatable woodland species for camouflage
How do I get rid of aphids on deparia acrostichoides?
Curled, sticky emerging fronds with soft-bodied insects on undersides Water jet to dislodge; insecticidal soap; encourage natural predators like lacewings