Pest identification
What's eating my dryopteris goldiana?
Slugs & snails
Signs: Holes and torn edges on emerging and mature fronds
Control: Iron-phosphate slug pellets; hand-pick after dark; diatomaceous earth around the crown in dry weather
Deer
Signs: Fronds browsed to stubs, especially in spring and autumn
Control: Fence planting areas; apply deer-repellent spray to foliage; plant in deer-resistant mixed borders
Vine weevil (larvae)
Signs: Plant collapses as root mass is consumed underground
Control: Drench soil with Steinernema nematodes in late summer; repot container specimens and discard infested compost
Keep dryopteris goldiana pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Dryopteris goldiana pests — FAQ
What is eating my dryopteris goldiana?
Goldie's wood fern is a large native garden fern. Slugs and snails shred emerging croziers in spring, deer browse the fronds in woodland gardens, and black vine weevil larvae silently destroy roots. Scale insects occasionally colonise the stipes. Slugs are by far the most universally reported nuisance on this species.
How do I get rid of slugs & snails on dryopteris goldiana?
Holes and torn edges on emerging and mature fronds Iron-phosphate slug pellets; hand-pick after dark; diatomaceous earth around the crown in dry weather
How do I get rid of deer on dryopteris goldiana?
Fronds browsed to stubs, especially in spring and autumn Fence planting areas; apply deer-repellent spray to foliage; plant in deer-resistant mixed borders
How do I get rid of vine weevil (larvae) on dryopteris goldiana?
Plant collapses as root mass is consumed underground Drench soil with Steinernema nematodes in late summer; repot container specimens and discard infested compost