Pest identification
What's eating my dryopteris intermedia?
Slugs and snails
Signs: Holes and ragged notches in newly unrolling fronds; slime trails on soil near plant base
Control: Apply iron phosphate pellets around crowns in spring; use beer traps; hand-pick at night when slugs are most active
Vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus)
Signs: Scalloped notches on frond margins from adult beetles; grubs destroy roots causing sudden wilting
Control: Drench soil with Steinernema kraussei nematodes in late summer; physically remove grubs when dividing or transplanting
Deer
Signs: Entire fronds browsed down close to crown level, especially in spring and early summer
Control: Fence high-pressure deer areas; apply commercially available deer repellent sprays monthly during the growing season
Keep dryopteris intermedia pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Dryopteris intermedia pests — FAQ
What is eating my dryopteris intermedia?
Dryopteris intermedia (intermediate wood fern) is a tough, semi-evergreen garden fern rarely troubled by pests. Slugs and snails are the primary threat to emerging spring fronds. Vine weevil grubs can damage roots in shaded moist conditions. Deer and rabbits occasionally browse young growth in exposed woodland gardens.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on dryopteris intermedia?
Holes and ragged notches in newly unrolling fronds; slime trails on soil near plant base Apply iron phosphate pellets around crowns in spring; use beer traps; hand-pick at night when slugs are most active
How do I get rid of vine weevil (otiorhynchus sulcatus) on dryopteris intermedia?
Scalloped notches on frond margins from adult beetles; grubs destroy roots causing sudden wilting Drench soil with Steinernema kraussei nematodes in late summer; physically remove grubs when dividing or transplanting
How do I get rid of deer on dryopteris intermedia?
Entire fronds browsed down close to crown level, especially in spring and early summer Fence high-pressure deer areas; apply commercially available deer repellent sprays monthly during the growing season