What's eating my glyceria maxima 'variegata'?

Variegated reed sweet-grass is primarily attacked by aphids on its cream-and-green foliage and browsed by slugs and snails at the pond margin. Deer will graze emerging shoots in spring. The plant is vigorous, so most pest damage is cosmetic rather than fatal — cut affected growth back hard and allow re-flush.

Colonies on young shoots cause yellowing and sticky residue; sooty mould on honeydew can obscure variegation. Knock off with a water jet; encourage natural predators (ladybirds, hoverflies); avoid insecticides near the pond.

Ragged holes in young leaves and soft stem bases at the waterline, particularly in cool damp weather. Apply iron-phosphate pellets well away from open water; hand-remove slugs at dusk; gritty mulch around the basket rim.

Emerging spring shoots grazed to the ground; repeated grazing weakens the crown over successive seasons. Temporary wire fencing or netting around pond margins from March to June; well-established clumps recover if browsed occasionally.