Pest identification
What's eating my maire's fescue?
Aphids
Signs: Soft green or grey insects on emerging shoots; sticky deposits and mild leaf curl.
Control: Water jet or insecticidal soap spray; usually self-limiting once beneficial insects arrive.
Slugs & snails
Signs: Ragged edges on young leaf blades at the base of the clump.
Control: Iron phosphate pellets; trap under damp boards and remove; tidy debris around plants.
Keep maire's fescue pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Maire's fescue pests — FAQ
What is eating my maire's fescue?
Maire's fescue is a robust Moroccan ornamental grass with excellent pest resistance. Aphids occasionally colonise new growth and slugs may graze young shoots, but established clumps are rarely seriously damaged. Deer and rabbits generally avoid it. Good drainage prevents the crown rot that most threatens this species.
How do I get rid of aphids on maire's fescue?
Soft green or grey insects on emerging shoots; sticky deposits and mild leaf curl. Water jet or insecticidal soap spray; usually self-limiting once beneficial insects arrive.
How do I get rid of slugs & snails on maire's fescue?
Ragged edges on young leaf blades at the base of the clump. Iron phosphate pellets; trap under damp boards and remove; tidy debris around plants.