What's eating my phegopteris connectilis?

Narrow beech fern (Phegopteris connectilis) is a delicate, creeping woodland garden fern. Slugs are the main threat on its thin fronds. Vine weevil larvae damage the slender rhizome network. Deer browse it in open woodland settings. Its low-growing, groundcover habit makes it vulnerable to slug grazing across the whole colony.

Holes and torn fronds across the entire groundcover colony Iron-phosphate pellets spread through the colony; hand pick at night; remove leaf litter that shelters slugs

Patches of the rhizome mat die back as roots are severed underground Apply Steinernema nematodes to moist soil in late summer; divide and inspect rhizomes annually

Fronds grazed to ground level, exposing bare rhizome mat Deer fencing; repellent spray on the colony perimeter; choose sheltered enclosed spots