Pest identification
What's eating my phegopteris hexagonoptera?
Slugs & snails
Signs: Large irregular holes in broad fronds; whole fronds eaten in wet conditions
Control: Iron-phosphate bait; beer traps; reduce leaf mulch depth to limit daytime hiding spots
Deer
Signs: Mass browsing of fronds, particularly in spring and drought stress periods
Control: Deer exclusion fencing; perimeter repellent sprays reapplied after rain
Vine weevil (larvae)
Signs: Dead patches in the colony where rhizomes have been eaten
Control: Beneficial nematode soil drench in late summer when soil is still warm and moist
Keep phegopteris hexagonoptera pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Phegopteris hexagonoptera pests — FAQ
What is eating my phegopteris hexagonoptera?
Broad beech fern (Phegopteris hexagonoptera) spreads as a woodland groundcover in eastern US gardens. Slugs and snails shred its broad, thin fronds. Deer browse it heavily in forest-garden settings. Vine weevil larvae attack the creeping rhizomes. Its large, soft fronds make it more susceptible to slug damage than leathery-fronded ferns.
How do I get rid of slugs & snails on phegopteris hexagonoptera?
Large irregular holes in broad fronds; whole fronds eaten in wet conditions Iron-phosphate bait; beer traps; reduce leaf mulch depth to limit daytime hiding spots
How do I get rid of deer on phegopteris hexagonoptera?
Mass browsing of fronds, particularly in spring and drought stress periods Deer exclusion fencing; perimeter repellent sprays reapplied after rain
How do I get rid of vine weevil (larvae) on phegopteris hexagonoptera?
Dead patches in the colony where rhizomes have been eaten Beneficial nematode soil drench in late summer when soil is still warm and moist