Pest identification
What's eating my red head fountain grass?
Aphids
Signs: Dense colonies on emerging shoots; sticky honeydew and possible sooty mould.
Control: Blast off with water; insecticidal soap or neem oil for heavy infestations.
Slugs & snails
Signs: Ragged eaten leaf blades at soil level after rain.
Control: Iron phosphate pellets; remove debris; hand-pick at dusk.
Sod webworm caterpillars
Signs: Blades grazed to stubs at night; fine silken tubes visible at soil surface.
Control: Apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) in the evening when caterpillars are active.
Keep red head fountain grass pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
red head fountain grass pests — FAQ
What is eating my red head fountain grass?
Red Head fountain grass is an ornamental Pennisetum with moderate pest resistance. Aphids exploit tender spring growth, and slugs damage young shoots. In the US, it can also attract sod webworm caterpillars which graze blades at night. Deer occasionally browse new growth but leave established clumps alone.
How do I get rid of aphids on red head fountain grass?
Dense colonies on emerging shoots; sticky honeydew and possible sooty mould. Blast off with water; insecticidal soap or neem oil for heavy infestations.
How do I get rid of slugs & snails on red head fountain grass?
Ragged eaten leaf blades at soil level after rain. Iron phosphate pellets; remove debris; hand-pick at dusk.
How do I get rid of sod webworm caterpillars on red head fountain grass?
Blades grazed to stubs at night; fine silken tubes visible at soil surface. Apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) in the evening when caterpillars are active.