Pest identification
What's eating my sea buckthorn?
Birds
Signs: Berry clusters stripped by fieldfares, waxwings, and starlings, especially in winter when other food is scarce.
Control: Net female plants at harvest; alternatively, leave a sacrificial portion for wildlife and harvest the remainder early.
Aphids
Signs: Colonies on new shoot tips; leaf curl and honeydew deposits in spring.
Control: Encourage natural predators; apply insecticidal soap or a strong jet of water to dislodge colonies.
Spider mites (Tetranychus urticae)
Signs: Stippled, bronzed foliage on plants in hot, dry, exposed sites; fine webbing on leaf undersides.
Control: Ensure adequate moisture; apply horticultural oil or insecticidal soap; increase air humidity around plants during drought.
Keep sea buckthorn pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Sea Buckthorn pests — FAQ
What is eating my sea buckthorn?
Sea Buckthorn is tough and largely pest-resistant, but birds aggressively target its densely packed orange berries. Aphids can colonise young shoots in spring. Spider mites stress plants in hot, dry sites. The thorny canes give some natural protection, and the plant's vigour usually outpaces pest damage.
How do I get rid of birds on sea buckthorn?
Berry clusters stripped by fieldfares, waxwings, and starlings, especially in winter when other food is scarce. Net female plants at harvest; alternatively, leave a sacrificial portion for wildlife and harvest the remainder early.
How do I get rid of aphids on sea buckthorn?
Colonies on new shoot tips; leaf curl and honeydew deposits in spring. Encourage natural predators; apply insecticidal soap or a strong jet of water to dislodge colonies.
How do I get rid of spider mites (tetranychus urticae) on sea buckthorn?
Stippled, bronzed foliage on plants in hot, dry, exposed sites; fine webbing on leaf undersides. Ensure adequate moisture; apply horticultural oil or insecticidal soap; increase air humidity around plants during drought.