Pest identification
What's eating my tufted hair grass?
Slugs & snails
Signs: Chewed leaf tips and ragged lower blades; slime trails visible on and around the clump.
Control: Apply iron phosphate pellets in spring when new growth emerges; clear leaf litter that shelters slugs.
Aphids
Signs: Small colonies on new shoots causing distorted, sticky foliage with honeydew deposits.
Control: Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; dislodge with a jet of water.
Armyworms / grass moth caterpillars
Signs: Ragged holes in grass blades; in heavy infestations, entire clumps can be stripped back.
Control: Apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray at first sign of caterpillar activity; hand-pick where practical.
Keep tufted hair grass pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Tufted Hair Grass pests — FAQ
What is eating my tufted hair grass?
Tufted Hair Grass is largely trouble-free in the garden. Slugs and snails can damage young growth, especially in spring. Aphids occasionally colonise new shoots. In the US, caterpillars of various grass-feeding moths (including armyworms) may graze foliage. Deer and rabbits rarely target it, making it a good low-maintenance border grass.
How do I get rid of slugs & snails on tufted hair grass?
Chewed leaf tips and ragged lower blades; slime trails visible on and around the clump. Apply iron phosphate pellets in spring when new growth emerges; clear leaf litter that shelters slugs.
How do I get rid of aphids on tufted hair grass?
Small colonies on new shoots causing distorted, sticky foliage with honeydew deposits. Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; dislodge with a jet of water.
How do I get rid of armyworms / grass moth caterpillars on tufted hair grass?
Ragged holes in grass blades; in heavy infestations, entire clumps can be stripped back. Apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray at first sign of caterpillar activity; hand-pick where practical.