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Ferns looking poorly!

Tina DuffillTina Duffill Posts: 87
in Problem solving
Anyone know what could be making our ferns look like this?
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Posts

  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited August 2021
    Yes.  I think. 

    My Dryopteris felix-mas (probably the most common) looks like that this year.  It was the hot and dry period.  Hopefuly it will be OK next year.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    Those fronds look a bit shiny - could they have slug or snail slime on them?  
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • Tina DuffillTina Duffill Posts: 87
    Thanks for your reply, just been watered so maybe reason for them looking a bit shiney... 
  • Tina DuffillTina Duffill Posts: 87
    edited August 2021
    About 2 metres away is another fern which looks normal and healthy


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I wonder if it's caterpillar or even sawfly damage. Sawflies strip foliage like that. Quite unusual though I'd think. 
    Is it just that one @Tina Duffill, and are any other plants nearby affected?
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Tina DuffillTina Duffill Posts: 87
    Some of our other ferns have the same damage (not all) this is the worst one.  Our solomans seal does get devoured by solomans seal sawfly after all the flowers are done. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes  - they're particularly susceptible, although I'm not sure if they attack other plants in a different plant family, but I could be wide of the mark there.
    Someone might be able to advise on that.  :)

    This is a very useful site for IDing all sorts of insects - might be worth having a look to see if anything looks similar. Many of us on the forum use it  :)
    http://www.wildlifeinsight.com/sawfly-caterpillars-or-larvae/

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Tina DuffillTina Duffill Posts: 87
    Thanks very much will have a look at the link.  :)
  • Tina DuffillTina Duffill Posts: 87
    Just checked on the link and Wow! yes those little blighters have made an appearance on one of our brown ornamental grasses (no damage done) Really appreciate your help tho  :)
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It was a bit of a guess @Tina Duffill, but it just had the appearance of sawfly damage.
    Not something I've ever seen on ferns though - but maybe the conditions this year have had an effect. 
    Not sure what your best course of action is though. Good luck with it  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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