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Ferns looking poorly!

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  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Brilliant work by @Fairygirl, seems our "resident expert" is not quite so good.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Bit of a guess really.  :)
    I'd normally have agreed with @Liriodendron re slug/snail damage, but ferns are generally fairly trouble free in that department. I would never have any if it was the case!
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    I will stick with my earlier comment.  Lack of water.  Correcting that will help new growth id it's not too late in the season, but the ugly old leaves may look better emoved.
     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."
  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    When I've forgotten to water mine they go really limp and droopy rather than sparse.  I would cry if anything bad happened to my frondy friends.

    Have you let them dry out? 

  • Thanks everyone for all the advice and feedback, think these are the culprit and there are sooo many!
  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    There you go.  Little b*ggers.

    I knew it wouldn't be a water issue. 

    Another thing to worry about.

    Is there a way to get rid of them?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited August 2021
    Picking off and putting out for the birds somewhere is about the only method @TheGreenMan.
    Most plants recover for the following year though, so it isn't always a major problem - mainly aesthetics for the period they're active  

    If you can pick them off and dispose of them [or chuck them somewhere for the birds if that's a possibility] that's about all you can do @Tina Duffill

    Good luck!

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



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    How much bloody evidence do you need, it is insect damage, drought will make the leaves crispy, not eaten.
    I really don't get you, it seems that unless it is your answer, it must be wrong.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    punkdoc said:
    How much bloody evidence do you need, it is insect damage, drought will make the leaves crispy, not eaten.
    I really don't get you, it seems that unless it is your answer, it must be wrong.
    Some folk always think they're right @punkdoc ... even with empirical evidence to the contrary ... they usually just chunter to themselves until even that audience gets bored.  🥱

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited August 2021
    I would decribe the caterpillars as "post hoc ergo propter hoc".  Look it up.

    Those ferns of mine with similar symptoms went dry and crispy in patches, which then fell off leaving a similar effect to the poster's.  No sign of any pest. 

    I don't see how I can be critcised for saying that, even if some later evidence points to a difference answer. 
     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."
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