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What’s eating my ferns?

I’ve just planted out some young ferns and their leaves are being decimated! I’ve looked hard for snails/slugs/caterpillars but can’t see anything. All advice welcome. Thanks 
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  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    :open_mouth:

    I've never had slugs/snails eat my ferns. Even when I had my "yarden" and I was riddled with them.

    Ferns produce toxins which is supoposed to put the molluscs off.

    You don't have mice around do you?  I'm aware that some mice are partial to fern fronds....

    There are some caterpillars and flies that can strip your ferns.  Perhaps look for those rather than slugs/snails.



  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Is it too early in the year for caterpillars ? That was my first thought,such as sawfly ?
  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    AnniD said:
    Is it too early in the year for caterpillars ? That was my first thought,such as sawfly ?

    Probably too early for caterpillars although I did see one this morning when I was tidying the front garden!!

    It could be sawflies.  They're typically around April onwards so perhaps they are around earlier this year because of the mild winter...?
  • didywdidyw Posts: 3,573
    Could it be pigeons? It looks as if it is a broader-frond plant that is being decimated, rather than the more feathery one next to it. The damage looks very similar to that I had last year on my chard and that was most definitely pigeons.  You could try putting a cloche or some kind of netting over it and let it recover. 
    Gardening in East Suffolk on dry sandy soil.
  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    didyw said:
    Could it be pigeons? It looks as if it is a broader-frond plant that is being decimated, rather than the more feathery one next to it. The damage looks very similar to that I had last year on my chard and that was most definitely pigeons.  You could try putting a cloche or some kind of netting over it and let it recover. 

    Pigeons!  I'd not thought of pigeons.  I've just planted a lot of ferns in a new bed and I have pigeons in the garden all day every day and they've not touched them.

    Maybe because I have bird food around?

  • Thank you - I hadn’t thought about the possibility of pigeons or mice! 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    We have no shortage of mice or pigeons, but they've never touched any ferns.
    I think that looks more like sawfly damage too, although it seems early. It has been very mild this winter in many areas though. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    edited March 2022
    I did think pigeons were a long shot.

    They just hop around mine looking for other stuff.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @alicespawlsOiJb49AO You say you have just planted them out, have you just bought them? I have problems with Pheasants eating leaves, pigeons seem to do very little damage if any.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 4,254
    Which species are those ferns?
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