Pest and disease management in multi-species swards

Pests and diseases can affect individual species within multi-species swards more than others, potentially altering sward balance if not managed early. While multi-species swards are generally more resilient than monocultures, regular monitoring and preventative management are essential to maintain productivity and longevity.

Because treatment options are limited once a diverse sward is established, the focus should be on prevention and risk reduction, early detection and integrated pest management (IPM).

Look out for diseases that could harm some plant species more than others. Use the Recommended Grass and Clover Lists (RGCL) for recommended varieties.

Diversity helps spread risk, but individual species may still be more susceptible to specific pests or diseases.

Learn about integrated pest management

Common diseases and how to manage them

Table 1. Common diseases and how to manage them

Disease	Symptoms	Prevention	Control
Clover rot (Sclerotinia trifoliorum)	Wilting and dying leaves White, cottony fungal growth at the base of plants	Avoid waterlogged conditions Ensure good drainage Rotate with non‑host crops	Use resistant varieties Remove and destroy infected material where possible
Rust (Uromyces trifolii‑repentis)	Orange brown pustules on leaves and stems	Avoid dense, closed swards Maintain airflow through grazing or cutting Crop rotation	Resistant varieties Fungicides where justified Remove infected material
Powdery mildew (Erysiphe trifolii)	White powdery coating on leaves and stems	Avoid excess nitrogen Maintain spacing and airflow	Resistant varieties Fungicides (if required) Removal of infected material
Anthracnose (Colletotrichum trifolii)	Dark, sunken lesions on leaves, stems or pods	Disease-free seed Avoid prolonged wet conditions Crop rotation	Resistant varieties Fungicides where appropriate Destroy infected debris

Species-specific disease risks

Chicory – susceptible to root rot and downy mildew
Red clover – clover rot and red clover sickness
Lucerne – vulnerable to fungal diseases such as Phytophthora

Species choice should always reflect soil type, drainage and farm history.

Common pests and how to manage them

Table 2. Common pests and how to manage them

Pest	Symptoms	Prevention	Control
Clover weevil (Sitona spp.)	Notched leaf edges Stunted growth Larvae damage nitrogen-fixing root nodules	Promote beneficial insects Maintain healthy, actively growing swards Crop rotation	Monitor adult feeding damage Targeted insecticides only if thresholds are exceeded Nematodes may help control larvae
Slugs and snails	Irregular holes in leaves Slime trails on plants and soil	Improve drainage Reduce surface trash and debris	Apply approved pellets or nematodes soon after sowing or once damage is seen Use traps to check activity before treatment
Wireworms (click beetle larvae)	Wilted or stunted plants Root damage leading to poor establishment	Crop rotation Avoid establishing swards in known high-risk fields	Use trap crops (e.g. mustard) Monitor populations prior to establishment

Pest

Symptoms

Prevention

Control

Clover weevil (Sitona spp.)

Notched leaf edges

Stunted growth

Larvae damage nitrogen-fixing root nodules

Promote beneficial insects

Maintain healthy, actively growing swards

Crop rotation

Monitor adult feeding damage

Targeted insecticides only if thresholds are exceeded

Nematodes may help control larvae

Slugs and snails

Irregular holes in leaves

Slime trails on plants and soil

Improve drainage

Reduce surface trash and debris

Apply approved pellets or nematodes soon after sowing or once damage is seen

Use traps to check activity before treatment

Wireworms (click beetle larvae)

Wilted or stunted plants

Root damage leading to poor establishment

Crop rotation

Avoid establishing swards in known high-risk fields

Use trap crops (e.g. mustard)

Monitor populations prior to establishment

Further information

Learn more about multi-species swards

Order your own copy of our multi-species swards guide

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Crops & Grassland Grassland Management Varieties Livestock

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Herbal leys forage grass growth grazing clover