Leatherjackets

Doonhamer

Help parts of my lawn are dying. I had a few bits of turf spare from widening a border and when I dug up a dead bit to replace it with the spare bit, it was full of leatherjackets.

I thought it was the recent damp weather and the wet winter that had killed it, but now it think the leatherjackets are eating the roots. How do I get rid of them?

Oh, and I'm not eco friendly so all out chemical warfare is fine.

Wig

If you use a chemical, you will kill the birds that eat them, robins etc, how does that make you feel? it willl also kill the earthworms.

use Nemasys L in September harmless to birds and earthworms.

http://www.greengardener.co.uk/leatherj.htm

Also consider that you are just too late to stop them this year, they will soon pupate and hatch and fly away, so with this in mind there is little point in any treatment chemical or green at the moment. The damage has been done. Wait until September.

Doonhamer

Thanks, I do draw the line at killing birds so I'll just have to sow some grass for now.

asquiths_2

Hi

Leatherjackets are the larvae of the crane fly (daddy long legs)

With any garden pests a high % of OM (organic matter) ie wet stagnant thathy turf will encourage these

On my cricket wickets i`ve used parasitic nematodes to controll such pests

Once applied the nematode will enter the leatherjackets through natural openings ie eyes, mouth etc and will kill the pest.

once inside the pest a deadly bacteria will kill the leatherjacket and the nematode will die off and produce many small nematodes that`ll keep any future pests in check

Nematodes won`t harm worms etc !!

Because the leatherjackets will break down and feed on roots it`ll put the plant under total stress as nutrients available in the soil solution and moisture taken up by root hairs will strugle to transport through the xylem and phloem (conducting tissues) thus making the plant weak (and will naturaly die off) and susceptable to pathogenic attack etc

Chlorosis of the leaf will be a tell tale sign !!!

asquiths_2

Also...

In future a good indicator of pests will be crows riping up the soil !

Alan_M_2

Nematodes, Leatherjackets,,,sheesh I thought I was reading an episode of Star Trek!

Doonhamer

Seems the damage is done for this year, I'll get the nematodes for September and buy dome grass seed for now. Thanks.

Ken68

For the long term, encourage birds onto your lawn with apples, whatever...They'll find 'em.

Wig

Ideal time to order from greengardner now

https://www.greengardener.co.uk/pestalert.htm