Chafer grubs

joey_2

We thought we had leatherjackets in garden but last night I left a couple of sheets of cardboard on the lawn to bring them up and what I found was definitely chafer grubs although I'm a bit surprised as we had loads of daddy long legs last year but I can't say I noticed many beetles.
Anyhoo........ I have read up on them and I know I need nematodes but it said the only time to use these on them is August/September so in the mean time am going to cover the garden with a black sheet overnight and have to pick them out yuck!!!:eek:

What do I do with them? If I put them in a bucket of water will they die? Do I just chuck them in the rubbish bag?

And I've seen nematodes for sale on the net , will I be able to find them at a garden centre - can anyone recommend a brand thay've used?

Thanks, Joey. xxx

Alison_Cross

Hiya - don't chuck them out - bung them on the bird table and let our feathered friends get some nutrition out of them :-)

If they don't eat them, THEN bung in the bin.

AX

joey_2

We don't have a bird table, actually don't get many birds round here it's a very crowded estate.
Was talking to to oh about this last night, I don't think they die in the water as they were crawling up the bucket yuck! So would it be ok to put some bleach in and put them in that then tip them down the drain - is it ok to put bleach down a drain?
Oh is hopefully coming home with loads of cardboard boxes tonight from the furniture shop opposite his work so going to cover garden with them tonight.

Also when's the best time to sow grass seeds? Want to get this garden sorted as soon as poss as the girls are wanting to play out there!

joey_2

Anyone???

Must be someone here who's had chafer grubs in garden?

markl_4

Hi Joey

Sounds like you might have a couple of critters in your lawn, and you are really doing the right thing at this time of year. The cardboard on the lawn encourages them to the surface and then you pick them off and kill them. Most people just stamp on them, or bang a stone on them. This is a natural non-chemical control method preferred.

Sounds like if you have crane flies that you have Leatherjackets, in addition to Chafer Grubs.

Both these nasties eat grass roots, so your grass will have gone thin / brown / dead where they are. Really noticeable in summer when the grass is under stress from lack of water, being trampled on by the kids etc, heat.

Really strong lawns tend to fend off the bugs and they can just live there, but really just carry on doing what you are now to encourage them out the ground and then kill them in the morning. You could use bleach to help kill them, and of course you can put bleach down the drain - that's how most folks clean their loos (unless you've switched to Ecover products like me!). BUT! I should think they might float in the water so I wouldn't find that pleasant personally. I reckon the least 'yucky' method is to put them between a few sheets of newspaper, make a little 'packet' of them then stamp on them , and put the squashed bugs in newspaper in your rubbish. That way you don't have to look at them to kill them or deal with a squidgy mess after. Sorry for the gory details!:D Lucky I'm not a buddhist!

To answer the question about nematodes, they need a minimum temperature to live and move. Chafer Grub eating nematodes therefore can only be used July through to late September. It's too cool for them in Spring. Ditto for Leatherjacket nematodes. By no way endorsing the Just-Green website, but they have biological controls for everything, and at least you can read up about it a bit more:-

http://www.just-green.com/index.php?cPath=69_121
http://www.just-green.com/index.php?cPath=69_122

As to seeding a lawn, you can more or less do it anytime, but you need some warmth to get them going, so early-autumn or spring is usually the best time. Grass seeds do need very finely raked, well prepared (dug) and nutritious soil. You need to clear all weeds, stones etc from the soil. Add some balanced granular fertiliser (eg: Growmore) when preparing the soil. While digging out the ground you can pick out the grubs you hadn't already encouraged up to the surface!

More general info is available on a range of lawn subjects on the RHS site:-
http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/problems_lawns.asp

Good luck!
Mark:cool:

joey_2

Thanks Mark that's excellent info there, I think you've spelled out everything I need to know!
I like the newspaper stamping idea although that's still way too gross for me but hopefully oh will do it !!!_pale_
And I'd assumed since I'd found the chafer grubs that was all we had I didn't realise you could have them AND leatherjackets together Oh my Gosh that is going to be expensive if we have to buy two different kinds of nematodes:eek:

Still haven't got the cardboard down as the shop didn't have any but oh is walking to the garage right now see if they have any if not I will have to stop at Tescos later cos we really need this done now.
Also must remind myself to put notes through the neighbours doors or I spose they'll come right back from their gardens.