Be afraid....be very afraid! I bet that got your attention, not!
No seriously, you may want to pop outside and check your lawn for signs of Leatherjacket Larvae - Tipula paludosa. They will be active in the lawn chomping at the grass roots, and boy can they chomp.
The first real signs that the Larvae are active will be extra attention from birds. If you see rooks, starlings or even woodpeckers rucksing around in a particular area then chances are you may have an infestation of Leatherjackets.
Cranefly or Daddy Long Legs will have laid their eggs around about the second week in September, after which, living for just 12 hours, will die.
The eggs, of which there may be up to 300 from each female, will have hatched by the end of September. After hatching, the grubs, who have a leathery coat - hence the name - will start to gorge on the roots of your grass.
As the weather warms and the soil temperature rises so the grass grows faster. The fresh white shoots from the grass are readily eaten by the Larvae so at a time when you need maximum recovery from the winter doldrums, the grass is actually receding and at some stage the leaf blade, which is now not sustained by the roots, will become detached.
To add to your misery, of which you could be oblivious, the birds will create a ruddy great mess where the infestation is at it's most intense. Overseeding or re-turfing will be futile at this point unless you deal with the problem.
There are three options available:
1. Do nothing and live with it - probably something a real lawn enthusiast cannot do but in a 'nature' type garden it might be possible to get away with.
2. There is always the Nematode route for those who prefer a cultural control. Nematodes, releases into the soil, will feed on the leatherjackets.
11 million Nematodes will treat about 100 square metres at a cost of circa £12.00. This may prove prohibitive if you have a very large garden - mind you, re-turfing or seeding can be expensive too!
3. Spraying the affected areas with a product that contains Chlorpyrifos. This is not an option that everyone will consider but it is very effective and on larger areas will be cost effective.
Application is best carried out by a competent operator who is in possession of an NPTC spraying certificate and you may want to consider engaging the services of professional lawn care companies such as Green Thumb or The Lawn Company.
Your local Turf Centre may also offer a service in your area too so it is worth checking this out. Some landscapers or garden maintenance companies may offer the service as well.
Further reading: How to treat Leatherjackets
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