Crows digging up friends large lawn

[justgivein]

Any ideas really appreciated. My friend has a lawn nearly two hundred feet that for the last three years has been dug up in various places by crows looking for bugs.They were even picking at the lawn while I was standing on it last week.I've read about keeping the grass long during June and July to prevent the chafer beetles from landing and laying their eggs.She has tried everything but not this method yet

Has anyone found a successful solution to this problem. Thanks

Scarecrow?

Thanks for that suggestion but I think more than one would be needed for her size of lawn which would not look great. Also they weren't scared of me but appreciate the idea.

Old cds on string hang from bamboo canes or tree branches

Oh great think I'll see if she'll go with that.How do they scare the crows? I've seen them before on allotments .

Scaring the crows won't stop the chafer grubs. There are no chemical treatments available and its too late for nematodes as soil temperatures have dropped. When they hatch next May-June, lower a rotary mower with a grass box on to a very low height of cut and now as many of the beetles as possible. Strengthening the award with fertilizer will help. Usually alternate years have bad infestations, so may be less next year.

Oh ok thanks.So your saying don't mow the grass at a high cut in June to prevent the chafer beetles from landing because the eggs are already laid from last year,is that right?So I cut the lawn short to mow up the beetles sorry it's a bit confusing.Unfortunately cant apply the nematodes to such a large lawn being to expensive.Thanks for any help it is upsetting her having to look at it year after year.

Chafer grubs overwinter and hatch in May. Chafer beetles are either Welsh or common. Both of these are approx 10mm across and Brown or green Brown and shiny. Cockchafer beetles are about the size of a 2p piece, Brown with large antennae. The first two last one winter. Cockchafer last 2-3 years. Cut short and now up as many beetles as possible when you see them on the lawn. If you are overdosing damaged areas, use either hard fescue or ryegrass as the roots are stronger and less easy for the grub to eat

Or only mow paths through, don't fertilise, give wildlife a chance, have a part-tidy, part- meadow lawn. Hardly any work, a delight to look at, and helps the planet.

Thanks ,if it were my large garden ,some chance in my lifetime, I'd love to go with that idea would look great with wildflowers with the colours,butterflies and bees attracted etc.But I think she would give me ,are you crazy look,because shes sort of minamalist.So I'll advise to try the cutting high method from early spring so cant land and lay eggs and returf with the grass,fertilise that Onesmallstep foraman suggested for the current devastation .If that doesn't work the short cut and mowing up of beetles ,hoping that will stop it.

There are chafer grub traps available from Rigbytaylor.com which will catch the beetles looking for a mate. Think approximately £35 each. Can be used year on year.

Super i didn't realise so many methods to use,stop the beetles mating excellent. I'll look into that.How do I dispose of the beetles,do they die in the traps?Thanks for your advise my friend's going to be so impressed with my knowledge now.Hopefully the crows and other animals that trash her lawn will move on.