Leather jackets 🤢

[PlatinumBrunette]

I feel a right wimp asking this - my lawn is a disaster, and I think leather jackets may be responsible.

However, I have a phobia and can’t bring myself to search for how to sort out the problem. How daft is that?

Please can someone else be my eyes and tell me what I need to do so I can possibly have a lawn with grass in this year?

TIA!

Leather jackets, sorry for being a little dense but is that some some sort of invading plant? I've never heard of this?

Leatherjackets are cranefly larvae

Op if you’re particularly disturbed by them, perhaps proactively treat your lawn for them without doing any investigation?

Ah I’m sorry OP, I didn’t think that link would come up with an image 🤦‍♀️

There are some biological control products you can buy online.

OP, we have these and they’ve been a nightmare! You can get nematodes to sort them out but ours are still there so far after at least 2 nematode treatments. We’re going to treat the ‘lawn’ mud bath again this weekend and then dig it up and re-turf in a few weeks, then nematode the new turf as a precaution. I think we’ve got ours from Green Gardener before?

ARGH @Squit Thanks for that 🤢
I've seen them in the past, plus there are visible casts - I know what's down there, unfortunately.

Looking for nematodes means seeing more of the damn pics. I'll just have to get a grip.

@meepthebeep Yup, mud bath is what my 'lawn' currently is. And has been devastated for years. I was planning on doing a load of prep this year - when I can get out there - but I don't want to spend on turf until the underlying issue is sorted.
Heavy clay, plus dog means there's no grass left now. Just mud. Mud. MUD!
And evil bastards under the soil.

To be successful you need around 3 nematode treatments a year, plus your neighbours will need to do the same. Unfortunately around here, people have given up the battle and gone for artificial turf instead, which is a real shame.

They totally destroyed my whole lawn last year. I definitely have them again this year but I don’t know if the damage is going to be as bad. I still have grass but it’s very thin in parts where the lawn is wet (needs to be drained). I haven’t mowed yet because it’s too wet. At what time of the year did you notice the grass was disappearing. I’m hoping the lawn pulls through this year and if I add some fertilizer it will help it to recover. They are disgusting!

Thank you @clarrylove That's really useful and I don't think will be worth it in my case. I'd rather have a mud-pit than plastic!

@Oaksilver My grass has been a disaster for about 4 years now. It's either killed by heat and dry, or mud/evil bastards. There are random tufts of grass between gruesome mud. Which I noticed today has actual black algae on it too. Urgh.

There were a lot of trees along one side, which did cause deep shade and more issues, but the council cut them all down a few months ago, which is worse as there's now no place for birds and wildlife. I can't win!

I shall just give the lawn another go this year, by prepping, trying to break the clay down with intent this time, and try something as well as grass - clover and so on, perhaps. I am eyeing up a verge nearby which has wonderful grass and daisies. Planning to sneak out in the dead of night and transplant some! (Maybe joking)

My friend is going for a clover lawn instead, with a bit of shingle and drainage etc.

What you need to get rid of leatherjackets is a flock of starlings.

Encourage starlings into your garden with bird food (they particularly like the fat ball things) and they will devour the pests in your lawn as well.

We’ll be able recognise your house. It’s the one which outside looks as if someone has neatly laid a large area of really bad turf, while in the garden there is a glimpse of a newly laid lawn full if clover and daisies

I was about to say this. the lawn is covered with starlings at this time of year, fascinating to watch them (with binoculars) sticking long sharp beak into the ground and pulling the fat grub out, swallowing it then quickly on to the next one.

The birds seem to know exactly where the leatherjackets are perhaps they can hear them moving.

https://www.gardening-naturally.com/small-leatherjacket-nematodes
we are so infested they are currently a couple every day on the patio, looking like rubbish short fat worms. Missed out the treatment last autumn but these work so so so well. Just reminded me to order some more.

I didn’t know what they were eating last year, but we had like 50/100 starlings like You describe combing the garden like it was a crime scene, and that was the best year for actually no leather jackets! I will get some fat balls asap

Yes, one of the reasons that urban starlings have been in decline over recent years has been the obsession with people to pave over their front lawns to use for car parking, and to use paving, gravel or artificial grass in the back garden. So many lawn area has been lost, and their food source went with it.

We need to learn to accommodate wildlife in our gardens and let nature get on with what it does best.

I'll have to stop coming back to this thread because photos 🫣

I would LOVE to have a flock of starlings in my garden @citrinetrilogy but a) it's way too small for a flock of anything and b) the cats would have a field day 😱

@MereDintofPandiculation Oops! You would - my neighbour has an absolute disgust at any nature ('I'm so happy the trees have gone because the birds kept pooing on my shed' 🙄)
I've spotted the most amazing patch of daisies not far away, but I'd need to park on the dual carriageway to get them. Keep an eye on the news!

I'm just going to focus on making the most of what I've got. Make an attempt to fix the clay when the weather gives me a chance. Plant non-grass. No shingle, hate it. Steal daisies from random places 😆

I mixed white clover with grass seed to try and fix the lawn last year. Do leatherjackets eat clover? Also does anyone know if leatherjackets eat the roots of very young trees. I had 2 newly planted trees die last year. Not sure if it was leatherjackets or just bad luck.

I am also a wimp with a phobia I treated the leather jackets in I think wary October I used green gardener who were great .. and used nematodes.. but I’ve recently seen quite big leather jackets in the patio a few weeks ago and today quite a few tiny ones so I’m not sure if the treatment has worked or I need to re apply a double dose in the spring .. I am terrified we couldn’t go in the garden with the amount of daddy long legs the grass looks ok with some patches but not that noticeable.. I’m not sure if my neighbours have the same issue and not treated.. nightmare seriously hate this

Thank you @Lulumona And still 🤢
How can something as delicate as a daddy long legs come from these giant, disgusting creatures?

I spent a ton of time reseeding and pampering my lawn this year, and for a while it looked fabulous.

Then sadly my dog died, and I lost the mojo to work in the garden. So now, with all the rain we've had, my lawn is looking like the Somme again, but this time covered in sycamore leaves. Perhaps I'll just pave it (joking!)

Hi ya I'm so sorry for your loss my heart goes out to you.. my Yorkies are my world .. sending love ..

I’ve done 3 treatments and I will re do them in April absolutel nightmare have got a bit less