Organic Lawn Pest Control
Although there are many highly efficient pesticides and chemical agents available on the market to deal with common pest and diseases that affect lawns, people are increasingly seeking more environmentally friendly, organic alternatives to dealing with these issues. With many common problems, there are safe alternatives to chemicals, and we are pleased to offer some hints and tips for the environmentally-conscious gardener for dealing with leatherjackets, ants and moles
Leather jackets (European crane fly)
Leatherjackets are the larvae of the European Crane Fly or Daddy Long Legs as they are commonly known. The larvae cause damage to lawns by feeding on the roots of grass plants.
Adult Crane flies hatch from pupae in late July and August and lay their eggs in the ground within 24 hours of hatching. The larvae hatch about 2 weeks later and start to feed on grass roots, which continues through winter and into spring. They stop feeding in May/June when they will pupate in the soil. In general, they stay underground in the day and move up to the turf leaves at night. They are very sensitive to drying and do not survive if they are dried out by the sun. On very cloudy days when the turf is wet you can see the larvae in the turf. They are about 25mm long and have a grey/brown leathery skin.
Damage to lawns occurs from autumn to spring but is most severe in the spring when the leather jackets are fully grown. Symptoms may appear as yellowing, weak areas of grass where the roots have been damaged. The grass can be easily pulled up with little or no root growth. Damage is usually more severe when the previous autumn has been mild and wet. Secondary damage can also be caused by birds and mammals digging up turf in their search for Leatherjackets.
The time to control the insects is when they are in the larval stage, not flies. They can be controlled by removing by hand or applying a biological nematode.
Nematodes attack the larvae, killing them within 2 weeks. The main season for application is late August until the end of October. A spring application can be made in the case of severe infestations if the soil temperature is over 10 degrees Celsius.
The advantages of using Nematodes are:
- It is specific to the pest concerned therefore safe for the user, children, pets, wildlife and the environment
- Ease of use
- Unlike a chemical insecticide, the pest will not develop a resistance to it
- The nematodes reproduce in their host and move through the soil looking for more larvae.
To buy Leather Jacket Killer online click here.
Ants
Although not as harmful to turf as wormcasts, ant hills can disfigure lawns and are more common where the soil is sandy. They usually appear in summer and should be dispersed by brushing the soil when dry. This will avoid smearing them on the lawn when mowing, which over time will lead to the lawn becoming uneven. Ants can also damage roots which may cause yellowing.
Ants can be controlled by treating with a biological nematode. The nematodes act as an irritant and the ants are displaced from their colonies. Lawns can be treated from April to October when the soil temperatures are warm enough for the nematodes to be effective. Where ant levels are very high repeat applications of Antkiller may be required to prevent the ants returning to the colony.
To buy Ant Repel online click here.
Moles
Moles can have a devastating effect on any lawn, although they are most common in sandy, well-drained soils where there is a high population of earthworms, their main food source.
Damage by moles is caused by mounds of earth which may suddenly appear overnight and their tunnelling activity which can lead to an uneven lawn where tunnels have collapsed. They do not usually eat plants, but may eat through plant roots where they interfere with tunnels.
Moles are very territorial and once in your garden can be very difficult to eradicate, so it is best to try to prevent them if there are signs of mole activity in neighbouring areas. There are numerous methods of controlling moles, although success is variable.
Garlic granules are a humane and safe way to deter moles. They are non-toxic, safe for the environment, children and pets. The garlic granules are poured into the runs under mole hills and do not harm moles, but stop them burrowing further.