Return of the leather jackets?

In the spring, many Marden lawns suffered from a plague of leatherjackets eating away at the roots of the grass and killing it off.

We looked at what could be done at that time of year with the application of Nematodes (double strength), and how keeping the lawn well-watered will encourage them to the surface where they can be eaten by starlings.

Certainly the wet summer we have had must have helped that process- some compensation for all those downpours!

Judging by the lush lawns to be seen now in and around Marden, lots of gardens seem to have recovered from the devastation of the spring, aided by reseeding or returfing.

However, it is danger time again because, in the life cycle of the leatherjackets, the adult Crane Flies, will soon be emerging from pupation in the soil.

Within 24 hours, they will mate, then fly around to look for suitable areas to lay their eggs. After about 14 days, these will hatch into leatherjackets which will start feeding on the roots.

That’s the bad news. The good news is that, at this early stage of their lives, there are very effective things that you can do. First of all, when you see Crane Flies about then that is the time to mow the lawn closely to remove some of the eggs. Do this often and dispose of the clippings. At this time of year, once the eggs have hatched into leatherjackets, they are small and more susceptible to the Nematodes and only a single strength application is required. So Sept/Oct is the time to act when both the soil conditions are right and the leatherjackets at their most vulnerable.

Let’s hope that in 2022 leatherjackets will be less of a plague and just an occasional tasty treat for the birds.