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There was an excellent presentation on nematodes / chafers / leather jackets at the last UK Lawn Care Association conference. There are 4 common types of chafers and each have their own life cycle in terms of egg laying, lava feeding, dormancy, hatching & mating. Once you know the species, then that gives you the optimal time of year for treatment. If knowing is not possible, a good "bang for buck" period is september, when most species are hit to some degree, but better results for some types can be obtained over the next 4 months.
BTW, it's not possible to eradicate with multiple treatments completely, as even if effective, they will be in the locality and come back from other lawns and re-lay eggs. So ongoing problem.
Also beware scarifying if the root zone has been weakened - it just may lift like a carpet.
So before doing too much, try and find out the species of grub and assess the rootzone strength.
Thanks Andrew I will do a bit more research on the spieces! The root zone is already faily non existant and even the moss is thinking about throwing in the towel!
Is it just bad luck or is lack of lawn care that causes the issue in the first place?
Photo of the area taken today
Thats bad...
It's just bad luck that grubs are in the locality and eating the lawn. A heavy scarify will probalby lift it like a carpet and make matters worse. Re-turfing will look good for a year or so, then degrade to this picture again.
Find the species - & treat asap if possible. Will need at least repeat treatments every year ongoing.
If you can, gently rake out any surface crap you can, but be gentle. Aerate, feed, soil conditioner (seaweed), and seed. If budget allows, light top dress also.
The goal is to get the roots stronger for an autumn scarify. Then hit hard as you can, aerate, feed and seed again. Forget weed control for the moment. Stress to customer its a war of attrition.
Good luck.
it is slightley bad luck the lawn has been hit off the top of my head its a three year ative treatment with two aplications a year
i remember a coupple of years back they worked there way up the street about 6 houses but luckley not the one i did and most were well looked after
earley spring i used lawn sand then scarrified a coupple of week later i do not know if that helped keep them away
i would treat the moss scarrifie see what you are left with if you use a slit scarrifier you might get away witout inporting much soil
Just be aware that Nematode application needs careful stewardship - eg, correct temperature, soil moisture etc so needs careful planning. The Nematodes treat approx 500m2 but you need to know the target - Chafer or Leatherjacket as the nematodes vary. Once ordered they should be kept in the fridge for upto 3 weeks so watch weather changes & long range forecasts carefully !
Judging by the moss in the lawn I would be tempted to treat with nematodes now (weather dep.)rake out thoroughly, fully re-seed then factor in another nematode application in late summer/ autumn to protect the new lawn.
Happy to talk over options...
Richard@Progreen
Your customer will have to treat the chafer grubs year on year. The nematodes will only reduce the infestation not remove it. Although after several years this may be the case. I would remove as much of the loose turf as possible, it will easily come up as it has no root structure.
Then if needed scarify, aerate the rest of the lawn back fill the holes with a good top dressing and either turf or seed.
But you must treat the grub problem otherwise your back to square one.
A double dose at this time of year may help slow them down with another dose in July.
I have been over to the clients garden today and started removing some of the lose moss, raking has already brought some of the grubs to the surface (there was a couple of Robins having a feast). I spoke to the local supplier today (ALS) and they suggested that really its to early to apply Nemotodes and that July is the best time of year. I'm going to apply some fertilser and areate the area and overseed it. Its going to be an interesting project and by the sounds of it quite a long one. I have been doing some research and it would appear that when ground conditions do warm up the Grubs stop eating the roots, then emerge and lay eggs so I guess I need to try and get some grass established by then.
Thanks for all the advice so far I may well be picking your brains as the season goes on.
i think the grubs turn into beetles and then lay eggs then the cycle starts again
talk to Richard at pro green he has a wealth of knowledge
The cause of grubs - is it all down to luck?
I could be wrong and I could be overthinking, but I assume the grubs would want to be in a sandy, undesturbed rootzone with overuse of K and P for the most food below the surface?
I'm not coming across any in clays that are local to me, then very few go for the 'treated' surfaces? I'm almost convinced that being smart with your imputs and regular aeration is going to work as a deterrent if there is a choice between that and a drugged up lawn next door.
Still disapointing that there is no way of getting rid of them, just control effectively. Lawn care companies will continue to lose work over ineffective options.
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