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PRO

Damage to lawns caused by badgers

Hi

So as the title suggests, some of the lawns on a commercial site we manage have come under attack from badgers/crows.In a relatively short space of time they have made quite a mess and I'm trying to put together a bit of a plan in terms of managing it.

These lawns are very mossy,making it easy for them to dig whatever it is that's attracting them there.I'm wondering if they are digging up grubs and whether this is something that could be treated so as to discourage them?

Any ideas?

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Replies

  • PRO

    It's most likely chafer grubs that they are going for - you'll need to confirm. Aeration and seaweed conditioners will strengthen root zone. You'll need to address the grubs with the correct nematode at the right time of year.

    This time of year, it'll be aeration and moss control.

    • PRO

      Thanks Andrew - It sounds like the solution is going to involve a bit more work than I thought. Could we skip the aeration/moss control and go straight to a grub treatment at the right time? Would that be spring?

  • PRO

    The timing of nematodes depends on the grub - so you need to make sure. Eg for some chafers, its Aug to Oct, Leatherjackets could be April or Aug/Sep. Best to have a poke around and see what can be found.

    Either way, the grub control will not be anywhere near 100% successful and they will also return from non-treated nearby areas. I would not lose any opportunity to strengthen the root zone and reduce moss.

    There is no easy solutuon - it's a long battle of weakening the grubs / reducing numbers, and strengthening the root zone. Don't set any customer expectation to solve in a season or 2.

  • PRO

    Badgers ripped up the turf on the general play area of the playing field behind my house earlier this year, it looked like ploughed field, the council sent a couple of guys with rakes to try and straighten it up. They couldn't really do much, but it looks okay now, the gang mower may have suffered a bit however it did take it back down.

     

    I spoke to the parks mangaer whilst he was on-site and he was concerned the badgers would rip the footbal pitches up, I said i didn't think they would as the pitches are intensively managed and there isn't anything in the turf to feed the badgers. As yet the pitches remain untouched.

  • PRO Supplier

    The nematodes are very temperature sensitive so its realistically going to be  spring now. Like Andrew says you need to check  what pest you have as the nematodes are specific to the pest - needs to be done now before the larvae dive down deeper into the soil to overwinter...but they will be back to pupate when the cycle starts over again !
    There is good work going on with garlic sprays - happy to talk options Steven...

    Richard@Progreen

  • Diluted Jeyes fluid, as advised by our local badger preservation society. It works by breaking the scent of the bugs etc they are after.

    Tested on three sites and it has proved very effective, only a couple of treatments needed.

    • PRO

      Interesting David,can you remember mix ratio you applied? My initial resistance to this is the potential ongoing odour of the Jeyes fluid.The area concerned is a residential community area.Thanks

      • It doesn’t need to be strong it’s 1:10  ratio and any odour will dissipate fairly quickly. A light spray over the target area until any activity ceases which in my experience was about two weeks. This does depend on weather conditions i.e. rain will reduce effectiveness. 

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