05 August 2023 , 10:49
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When it comes to gardening, we all strive for the perfect and luscious green lawns and if you pride yourself on your garden you will always want to protect your grass, no matter what it takes. As a result of this, homeowners across the UK are being warned to look out for two grass-destroying pests as the weather conditions we're currently experiencing favour these greedy garden gorgers.
Lawn experts GreenThumb are putting gardening lovers on high alert as the mild and wet climate conditions could lead to infestations of two pesky pests - Leatherjackets and Chafer Grubs. These next two months are the key times for the bothersome and unwanted visitors to thrive, and if they attack your grass, it could end up needing expert care to revive it, so experts recommend checking for them weekly.
GreenThumb's Steve Taylor said: "Leatherjackets and Chafer Grubs are a lawn's worst nightmare and homeowners must be vigilant over the next two months as it's a prime time for population growth. The weather conditions are set to be perfect for the two pests to thrive in and failure to deal with these destructive bugs can lead to the demise of gardens."
In the next few weeks, avid gardeners may start to notice the Leatherjacket grubs appearing, thriving in damp conditions coming out of the grass, eating the roots going from the outside in. It's essential to catch them early as possible, as September is when the female Leatherjackets start laying eggs, so failure to do so will see the young pests grow into adults by February, which will make the damage to the grass even more devastating.
If you notice your lawn changing or losing colour, looking paler than usual, it could be a Chafer Grub infestation, which occurs in August and September too. Birds, badgers, and foxes enjoy eating the Chafer Grubs and will tear up your lawn searching for them, and whilst it may get rid of the pests, it will also leave your lawn looking as though it's been demolished.
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Steve Taylor continues: "August and September are when we would advise green-fingered gardeners to have a weekly check on their lawns. "Check from the outside in and if you see any signs that the pests are present, we'd recommend getting the experts in immediately. The sooner they're caught, the quicker they can be dealt with, and you can start enjoying your garden again."