Begone Leatherjackets and Chafer Grubs!

Last updated Dec 29, 2023

19th September 2018 • Timely Advice • Daniel Carruthers

An email reminder from Nematodes Direct and the purchase of a discounted hose-end nematode applicator at the local garden centre reminded me that now is the time to apply these biological controls to avoid foxes digging up the lawn in search of juicy morsels. My lawn is about as far from a perfect green sward as you can get – there are as many daisies and dandelions as there is grass and in the shady areas it is mainly mind-your-own-business (Soleirolia soleirolii). But it is green and flat and is scattered with daisies, which is all I really require from a lawn. However, last autumn the fox dug numerous holes in it leaving it looking more like an archaeological dig than a lawn and I’m determined to stop this happening this year.

My ‘To Do’ List

Then it was simply a matter of attaching the hose – it couldn’t have been more straightforward. I sprayed on the nematodes until the applicator bottle was empty.

I then gave the lawn a further soak with plain water to help wash the nematodes into the turf.

It is important that the lawn does not dry out for two weeks after application, so I am watering the lawn regularly unless it rains.

I applied the chafer grub nematodes last week and have just followed the same method for the leatherjackets.

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