New-build owners told to follow these two steps to get rid of leatherjackets
Leatherjackets, greyish-brown pests that destroy lawns, have been wreaking havoc across homes in Britain - but one expert has revealed his tips to successfully rid them from your garden
Leatherjackets, pesky larvae that cause damage to lawns and gardens, have become a serious problem for households around the UK, particularly for new-build owners. There are about 350 species in Britain, but only a few feed on plants and damage grass.
The critters have long, tube-shaped bodies and can grow up to 30mm long. They have no legs, no clear head, and are a greyish brown colour, the Royal Horticultural Society explains. You can tell if you have a leatherjacket problem if your grass has yellow-brown or dead patches - if you lift up the turf, you should spot the larvae in the soil's surface layers.
But how can you deal with leatherjackets? Gardener Ish, known to his more than 63,000 TikTok followers as @ gardening.with.ish, explained that one effective method was to use nematodes.
These are parasites that are harmless to humans and pets, but can be 'absolutely fatal to things like leatherjackets'. He explained: 'The long and short of it is they go inside the leatherjacket, they nest, and they eat from within.'
You can place the nematodes, which are bought in sachets, in a watering can or spray bottle of warm water - which you will then directly apply to the soil, around late afternoon. The nematodes will then start to bury down and go straight for the leatherjackets.
'Once they take care of them, they'll be gone in about a week or so,' Ish said. 'You do get usually about two or three sachets, so do it about every week or so for about three, four weeks, just to make sure you've got them fully under control.'
The RHS also suggests that nematodes can be applied in September to early October as a preventative measure. 'It may be necessary to water the lawn before and after application to ensure the soil is sufficiently moist for nematode activity and survival,' it explains.
The second option is to use a sheet of black plastic, which you will lay on your lawn in the evening. This tricks the leatherjackets into thinking it's night all the time - and when morning comes, you can lift the plastic back up and they should all be at the surface.
The gardener explained: 'If the birds don't get them, you can surely pick them out yourself as well and dispose of them. Again, do this a few times, it will still take a couple of weeks but it'll get them under control.'
Another sign that your garden is suffering from leatherjackets is small round holes in your turf. These can be caused by crows, magpies, rooks and starlings searching for the leatherjackets in your lawn.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
8 hours ago
- Daily Record
Gardeners should swap hydrangeas for pretty plant which looks after itself
Hydrangeas, garden favourites due to their resilience and enduring blooms, are a no-brainer for enriching gardens in both pots and borders. However, these iconic plants do come with a catch. While easily cultivated and long-flowering, hydrangeas demand ample hydration, so it's wise to maintain a water routine during summer and engage in mulching. Deadheading old flowers is also advised to encourage fresh blossoms. Those desiring a low-upkeep choice might lean towards an "elegant shrub" offering an equally spectacular floral display as hydrangeas. Farmingdale Observer highlights spiraea as such an option: sitting "sit proudly in flowerbeds, even in full sun, and ask for almost nothing in return". This ornamental treasure, though understated, features "abundant flowering" and offers unmissable elegance, reports the Express. Characterised by the Royal Horticultural Society as an "upright, deciduous shrub about 1.5m tall, with sharply-toothed dark green leaves to 12cm long", spiraea makes an excellent contribution to mixed border arrangements. Its compatibility extends to cottage and wild gardens where its bowl-shaped, pink or white summertime blooms buzz with life. Spiraea's green foliage perseveres from spring through autumn, mirroring the attractive leaves of hydrangeas. Yet, what gives spiraea the edge over its water-loving counterpart is its tenacity in dry soils. Farmingdale has explained that Spiraea, once established, can withstand periods of drought without any trouble, even in the height of summer. If left unwatered for two weeks, the flowers won't wilt; in fact, some spiraeas, such as Van Houtte Spiraea or Japanese Spiraea, will bloom again for several consecutive weeks, and sometimes even a second time if the faded blooms are pruned back, according to Farmingdale. To get the most out of Spiraea, it's recommended to plant it in a sunny spot, but the shrub also tolerates partial shade. It might flower a bit less than in a sunny location, but it is very adaptable, especially to different soil conditions. This flowering shrub is ideally placed near vegetables to attract pollinators that help increase harvests. When to plant Spiraea Gardener's World suggests that planting can be done while in full growth in spring or summer, provided the plants are watered regularly. Always plant with the top of the rootball at the same depth as the soil level. Firm it into the soil and then water it thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots. After a little watering for the first few weeks, Spiraea should root deeply and develop a self-sufficient root system to keep it thriving with minimal care. But if you feel like giving it a bit of a boost, a little pruning just after the flowers have finished is all you need. There are 80 to 100 species of Spiraea. They are native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere, with the greatest diversity in eastern Asia.
The Sun
9 hours ago
- The Sun
I'm a mum & don't own a bin – I think piling up rubbish is gross but I'm not alone, it's a telltale sign you're council
THERE'S nothing worse than an overflowing bin that you can smell as soon as you walk into the house. And that's exactly why Gem has always used a bag instead of a bin. 2 2 In fact, despite having her own home, she still doesn't even own a bin - and says the lack of one in a house is a telltale sign she's "council". "I've just seen a post that said, 'Are you even council if you haven't got a bag hanging on the door instead of a bin?'" she began her video on TikTok. "Now, I am council and I do not own a bin! We don't have a bin. We have a bag. "We don't have a bin - I don't like them. And I don't know if it's a council thing. "I just don't like bins. "I've said it before but no, the rubbish goes outside... you don't have the rubbish indoors!" Gem's daughter Rose was even left giggling when she saw the previous video about being "council" for having no bin, and said: "That's mummy, isn't it!" "Are you even council if you don't have a carrier bag on a door instead of a bin?" Gem wrote over the top of her video. And she quickly found that she wasn't alone in her thoughts about where to put rubbish. "I moved out of my parents 14 years ago and I have never owned a bin," one wrote. "Straight into a 30p carrier then goes outside!" "No bin in my house, they always get in the way and stink," another said. "I spent years using a plastic bag but I found a small bin that hangs over the kitchen cupboard door now!" "Currently sat here with a blue bag hanging off my door handle," a third laughed, as someone else joked "I've found my people!" "Same!!!!! People think its odd we don't have a bin indoors," another added. "I'm not council but I've NEVER had a bin! Into a bag then straight to the outside bin every night!!" someone else insisted. What is a hack for making changing the bin easier? THERE is in fact a way to make your rubbish-collecting chores far simpler - and it involves using multiple bags. Want in on the time-saving trick? Here's what you need to do. Step 1 Take out a fresh bin liner and open it up - but don't put it in your bin yet. Step 2 Take a second bin bag, place it inside the first bag and open it up - so that they're nestled inside each other. Continue to do this until 10 bags are neatly inside. Step 3 Carefully place the entire bin bag fusion inside your bin before folding the tops over the lip. The next time you fill a bag, simply lift it up out of the bin and another one will be good to go straight away. There you go! You'll never change your bin in the same way again. "Grew up council, not council now but still do this," another wrote. "Bag for me! I'm council and I hate bins," someone else said. "Hate the smell, hate the dirtiness, hate the germs and hate emptying when the bags over full. "I fill a bag and throw away or it goes straight out to the bins to right." "I don't have a bin in my kitchen," another wrote. "You can take the girl out the council but you can't take the council out the GIRL!" "Whatttt! I did not realise this was lower class stuff!" someone else laughed. However, others were more on the side of bins, with one admitting they have "three bins AND the bag". "If I'm paying 30p a carrier then I'm using the way I want too," one said. "Bin all the way!" "I have to walk down 3 flights of stairs, cross the main road, walk down a little bit, unlock a door on the main road, go down a shady little alley, put my rubbish in my bin & make my merry way home," another said. "I'd be doing this hourly if I didn't have a bin!" "I'm council but I've always had a bin," a third insisted.
Daily Record
12 hours ago
- Daily Record
Dog owner with six pets shares 10 things every owner needs - and one is 'lifesaver'
From grooming products to items that will make your home cleaner, these are the essentials every pet parent needs. An American dog lover with a pack of six has shared her top ten must-haves for fellow canine carers. Owning a pet, particularly a dog, requires dedication and thoughtfulness to ensure they lead a happy life, encompassing everything from basic needs like sustenance to enrichment items such as playthings. Regular walks are part of the routine for many dog owners to ensure their furry friends get the exercise they need. Typically, dog owners equip themselves with essentials like leads and collars to maintain control over their pets in public spaces, including parks. It's common for them to also invest in food and water dishes, comfortable bedding, and grooming necessities like shampoos, clippers, and brushes. Tracy Fosterling from Jacksonville, Florida, not only has six dogs and two cats but also champions dog fostering. She's an avid "rescue advocate" and utilises social media platforms to document her experiences as a foster dog mother, inspiring others to take up fostering, reports the Express. In a bid to assist other dog parents, she uploaded a TikTok video stating: "Here are the ten things that every dog parent needs, let's go. And this is coming from someone who has six dogs. I use all of these things, none of it is sponsored, they're just lifesavers." 1. Mudbuster Tracy mentioned that it "cleans up perfectly." The product description on Amazon reveals that the Mudbuster uses soft silicone bristles to effectively cleanse dirt and mud from a dog's paws. 2. K.O.E cleaner "It's amazing and this bottle will last forever." K.O.E., which stands for Kennel Odor Eliminator, is designed to eliminate smells from cages, kennels, floors, tables, walls and other large areas. 3. Good de-shedder She commented: "It's amazing. I swipe it through my dogs once and a huge clump of hair comes out." The foster dog mum revealed that she tries to brush her dogs with this product every day. 4. Dental water additive The additive aids in reducing plaque and giving dogs fresher breath. It serves as an easy method to enhance dogs' oral hygiene. 5. Slow feeders "I absolutely love slow feeders." Slow feeders make it more challenging for dogs to get their food, providing enrichment. 6. Air purifiers Tracy disclosed that she has air purifiers in her bedroom and all the main areas of her house. Air purifiers clean and filter the air in a room by removing airborne particles, pollutants and allergens. 7. Snout Soother "This is for dry skin on dogs, on their nose, on their feet." The dog parent said she applies Snout Soother on areas of her dogs that are dry or red, and it "works really well." 8. Handheld vacuum She described it as a "lifesaver" as she uses it constantly. Handheld vacuums are perfect for cleaning hard-to-reach areas. 9. Mr. Sticky "You just clean it with water and roll it and obviously, I used mine recently and it's full." The Mr. Sticky rollers can be utilised to remove pet hair from surfaces, like walls and floors. 10. Patience It's crucial to exercise patience when training a dog and managing their behaviour. This not only builds trust but also fosters positive relationships between dogs and their owners.
