Leather Jacket Treatment For Grass

This modern natural treatment utilises a parasitic nematode worm called steinernema feltiae for the control of leatherjackets.
Leather jacket treatment for grass. The microscopic nematodes then seek out the leatherjacket grubs invade them and destroy them from the inside. If the local wildlife has completely wrecked your lawn while feasting on leatherjackets you might choose to replace the lawn completely. Until recently there was no chemical treatment. After a few weeks your lawn should be back to its former glory.
The soil beneath your lawn is like a very busy city teaming with all sorts of life forms. It may be necessary to water the lawn before and after application to ensure the soil is sufficiently moist for nematode activity and survival. This multiplies and kills the grub. Furthermore the soil must be moist in order for the nematodes to survive once applied.
Nemasys leatherjacket killer should be applied to the lawn in april and or september. From august until mid may they are eating the roots of your lawn resulting in brown tufty patches resembling chafer damage but looking its worst in march april. After correct application to the soil these microscopic worms find a leatherjacket grub as a host and infect them with a specific species of bacteria. Nematodes are microscopic worms and certain species predate the leatherjackets.
To apply simply mix the nematodes with water. Biological insect control also known as nematodes treatment helps with leather jacket insect control. To get rid of leatherjackets try using a nematode treatment that you can apply to affected areas after rain or a session with the sprinkler. Nematodes should be applied as soon as possible after purchase following the suppliers instructions for use.
There are currently no chemical treatments to kill off leatherjackets. It is now available from most good garden centres. As a preventive measure apply nematodes in september to early october against leatherjackets. A biological treatment and of course disturbing the life cycle so that we limit their lifespan.
So as lawn lovers we are limited to two types of treatment. However provado lawn grub killer kills leatherjackets and also chafer grubs in the lawn. Signs of leatherjackets can also include birds pecking at your grass or patches of grass coming away without any roots. Another way to remove leather jackets from the lawn is to cover the area with a large black plastic sheet overnight.
It can only be used in the right conditions the soil temperature must be above 12 degrees so application is recommended between july and october. Small infestations are not troublesome but more than 20 25 grubs per sq ft. Water your lawn regularly if there is no rain and you should see new grass shoots appearing within a couple of weeks. This treatment may also be effective on very young grubs during april and may once the soil temperature is above 12 degrees.
The soil should also be moist so the nematodes can be at their most effective.