Специалисты призывают обработать газоны от личинок жука-щелкуна в сентябре, чтобы избежать гибели травы

Stop this hidden lawn pest from creating brown patches on grass by acting now A relatively little-known hidden garden pest could be wreaking havoc on your lawn and be responsible for the brown and yellow patches of dead grass - act now in September to prevent major damage. One little-known garden pest can cause absolute devastation to your lawn and may well be the culprit behind those unsightly dead yellow and brown patches of grass — yet the vast majority of people have probably never even heard of it. While the UK endured a record-breaking summer of heatwaves and dwindling rainfall this year, these may not be the sole reasons your lawn has gone into survival mode. Brown and yellow patches, stressed grass and compacted soil have become an all too familiar sight in gardens across the country, but now, as temperatures begin to ease slightly and rainfall becomes more reliable, lawns have the opportunity to recover and bounce back. Unfortunately, autumn also marks the onset of one of the greatest threats to healthy turf — a largely unknown garden pest called leatherjackets. The good news is that taking preventative measures now in September can prevent widespread damage to lawns before it's too late. Guidance from the RHS, along with specialists at organic pest control company Nemasys, has set out precisely how to identify leatherjackets, why timing is absolutely critical, and how a straightforward, chemical-free treatment can safeguard your lawn's health throughout autumn and beyond, provided you act now in September, reports the Express. What are leatherjackets? Leatherjackets are the larvae of crane flies, more commonly known as daddy long legs. While the adult insects are entirely harmless, they lay their eggs in lawns during late summer, with the larvae surfacing shortly afterwards. Once beneath the surface of the soil, leatherjackets begin eating the roots and lower stems of grass plants. Hidden underground, they can go unnoticed for weeks while gradually undermining the lawn from below. As their numbers grow, the destruction becomes ever more noticeable, leaving lawns sparse, threadbare and susceptible throughout the autumn and winter months. How to tell you've got a leatherjacket problem Given that leatherjackets spend most of their lives beneath the ground, the earliest warning signs are often reflected in the lawn's general appearance. Keep an eye out for these telltale indicators to determine whether leatherjackets are causing havoc in your garden. Yellowing or browning grass, along with uneven bare patches that fail to recover even after cooler temperatures and rainfall, is a strong sign of a potential leatherjacket infestation. A straightforward grub test can prove remarkably useful in confirming whether leatherjackets are lurking in your lawn. RHS advice says: "Leatherjackets may be revealed in lawns by soaking with water and covering with material impervious to light, such as black polythene. The following day if leatherjackets are the problem, large numbers of grubs should be found on the lawn surface under the cover." Birds including crows, magpies, rooks and starlings, along with badgers and other wildlife, will relentlessly search for leatherjackets in grass by excavating the lawn, attracted to the larvae beneath the surface. The birds in particular will create small circular holes in the turf where they've probed with their beaks, so look out for tiny holes and damaged patches on grass as these often indicate leatherjacket activity. Spotting an infestation early gives you the chance to protect and preserve your lawn before significant root damage occurs. Act now to prevent leatherjackets from destroying your lawn RHS guidance recommends: "Biological control is available for controlling leatherjackets in lawns, flower beds and vegetable plots. These are pathogenic nematodes, which are watered into the turf or soil. The nematodes enter the bodies of leatherjackets and infect them with a bacterial disease." Nemasys experts explain: "Rather than relying on chemical pesticides, the treatment uses naturally occurring beneficial nematodes. These microscopic organisms actively seek out leatherjacket larvae living in the soil, entering the grubs and stopping them from feeding before they can cause further damage. "Once their job is complete, the nematodes naturally break down in the soil and return to the normal levels naturally found underground. As they're a natural organism, nematodes are safe for use around children, pets, wildlife and the wider garden ecosystem." The RHS does, however, urge caution: "Nematodes are not specific to leatherjackets and may also affect other insects in the soil, and so they should be used in a targeted manner." For nematodes to be fully effective, the RHS states that the soil must be well drained yet moist, with a minimum temperature of 12C. The turf surrounding affected patches should be treated to address larvae spreading outwards from 'hot spots' or problem areas within the lawn. Crucially, by the time leatherjacket damage becomes apparent, the soil may already be too cold for nematodes to function successfully. As a preventative measure against leatherjackets, nematodes can be applied now, between September and early October. Nematodes should be used as promptly as possible following purchase, following the supplier's guidelines carefully. It may be necessary to water the lawn both before and after application to ensure the soil maintains sufficient moisture for the nematodes to remain active and viable. Autumn protection is vital, as pest control specialists caution: "By the time a lawn shows obvious signs of leatherjacket damage, much of the feeding has already taken place. That's why prevention is far more effective than trying to repair damaged turf later in the season."