For leatherjackets, lawns make for an inviting home. Unfortunately for homeowners, they don’t make for very good tenants! If you have leatherjackets in your lawn, Mr Lawn can help you get the problem under control.

Leatherjackets are crane fly larvae (Commonly referred to as Daddy Long Legs). The fly lays its eggs in the ground – often a lawn – in August or September (dependent on soil temperature). The maggots that emerge from those eggs are known as leatherjackets, and once they have hatched, they will start to eat the grass stem and roots just below the surface of the lawn.

Crane fly eggs tend to hatch during the autumn, so damage from leatherjackets in your lawn may appear in November - April depending on the scale of the problem. The larvae can continue to grow and cause problems all the way through winter and into early spring if left unchecked.

Without leatherjacket control measures, these grubby soil-dwellers can strip whole lawns, turning the grass brown as they destroy the roots. The resulting bare patches can then be colonised by moss and weeds, causing further issues for your lawn.

You should also be aware that birds and mammals cause extra damage as they dig for leatherjackets in your lawn. They will ravage the ground as they hunt for these gourmet grubs, so we highly recommend contacting us about leatherjacket control measures at the first sign of their emergence! Keep your eyes peeled between August and October when these pests are most prevalent.

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One way to see if you have Leather Jackets in your lawn is to place a thick plastic bag (bigger the better) over a section of your lawn. Leave overnight and check early in the morning for any grubs on the surface. 

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You can also dig a few holes in the affected area and break open the soil around the grass roots.