Ep 02: Leatherjackets and the Lawn That Lifts Like a Carpet

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Episode 02  ·  Lawn pests

Leatherjackets and the Lawn That Lifts Like a Carpet

When turf peels up in your hand and the birds won’t leave it alone. What leatherjackets are, why they strike in autumn, and what can be done about them.

About this episode

If a section of your lawn peels back like a rug, or crows and starlings have started tearing at it, the cause is almost always leatherjackets: the larvae of the crane fly, feeding on grass roots just below the surface. This episode explains their life cycle and why the damage shows up in autumn and early spring.

We cover how to confirm they are present, what the realistic control options are now that the old chemical treatments are gone, and how to repair the damage so the lawn closes back over before the birds and badgers make it worse.

The voices on this podcast are AI-generated. The lawn advice is not. It comes from Ian Kenyon, who runs Shrekfeet Independent Lawn Professionals and sits on the UK Lawn Care Association committee.