Leatherjackets in lawns are a PEST!

I was a client of Greenthumb for many years. Recently the local franchise disappeared and they went corporate. Contact was via a call centre. Need I say more. I then found James. I can message him personally and I get an answer in minutes. He is the man. He does my lawn. Adaptable. Pragmatic. Efficient. And I have a brilliant lawn. Mr Hall.

Most people don’t realise they have a leatherjackets in their lawns until it’s too late—when the damage is already visible and costly to fix.

Leatherjackets in lawns are the larvae of crane flies (commonly known as daddy longlegs), and they feed on the roots of your lawn. Their eggs are laid in autumn, so if you’ve noticed large numbers of crane flies recently, your lawn could already be at risk.

At first, the signs may be subtle:

• Small patches of dead grass in early spring
• Increased bird activity, as birds peck at the soil for larvae
• Spongy or thinning turf

But don’t be fooled—within weeks, a lush green lawn can be reduced to a patchy, muddy mess if left untreated.

In the UK, the most common species responsible is the European crane fly (Tipula paludosa), though Tipula oleracea can also cause damage.

👉 Early action is critical. If you suspect leatherjackets, dig into the top inch or two of soil. If you spot the larvae, it’s time to act.

Repairing a damaged lawn is expensive and time-consuming—but with timely prevention, you can avoid the stress and cost altogether.

Don’t wait until the damage is done.

I cover North Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire, and Lincolnshire.

https://www.lawnscience.co.uk/how-to-control-lawn-pest/

We also offer Lawncare Services

Fertilisation

Application of the correct, seasonally balanced fertiliser, is essential to maintain the health and appearance of your lawn. Throughout the year lawns need different nutrients to help various processes take place. Lawnscience provides lawn fertilisation applications throughout the year as part of its annual treatment programme. You can book an annual plan tailored to your lawn and budget or a one-off application. Chafer Grubs in lawns are a pest!

Weed Control

Don’t worry, we can sort out lawn weed control for you, so you can have a beautiful, lush green, and healthy lawn, at a price you can afford. With the combination of great lawn care, involving lawn weed control with the application of quality selective weed killers your perfect lawn doesn’t have to be just a dream anymore. All of our Lawnscience professionals are qualified in the application of herbicides and fungicides, therefore you can be confident that we will apply these products in a safe way.

Moss Control

Moss is an opportunist plant that thrives in wet or damp conditions. These conditions enable it to reproduce and when there is space available on the lawn for it to establish. Once established within a lawn, it can spread quickly by the distribution of millions of microscopic spores making Lawn Moss Control harder.