19/09/2026
Leatherjackets and chafer grubs can cause serious damage to lawns — often before you realise they are there.
The larvae live below the surface and feed around the grass roots. By the time you notice yellowing, thinning turf or areas that lift easily, significant damage may already have been done.
Birds and other wildlife can then make matters worse by digging through the lawn looking for the larvae.
That’s why our approach is based on prevention and correct timing, rather than simply waiting for damage to appear.
Throughout the growing season we can use supportive treatments to help strengthen the turf, support the rootzone and reduce the impact of pest activity.
Then, when the correct treatment window arrives, we can target the young larvae at the stage when professional control is most effective.
For leatherjackets, the key period is generally in autumn following crane-fly activity and egg laying.
For chafer grubs, treatment timing is linked to adult beetle activity during late spring and summer.
On higher-risk lawns, biological controls may also be used when soil temperatures and moisture conditions are suitable.
The aim is simple:
Monitor the lawn → reduce pest pressure → strengthen the turf → treat at the correct lifecycle stage → minimise damage.
If you’re seeing lots of crane flies, birds repeatedly feeding on the lawn, unexplained yellow patches, loose turf or previous leatherjacket/chafer damage, it is worth dealing with the problem before serious damage develops.
Moorlands Lawn Care
