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Help newbie in crisis

ellen.thompsonellen.thompson Posts: 6
in Problem solving
Hi, i had new turf put down in September. 1st cut (and last ) November glass was green and lush. Its now at the end of February all i have left is a few blades of grass. The soil that is left has 1000s and 1000s of pinprick like hols in, as if something has burrowed up from the ground.  Like i have said new to all this and don not know witch way to turn. After all the hard work last year in preparation a nice lawn. I just want to sit and cry. 
Thank you for any advice. 
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Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Hi Ellen an welcome on board. Can you provide a photo?  Click on the icon which looks like a mountain postacard and follow the instructions.
    Devon.
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    It could be because of Leatherjackets. They are the larvae of crane flies (Daddy Long Legs). Big nuisance and hard to kill now that insecticides are being banned because of killing bees and other good insects. Here is a link about them. https://www.lawn-tech.co.uk/lawn-care-guide/pests/how-to-get-rid-of-leather-jackets/ 
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • ellen.thompsonellen.thompson Posts: 6
    Hi yes I will post a photo join the morning. But also just before I can out to work tonight I went outside and found  3_4 short worm like things I will post photo of them as well.
    Thank you both.
  • ellen.thompsonellen.thompson Posts: 6

  • ellen.thompsonellen.thompson Posts: 6
    Hope photos help. And thank you both.
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    There are a few bugs that eat grass roots over winter, then the birds find out and dig for them leaving holes like in the picture. (I once had a flock of starlings about 50 going for daddy long legs in my lawn and it didn't take them long to make a mess of it) I think others may be able to help with identifying them because until you do it's hard to tell what remedy to suggest like nematodes or chemicals . Sorry I can't help more but hopefully someone will.
  • ellen.thompsonellen.thompson Posts: 6

  • ellen.thompsonellen.thompson Posts: 6
    This is a better photo of what i picked up last night.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I did wonder if it was chafer grubs,  they eat grass roots and OH tells me that they do this around September through to February. 
  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307
    The beetle is not the problem. Most of them are friends as they eat slugs etc. Cannot really see the other creature, but as said it could well be chafer grubs. RHS gives good advice on dealing with them. Sorry about your lawn. 
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