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Brown patches on lawn.

matb202matb202 Posts: 6
in Problem solving
The lawn is about 4 years old. The first 2 years it was fine and then last year they began to form brown patches which have increased.
Have sown in new seed and new soil but to no avail.

Can it be this sodwebworm, moth that is the cause?

How to get rid of it?








Posts

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Possibly chafer grubs ? If so you can apply nematodes, but l would wait for confirmation from someone with a bit more lawn knowledge  :)

  • Dave HumbyDave Humby Posts: 1,145
    Two different grubs there. The bottom image is Chafer Grubs as @AnniD indicated. Nematodes in September is the way forwards. Follow the instructions carefully, particularly in the current climate we have. You need moist soil conditions to apply then the lawn needs to be kept moist for a couple of weeks to allow the nematodes survival and to do their job. You can get a combo pack for Chafer and Leatherjackets. The grubs often are found together and cause the same levels of lawn damage. We had them at our last place and nematodes were quite successful - when applied correctly.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    The first picture looks like a wireworm. They do live in grassy areas but usually are only a problem when formerly grassed land is converted to a veg patch … wireworms love potatoes. But as I said they don’t usually cause problems for lawns.

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I don't think we get sod webworm moths in the UK ( had to google it) https://thelawnman.co.uk/category/lawn-pests/moths/. Are you in the US?

    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • matb202matb202 Posts: 6
    Thanks for the replies!
    Im in Norway. yeh looks like nematodes are the answer. A product called nematop is available here.
    Does anyone know why these Chafer Grubs are in the lawn and how one can prevent further trouble?
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    It’s all part of nature and wildlife … the problem is that humans create areas of ‘mono-culture’ …. lawns are one of them, so the effects of creatures feeding on their natural food plant appear more obvious … if they’re feeding on the roots of an area of wild tussocky unmown grass no one would notice .., it would all be part of the eco-system. 

    The Nematodes should remain active in the soil for several years so hopefully you’ll not have to treat the lawn too often. 

    I’m aware that there are concerns that Nematodes may have a negative impact on invertebrates other than chafer grubs … but I think there is no scientific consensus yet … @“wild edges" may know more. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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