[puravida]

Cranefly larvea!!
The lawn at the front of mine and the neighbours houses has slowly disappeared over the past few months - I put it down to poor turf by the building contractors when the houses were built a few years ago.

Anyway - I dug into it to investivate further and it is full of horrible big black fat maggot things that I have since discovered to be cranefly or daddy longlegs larvae. Apparently eggs layed last year hatch and these thigns just much on all the grass roots.

Gutted

Anything I can do??

[Aunt Sally]

Invest in a flock of starlings :!:

Or use nematodes: http://www.greengardener.co.uk/leatherj.htm

[mkhenry]

A cheap but very effective way of reducing crane fly in areas of grass,is to water it with a solution of soot and water. This really works,it was the method use in the big house gardens. Two or three good handfuls per watering can will do. Stir well and pour using an med rose and wet the whole area.There is no need to age it. Perhaps Auntie can tell you were to obain it,and perhaps advise on the quantity.  

[Aunt Sally]

Years ago when I was just a twig most homes had open fires and soot was always available.  

Open fires are becoming a common again now but not many people sweep their own chimneys (as my father did).  If you want to get some soot (for whatever use) I would suggest googling for a chimney sweep in your area and give them a ring.

The first result I got was this one :

http://www.chimneysweep.co.uk/

[mkhenry]

Thank you Aunt Sally I knew you could help.I did not have a clue where to start looking. :oops:

[hermon]

could you scatter bird seed  on the lawn to encourage birds to eat the larvae?

[WG.]

could you scatter bird seed  on the lawn to encourage birds to eat the larvae?

Don't think it would help since seed eaters tend to eat only ... seeds.

[puravida]

Thinking about planting some spuds on the now bare earth.
What do you think??? I over-ordered from Dobies massively!!

Will be the front lawn of the house but my wife seems quite happy about the idea.

Soil is terrible - mix of clay and builders rubble.

[WG.]

I'd reckon between the bad soil & the likely eelworm attack then you'd be wasting your time.   You'd be better off growing the tatties in a container of some kind.

[puravida]

really? not worth the bother you reckon?
kind of run out of space in the garden even for containers.
Unless I grow them in containers on the duff lawn??

[WG.]

Unless I grow them in containers on the duff lawn??

That is what I meant.

[puravida]

doh!!  

[GrannieAnnie]

could you scatter bird seed  on the lawn to encourage birds to eat the larvae?

Don't think it would help since seed eaters tend to eat only ... seeds.

and in a few months time, you'd have a garden full of millet!!!