Artificial Grass: Are Chafer Grubs Destroying Your Lawn?

Autumn is upon us! And with this, you may have noticed some changes, specifically to the appearance of your lawn. The recent extreme temperatures and subsequent drought in the UK this summer has weakened soil systems, making lawns more susceptible to damage. One of the key contributors to this destruction is the humble looking chafer bug – feeding on grass roots until the grass becomes starved of nutrients whilst attracting birds who tear up the grass hunting for their prey. Is this the time to consider artificial grass to get your lawn looking healthy all year round?

What is a Chafer Grub?

Living in the soil for up to five years, chafer grubs can cause havoc – damaging lawns, flowers and foliage by consuming plant roots and other nutrients. Chafer grubs are the small larvae of chafer beetles. In the autumn, after adult chafer beetles have laid their eggs in the soil, it’s time for the chafer larvae to hatch as small white grubs (around 5cm long). Eventually, after acquiring sufficient food reserves, the grub enters the pupa phase for around four weeks until finally emerging as an adult beetle around May. However, once a fully formed chafer beetle, the insect is no longer a threat to your garden.

Though most lawns have a healthy number of chafer grubs living in them, they can be very difficult to manage, often having a detrimental effect on lawns.

Signs of Chafer Grub Infestation

Maybe you’ve always blamed the drought for a badly damaged lawn? It’s very likely that it’s down to a certain pesky creature: the chafer grub. As they feed on roots, grass and other plants, they can cause significant damage – most prominent between Autumn and Spring, when the grubs are maturing. If you spot any of these signs of a chafer grub infestation, it’s time to act!

• Bald spots appear on your lawn.
• Yellow patches may appear due to Chafer grubs feeding on grass roots until they become detached from the top of the lawn – preventing it from absorbing vital nutrients.
• It’s not just the grubs doing the damage – you may spot birds, particularly magpies, crows and jays, as well as foxes trying to tear up your lawn to feed on these little creatures. This secondary impact can be even more devastating.

How to Prevent Chafer Grubs

One of the most common solutions to preventing chafer grubs is to introduce biological controls such as chafer grub nematodes. These microscopic worms are natural grub hunters. However, nematodes only keep grubs at bay for around six weeks, and the problem will most likely reoccur year after year.

A much more long-lasting solution that actually works is to undergo a complete lawn replacement. If you’ve been experiencing these pests for some time, installing an artificial lawn offers the best solution. This gets rid of the root cause of the problem – quite literally!

Here at Artificial Grass of Derbyshire, we have a wide selection of low maintenance artificial lawns. Our range features a variety of resilient and luscious artificial grass, designed to be realistic and look amazing! So, what’s really the difference?

If you’re looking for an artificial lawn for your home, ours are suitable for front gardens, back gardens, patios and play areas, amongst many other environments, with a number of pet friendly solutions. If you’re looking for a lawn for professional purposes, we supply artificial grass for residential homes, golf courses and a number of other businesses. The choice is yours!

Autumn is a great time to replace tired, damaged lawns before winter arrives and the damage worsens, with the additional strains of extreme weather. Why not get started by calling our team today or contacting us via our online enquiry form.