Our lawn is in a bad state. The shading of the trees and the dry summer has encouraged the moss to grow. There’s not a lot we can do about it. But this year the magpies have had a real go pulling up the moss. I assume they’re after cranefly larva (leatherjackets). But it could be cockchafer larva (there were chafers about in the summer). We get a lot of daddy longlegs at this time of year but this is the first time that I’ve seen the magpies being quite so destructive.
The recommendation seems to be watering with nematodes but I always have a debate with myself as to whether I want to have a pretty lawn or use it to support nature. This year I’ve left more of the grass to grow longer and I think that killing the cranefly larva and so potentially starving the magpies isn’t something I want to do. So, when it’s dry, I’ll take up the moss and put it into the compost bins.
