In the UK, there are hundreds of different garden pests. Controlling the spread of these pests before they damage your garden can be challenging, but it's not impossible. Knowing what pests to expect is the first step towards a pest-free garden. Here are some of the most common types of lawn pests to look out for while you're carrying out your garden maintenance.
Ants (Common Black Ants)
Ants are a common garden pest here in the UK. They have a habit of building their nests in your lawn and spreading into your home and around your garden in their hunt for food.
Worker ants work tirelessly to expand the nest and grow the colony resulting in large nests with intricate and extensive tunnel connections.
Ants can create mounds of soil, raised spots in your lawn and can promote weed & moss growth, that's why it's best to get them under control quickly.
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Moles
Moles are garden pests that live underneath your lawn. They don't eat the roots of your lawn, but they do cause serious structural damage underground.
Their tunnel systems can cause damage to your garden while creating spaces for mice and rats to invade your garden too. Keep your eye out for large mounds of dirt on your lawn, this is a tell-tale sign that you're dealing with a mole problem.
Note: a mole problem might also signify that you have an infestation of grubs too! Learn more about our grub control services here.
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Leatherjackets (Crane Fly Larvae)
Leatherjackets are a common type of garden pest that's most prevalent during autumn. The hungry larvae will have no problem devouring large swathes of your lawn - stripping entire lawns and killing grassroots if left untreated.
Leatherjackets are a tasty snack for birds who will further damage your lawn in an attempt to find and eat them. Keep your eyes peeled for grubs that are grey in colour, have no legs and have mandibles at one end of their body.
Seek treatment immediately if you think you've got an infestation of leatherjackets in your garden.
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Chafer Grubs (Chafer Beetle Larvae)
Chafer grubs are a common lawn pest that lives in the soil and feeds on both living and decaying plant material. Much like leatherjackets, chafer grubs will eat through huge areas of your lawn causing severe damage.
Birds also love to eat these plump bugs, meaning you're likely to have a problem with birds pecking at your lawn alongside the chafer grub infestation.
Chafer grubs prefer sandy soils and travel deeper into the soil when temperatures drop. You should keep an eye out for them during warmer periods when they rise nearer the surface of your lawn to feed.
Chafer Grub Control Treatment >
Aphids
Aphids are small insects that feed on the sap of plants in your garden. With over 500 different aphid species living in the UK, they are considered one of the most common garden pests we have to contend with.
While aphids physically damage crops when they're gorging on the sap, they're most dangerous because they're common vectors of plant viruses.
Their huge numbers mean they can quickly spread a virus between different parts of a single plant, amongst other plants in your garden and beyond into neighbouring gardens. It's best to get them under control as soon as possible.
Request a FREE Lawn Survey >
If you're currently experiencing a problem with common garden pests, get in touch with the Lawn and Weed Expert team! We offer free lawn surveys to determine the best course of action for your garden pest infestation and will provide effective treatments where we can to help you get your pest problem under control. Learn more about our garden pest control services below.
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