Craneflies this Year
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Libby
Posted: Oct-05-2004 at 3:51pm
This is so strange it's almost creepy. I've had craneflies in the grass for as long as I can remember. Some years are worse than others but this year: none. Anyone else notice a change?
Wanda
Posted: Oct-06-2004 at 8:31am
Now that you mention it, I haven't seen them around either. I wonder if the winter killed many of them off? The birds will miss them.
-Wanda
cjmiller
Posted: Oct-06-2004 at 10:55am
There is a cranefly pinned in the spider web that sucessfully blocks free flight from the rosemary to the deck to the apple tree. They are not gone, but you are right, they didnt seem to be as abundant this year. I a amazed daily at the success of this spider. Besides the crane fly, he has an abundance of fruit flies dotting his web. He is dining like a king, and his girth is a testament to his sucess! He is missing a leg, so he has had to fight for this feast.
Carol
A garden is a thing of duty and a job forever. or: a garden is a thing of beauty and a joy forever
JD77
Posted: Oct-07-2004 at 9:51am
Unfortunately, the Craneflies are just getting going around our house. Seems later this year (might just be me)but for those with lawns they provide a tough call. I have a "close to organic" yard. I've never used any pesticides and use a single treatment of a particular herbicide per year. Craneflies, it appears, are ruining the grass portion of our backyard, where our little child likes to play. Considering that I don't want it to be nothing but mud, what are some options? I bought expensive nematodes in the Spring and really can't say they've done any visible help.
Lisa A
Posted: Oct-07-2004 at 10:20am
How do you water your lawn, JD77? If you do brief, frequent watering, changing this to infrequent and deep watering may help, according to information I received some years ago from Metro's Natural Gardening program. Crane flies like moist conditions, so keeping the top few inches of your lawn consistently moist makes it a very inviting environment for them.
I don't have - and haven't for years (knocking on wood) a crane fly problem. That is not to say that I don't have crane flies - I do. No matter what we do, we will not be able to eliminate this pest - it is impossible, so don't bother trying. However, it is only when you find more than 25 grubs per square foot, that you need to worry about damage to your lawn. I find grubs all the time but never in numbers high enough for me to take action.
When a pest's numbers are high enough to constitute a problem, it usually signifies that something is out of whack (technical term ) in your garden or surrounding environment. Determining what is causing an inbalance is the first step to finding a solution. Very often, incorrect watering practices - too much, too little, too often or too infrequent - is the culprit.
How old is your lawn? I believe crane flies are more often a problem with younger lawns. Their numbers may not necessarily be that high but young lawns are less able to handle the damage.
Gardening in Sunset Zone 6, USDA Zone 8.
“One of the worst mistakes you can make as a gardener is to think you're in charge.”
Janet Gillespie
JD77
Posted: Oct-08-2004 at 10:03am
Lisa,
Thanks. My lawn is 4 years old. I do not water much at all actually, but because of poor drainage (and neighbors heavy irrigation) that are quite damp. Like you say, I don't think there is any way to get rid of the prob. but I don't really like to "nuke" my lawn and kill lots of critters that I like to have around. The nematodes did not give any visible help, but I'm not sure what I would see even if they were working so that is tough to tell. Any other thoughts about what might be "out of wack?" The soil, like in many new developments, is horrid as the topsoil was carted off.
JD
Lisa A
Posted: Oct-08-2004 at 12:54pm
I'm having deja vu . . . have we discussed your drainage problem before?
Anything you can do to direct the irrigation overflow away from your lawn and/or increase the percolation rate in your lawn would be a plus, IMO, because it would improve the health of your existing lawn.
Recently Mike Darcy did an episode about a relatively new treatment, called Axis, for improving lawn drainage. Read about it here. It might be worth investigating for your situation.
In addition, leaving lawn clippings (instead of bagging and removing) helps improve the lawn because the added organic matter increases drainage (amends the clay). This is not as quick a fix as the above treatment, obviously, but it's a step in the right direction, IMO. It will not increase thatch - that is an old wives' tale.
I've also read of others who have treated their lawn with a 1/4" of compost and 1/4" of 1/4-10 gravel in early spring; this helps improve drainage by alleviating compaction. Joy Creek Nursery does this - check with them for more details (the above is from memory, which could be faulty).
You didn't say - are you seeing grub numbers at or above the 25 per square foot? If not, then taking steps to improve the health of your lawn should enable your lawn to withstand their damage. Even if the numbers are higher, a healthy lawn will manage the damage with better success.
Gardening in Sunset Zone 6, USDA Zone 8.
“One of the worst mistakes you can make as a gardener is to think you're in charge.”
Janet Gillespie
hollysue
Posted: Oct-08-2004 at 6:07pm
I haven't had much crane fly damage this year either. My lawn is also pretty young (about 4 years also), so it has been a problem in the past.
All of my fertilizing and lawn care is done by Organicare, so I know the past treatments have been organic, darned if I can remember what they said they used for the crane flies, though! I've been really happy with them, and it's been such a time-saver for me not to have to remember when to fertilize and do all that!!!!
Holly
If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.
JD77
Posted: Oct-10-2004 at 1:45pm
Lisa,
You are right. You and I posted before about my yard and drainage issues. Honestly, I don't know how to tell you how many larvae I have. Do you have a suggestion as to how I might find out. I was out in the back last night and it is already very soft and muddy.
Lisa A
Posted: Oct-10-2004 at 7:31pm
How do you know how many you have? Dig up a square foot of lawn, a few inches deep is usually enough and count how many grubs you find. (oops, I re-read that and realized it could sound a bit snide - it's not meant that way at all!)
You shouldn't be seeing new damage at this time of year, IIRC. The adults are egg-laying now - or have finished already but the eggs don't hatch into grubs (aka leatherjackets) for awhile and damage isn't seen until next spring, which is the better time to start monitoring their numbers.
I typed all that and started wondering if I was remembering correctly so off I went to google and found the following helpful info for you at Whitney Farms Organic Gardening Guide. Scroll down to "Lawn Pests" and click on question 1 to find more information, which btw validates what I recall. Ah, it's good to know the gray matter was working just fine.
You know, poor drainage may be as much at fault for your struggling lawn as crane flies. What makes you believe it's the pest and not the drainage problem that is the prime suspect?
Gardening in Sunset Zone 6, USDA Zone 8.
“One of the worst mistakes you can make as a gardener is to think you're in charge.”
Janet Gillespie
bakingbarb
Posted: Oct-14-2004 at 7:14pm
The dying lawn spots could be somthing like a fungus too. If it is so wet then to me that seems a likely thing and that stuff spreads too. So someone else could have it and it will "float" to your yard.
BakingBarb
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the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well.
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Gardening for the Homebrewer: Grow and Process Plants for Making Beer, Wine, Gruit, Cider, Perry, and More
By co-authors Debbie Teashon (Rainy Side Gardeners) and Wendy Tweton