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Moss
Moss is generally caused by:
The problem can be corrected through a process of elimination, you should be able to determine which of the conditions are responsible. Until the cause is eliminated, moss will continue to grow in the affected area.
Raking the affected area only removes the dead moss and does not cure the problem. There are several moss-killers available on the market (contact your local garden centre). Most moss-killers will turn the moss black in a short period of time, once it has turned black, rake it out of the grass, you may need to treat the affected area twice to completely kill off the moss. Once the area has been cleared of moss you can then prepare the soil and re-seed.
* See our Seasonal Lawn Care pages for information on keeping your Lawn in tip top condition.
Toadstools
 It is very common for small brown toadstools to appear in recently laid Cultivated Turf. They are not damaging to the Turf and are a temporary problem.
The Harvesting process of Cultivated Turf causes damage to the root system and underground part of the Turf. Microscopic bacteria and fungi, present in all soils, decompose the dead and dying tissue on the Turf once it has been laid. This process of biological decompositions, which breaks down organic matter, occurs naturally throughout the garden. Once the dead material in the Turf has gone, the toadstools will go as well. It is unusual for toadstools to return again.
For most of the Fungi life cycle it remains too small to even see. However, under certain weather conditions fungi move into their reproductive phase and produce small brown toadstools. Spores are then released from the Toadstools and are carried along on the wind. Toadstools are more commonly seen in warmer weather. When you water your newly installed Turf you are creating an ideal warm, moist microclimate for the fungus that produces the Toadstools to grow. If Turf is laid in cold weather the fungi will not appear until the temperature rises and conditions are moist.
As a precaution we strongly advise that you keep children away from the Toadstools as they may be harmful if eaten, as is the case with many things found in your garden.
At present there are no fungicides recommended, however there really is no need to treat them, as they are not damaging to the Turf and are part of a natural temporary process. If you are worried about children eating them, the simplest way to remove the Toadstools from the Lawn is by mowing the affected area until no more are produced, or alternatively, by brushing them off, this allows them to dry out and will disappear. (Toadstools are composed mainly of water.)
Leatherjackets
 Leatherjackets are the larvae of the Crane Fly (commonly known as the Daddy Long Legs). The grubs are legless, grey/brown without a distinct head, they usually grow to a maximum of 30-40mm.
In late summer the female lays up to 300 eggs in grassy areas, they then hatch into Leatherjackets. They stay under ground over winter and cause most damage to the Turf in the following spring before hatching. When they do hatch you will notice small black pods in your Lawn, and lots of Crane Flies (Daddy Long Legs) emerging.
 The insect larvae feed mainly on the roots of the Turf, this results in straw like patches of turf appearing, which later become bare and invaded by weeds.
The best time to treat for Leatherjackets is in the Autumn when the larvae are small and soft, rather than in Spring when they are tougher. Your local Garden Centre should be able to advise on a suitable insecticide, or you can use a more eco friendly method.
1.Soak the Lawn area
2.Apply Black plastic bags and pin down with stones/bricks
3.Leave overnight
4.Remove the Black Bags in the morning
5.You will notice that the Leatherjackets have come to the surface
6.Sweep the grubs up and put on your bird table.
DO NOT feed the grubs to the birds if you have used an insecticide.
Fusarium Patches
 Fusarium Patch is one of the most common Turf diseases, it is caused by the fungus Microdochium Nivale. Symptoms can be accelarated if there is a snow fall, as the layer of snow insulates the affected area and allows it to grow. In most cases the affected area will recover when the grass is actively growing.
As with all diseases, the spores of this disease are abundant everywhere, but only produce full symptoms when the conditions are right. Whenever the weather is very still and humid, and the grass stays wet for most of the day. The fungus grows in the water film on the grass leaf. The area affected usually looks orange-brown, straw or dark brown in colour, and normally is circular in appearance, the outer ring is always a darker colour than the inner circle, and can spread rapidly.
Not all grasses are affected, the main types of grasses which are more commonly affected are:
*Annual meadow grass, *Browntop Bent, *Creeping Bentgrass, *Perennial Ryegrass.
In order to control the spread of Fusarium Patch, or to reduce the spread, follow these control measures:
- Remove early dew (do not walk on the grass)
- Keep the soil well aerated
- Reduce Thatch areas
- Box off and remove clippings
- Avoid using a nitrogen fertiliser after late summer
Pets
Although they are said to be 'mans best freind', they can do a lot of damage to your lovely manicured lawn.
Urine contains chemicals that can permanently damage grass lawns. Tell tale signs are brown circular patches with healthy grass surrounding. This will be most visible in dry weather.
The only treatment is to water the affected patches plentifully. In extreme cases, re-turfing may be your only option.
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