Overview
Preventing Crane Fly Lawn Problems
While it is difficult to avoid having adult crane flies lay eggs in your turf, there are steps you can take to prevent crane fly damage.
Keep Your Lawn Healthy
Follow Lawn Care Schedule
A healthy lawn can withstand damage from lawn pests, as well as diseases and weeds. Following a lawn care schedule will help to keep your lawn robust and lush, so even if you do have some crane fly larvae in your yard, your lawn will withstand the feeding and continue to look great.
Follow a lawn care schedule for your type of lawn and your area of the country, and remember:
- Mow regularly and at the proper height
- Water only when necessary, and make sure to water deeply and infrequently rather than frequently for short periods of time.
- Fertilize, but not too much.
- Thinning a thick or excess thatch is important, since the larvae usually end up in this area.
- Make sure your soil has adequate drainage; these insects like wet environments.
- Letting your soil dry out in the late summer and early fall can help to kill some of the insects.