Browse Forums Outdoor Living 1 Mar 21, 2016 4:13 pm Hi guys, Not sure, but I think that we might have a problem with mole crickets in our recently landscaped garden. There are a couple of fairly large patches in the lawn where the grass looks like it is dying, and also a couple of the plants have died (whilst the others around them are fine). Initially we blamed the dog, but these patches look different to the typical patches of dog-burned grass. And the grass immediately around the brown patches looks funny, too, kind of like it has been flattened down… The noise of crickets in the garden has always been fairly noticeable since our landscaping was completed, and we often see them jumping around. We don’t mind them being there; we’re just not too happy about the damage they may be doing. One night we saw a really strange looking insect up against the window, and I just saw someone post a pic online of something they were trying to identify, and it was the same thing that we had seen. People were telling them it was a mole cricket, which prompted me to google it and then read about the damage they can do… In terms of getting rid of them, it would be good to avoid pesticides, but not sure what the options are or how effective they are likely to be. If we use pesticides, I guess we need to be careful of the dog? If anyone can suggest anything, that would be great. Thanks Re: Mole crickets in new lawn 3Mar 22, 2016 7:57 am I wouldn't assume it is the mole crickets doing the damage. I've had them for about 5 years now and haven't noticed any damage to the lawn or garden so have just left them alone. They tend to stay in the garden beds (probably easier to dig there). They don't sound like regular crickets so the cricket noises aren't from them, if you had a lot like I do, you would know about it, since they are quite noisy when there's quite a few around. There could be another explanation for your lawn spots and if you post a pic of the damage someone may know what it is. Re: Mole crickets in new lawn 5Mar 22, 2016 11:17 am Heaps of mole crickets in our front lawn and no visible damage. Looking at that and noticing the main area is adjacent to a concrete path I'd guess inadequate sprinkler coverage and the added effect of hot concrete. Re: Mole crickets in new lawn 6Mar 22, 2016 3:22 pm Adding to what Althom is saying - if you dig down in that area adjacent to the path, is it slightly damp or bone dry? If it is the latter then that is probably your problem. Apart from the last few days it has been very dry here over the last month and we have had to do quite a bit of watering of both our garden and lawns. Stewie the leaves that are now underground go yellow, the tips that poke through photosynthesise and have chlorophyll, same reason they grow rhubarb in the dark. 5 2912 Hi All, We are building in Maitland and considering between Vision Homes or New Edge Homes (part of Masterton). Anyone has experience with them especially in Maitland -… 0 3187 |