Acaricide

A substance used for the control of mites and ticks.

  Aluminium Ammonium Sulphate

A bird and animal, e.g. rabbit, repellent.

  Ants

Some species of ants can cause localised problems on lawns, especially in dry sunnier conditions. The Yellow-Meadow Ant (whose scientific name is Lasius flavus) can be a particular minor pest of turf surfaces. They create small to significant medium sized mounds of excavated soil which can smother grass and cause surface unevenness. The soil is best brushed up or spread around where it has been excavated, however, this can be a daily task while the ants are active over the summer period. Scalping of lightly raised areas is a common problem, so be aware of this and slightly raise the heig

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  Badgers

A mammal, which is nocturnal and relatively shy of humans. It has black and white striped face and greyish fur. Its scientific name is Meles meles. It feeds on a range of food sources, including earthworms and grubs, especially chafer grubs and leatherjacket grubs. The powerful paws and claws can cause significant damage to turf surfaces where it has rummaged for food in the presence of abundant earthworms and grubs. Badgers are protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Protection of Badgers Act 1992.

  Bees

Tawny Mining Bees (whose scientific name is Andrena fulva) can be a temporary nuisance on some shorter maintained grass lawns, especially where the soil is sandy or on heavier soil during dry periods of the year. They are solitary ground nesting bees and burrow into the soil, with the entrances to their nest having small mounds of soil. A small group of two or three holes (or mounds) could be the work of a single female having a few nests.

  Bibionids

Bibionid flies, including Fever Fly and St Marks Fly.

  Birds

Birds can cause two main problems on turf surfaces. Firstly, where grubs such as chafer grubs or leatherjacket grubs are present within a turf sward, they can peck anything from small areas to large areas. They mainly affect the surface layer, especially if it is a turf surface with an undesirable depth of thatch, especially 12mm or greater. Secondly, where grass seed has been sown then some birds, especially pigeons can deseed an area to quite an extent. Protection of newly seeded areas by top-dressing helps to reduce the extent of seed loss to birds. Prior to seeding the use of a

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  Brown Chafer

A chafer beetle that typically appears from June to August. It is a similar size to the garden chafer, being around 10-15mm in length and brown in colour. It mostly lives in woodland and their edges, although the grubs do develop within grassland and may be a localised problem in turf surfaces. Its scientific name is Serica brunnea.

  Burrowing Bees

See Bees.

  Canada Goose

This wildfowl can be a nuisance on turf and non-turf areas, especially where there are many in a flock. Their faeces can be quite prolific requiring regular clean-ups. The scientific name is Branta canadensis.