How To Apply Beneficial Nematodes For Natural Grub Control
Beneficial Nematodes for Grub Control are easy to apply. A hose end sprayer is probably the preferred method of application. The nematodes come in a powder and you add the powder to some water in your hose end sprayer, shake it up, and apply it over the area you’d like to treat, until you’ve used up the right amount of nematodes. Nematodes can die in the sunlight, so it helps to use a lot of water when you’re applying them and water them into the soil. If you do the application in the evening, that gives the nematodes all night to work their way into the soil before the sun comes up the next day.
Top Recommended Company For Grub Control
TruGreen offers extensive Grub Prevention & Control Services. A specialist will use a pre-emptive application to eliminate white grubs before they can do too much damage. The specialist will start by monitoring the lawn for adult beetle activity, then apply insect control just before the hatching season. The product will get absorbed by the soil and stay in the root system to eradicate grubs that hatch.
Damage Caused By Curl Grubs In Garden Soil
Curl grubs feed on some dead plant matter, but also actively feed on the living root systems of a wide range of plants. The exception is that they do not particularly care to eat legumes . As we organic gardeners know, roots are the foundation of plant health! Thus, when plant roots are eaten by grubs, the plants become stressed, stunted, and increasingly susceptible to disease. Heavy infestations of curl grubs in garden soil can even cause plant death. That is why we want to get rid of those nasty suckers!
The good news is, if you kill the grubs in your soil, youre also reducing the subsequent beetle population and many of them are garden pests as well! Nearly all curl grubs emerge from the soil as adult beetles in May to June. Then, the beetles begin to feed on surrounding landscape plants. Japanese Beetles are especially notorious for damaging and devouring leaves on garden plants. I think most of the grubs in our garden soil are June Bugs, who also chew ragged holes in plant foliage.
Beyond garden soil, grubs are commonly found in grass lawns. A grub infestation in lawn creates dead patches of grass that stay yellow and sad-looking, no matter how much water or care the area receives. You can use beneficial nematodes to kill grubs in garden soil and lawns alike.
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What Chemical Products Can I Use To Control Grubs In My Lawn
If you have a severe grub infestation and want to use a chemical product to control grubs, you have a number of widely available options.
From about late April into early June, you can effectively use a product with the active ingredient chlorantraniliprole to control all species of white grubs we have in New Hampshire. This chemical also controls caterpillars such as webworms and armyworms. This product is most effective when the grub is actively feeding so applying it 2 to 3 months in advance of severe grub feeding from June to August is recommended. This ingredient is in two widely available products: GrubEx® and Roundup® For Lawns Bug Destroyer. The U.S. EPA designates this chemical as a low risk pesticide due to its low toxicity to bees and other beneficial insects.
Some products registered for controlling grubs just have a pyrethroid, such as products with the active ingredient Gamma-Cyhalothrin, commonly found in the Spectracide® Triazicide® Insect Killer For Lawns. According to research from Michigan State University, products that only contain lambda-cyhalothrin, gamma-cyhalothrin, bifenthrin, deltamethrin, cyfluthrin or permethrin do not work for grub control.
In most cases, whether its early spring or fall, its preferable to simply wait until the next appropriate window for using a preventative product that gets better results and is more targeted. Learn more about current insecticide approaches for white grubs from UMass Extension.
Natural Ways To Get Rid Of Grubs In Garden
Many gardeners have dealt with the irritation of finding grubs in the soil among their plants. These critters are voracious root-eating worms that turn into leaf-eating adult beetles .
Its not a pretty sight, seeing fat white worms crawling around, eating the roots of your crops, and damaging your lawn.
If youre reading this article, then its a good bet youre seeking natural, harmless ways of getting rid of grubs once and for all.
Fortunately for you, there are plenty of methods you can use to rid your garden of grub bugs without harming your plants, pets, or the useful insects you want to keep.
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How To Determine If Your Lawn Has A Grub Infestation
Its normal to have worms, grubs, and insects in your soil, and the presence of some grubs doesnt necessarily mean that you have a problem that requires treatment.
Fall and summer are the times of year at which grubs do the most damage to your lawn, attacking the roots of your grass, and if you see big patches of your lawn that are brown or dying , this is when you can identify a grub infestation.
Some of the signs of grub infestation are brown patches that are irregular in shape or if your lawn just appears generally unhealthy. There may also be small holes in the ground in which animals have been doing some digging.
And if you suddenly notice mole tunnels in your yard, they may have shown up because theres a grub buffet below the grass.
If your lawn looks like this do the following:
The Best Time To Treat For Grubs In Your Lawn
There are a lot of reasons why certain patches of grass dont grow very well, but one of the most common in Minnesota lawns is grubs . These harmful invaders lay their eggs in the dirt under your grass in the summer. Those eggs grow up and feed in the fall and spring. This cycle of feeding can be extremely harmful to the grass in your lawn. In this blog post, well discuss the best time to treat for Japanese beetles/grubs in your lawn. If you dont want to do the treatment yourself, let your local Minneapolis lawn care specialists help you by filling out a quote request.
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Should You Call A Professional
If you already use a lawn service to keep your yard neat and healthy, they will likely spot your grub problem and suggest treatments. If not, you can call a lawn service to treat the lawn. But grub eradication is a doable DIY project. Pros are probably going to use the same methods you would if you treated the lawn yourself, so the only advantage of hiring a pro is to save yourself the hassle.
How To Get Rid Of Grubs Naturally
If you decide to treat your garden beds or lawn for grubs, it is best to introduce the treatment to the soil in mid- to late-summer or early fall. During this time, the grubs will be newly hatched and will be near the surface and beginning to feed. During the winter, they burrow deeper into the soil, and during the spring they are in the pupal stage, and then move into the imago stage, which means most treatments will be far less effective.
Many beetles return to the same area to lay eggs each year so, if you have a large population, it may take a few years to get it under control through treatment.
It is often best to try natural treatments before moving up to pesticides that may introduce toxins into the groundwater or affect the health of your family, your pets, bees, or other local wildlife. So, lets look at some home remedies for grubs and natural ways to get rid of grubs.
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How To Get Rid Of Lawn Grubs
In most climates, grubs are near the surface of the soil. Theyre at their smallest and most vulnerable in August and September, so these are the best months to treat for them.
Sod Solutions recommends Dylox 6.2 Granular White Grub Insecticide, which needs to be applied with a broadcast spreader and watered within 24 hours. However, this product is toxic to wildlife, and shouldnt enter storm drains or drainage ditches. For a natural pest solution, try one or more of these options:
- Introduce nematodes beneficial, microscopic worms that feed on grub worms.
- Introduce milky spore, a naturally occurring disease that attacks grub worms but doesnt harm other plants or wildlife. The spores must be spread several times over two years, but they protect your lawn for 10 years or more.
- Create a bird-friendly habitat by placing birdhouses and birdbaths in your yard to attract insect-eating birds like robins, wrens and jays. Theyll eat the grubs, along with the beetles once they start to emerge.
How To Treat Grubs In Minneapolis Lawns
Here at KG Landscape, we think of the two weeks of the Minnesota State Fair as a great time to apply insecticides for grubs. By that time, the grubs have had enough time to start feeding on the roots and be very close to the soil surface but they are still small and easy to kill. The best treatment for these grubs is a chemical called Imidacloprid. It is safe for mammals and most fish so it has a small impact on the local ecosystem but does kill the grubs damaging the grass. We use a granular treatment that only requires one treatment per year until they are completely eradicated. It may or may not effect some honeybees, but if applied to only grass areas with possible grub damage, the impact on these important creatures will be minimal.
If youre looking for lawn help in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, look no further than KG Landscape. We have the experience and knowledge to help fix any lawn issues. Give us a call at our office 763-568-7251 or fill out a quote request and well get in contact with you. Getting that golf course quality grass shouldnt be impossible we can help make it happen.
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Insecticides That Do Not Work On Grubs
Do not use products containing ONLY lambda-cyhalothrin, gamma-cyhalothrin, bifenthrin, deltamethrin, cyfluthrin or permethrin for grub control. Products containing only these ingredients will not work for grub control because the active ingredient binds with organic material and will not move down to where the grubs are feeding. These products work well for above-ground feeding insects that live on the grass leaves or soil surface, but not for insects that feed on the roots. At one garden center a clerk showed us two products, one containing only permethrin and one containing only bifenthrin, when we asked for products to control grubs. Neither of the products listed grubs on the label printed on the bag and neither of the products would have controlled grubs.
Clues You Might Have Grubs In Your Lawn
Not sure if grubs are present in your lawn? There are some telltale signs that you can look for.
- Is your lawn underperforming? Does it seem to be sluggishly growing in May, June and July? As the weather heats up and the lawn gets drier, you may even start to notice brown spots, which are dead patches of grass that no longer have roots that deliver water and nutrients to lawn plants.
- Notice raccoons, skunks and birds digging in your yard? Grubs are pretty tasty to these critters, so youll notice them looking for lunch in your lawn.
- Does your lawn look kind of loose? Grab a handful of our lawn and pull on it. If it rolls up like a loose carpet–meaning the lawn roots are no longer rooted–then you probably have grubs.
- Walk on your lawn. Does it feel spongy? This is another sign lawn grubs are feasting on your grass roots.
- When fall conditions are more ideal, is your lawn not turning green again in spots?
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Introduce Milky Spore Disease
Introducing milky spore disease in your lawn will help control the Japanese beetle larva and reduce their population naturally. The disease is applied on the turf as a dust and is very effective in controlling Japanese beetle grubs. As the grubs feed on the roots of the grass, they ingest the bacteria and get infected and die.
To get rid of white grubs in your lawn using milky spore bacteria, apply a tablespoon of the dust spacing four feet apart from each deposit. Do not use a spreader or a garden sprayer to spread. Water the treatment lightly for about 15 minutes.
Milky spore is a great natural treatment for grubs that last long usually providing grub control for even more than 15 years.
However, the results may not be immediate since it takes time for the disease to develop to full effectiveness in the turf. In cooler climates, youll start seeing results after a few seasons.
Once it takes effect, this grub worm fix is very effective and lasts very long, making it great for lawns with recurring instances of grub damage.
The disadvantage of using milky spore is that it only gets rid of Japanese beetle grub worms and not other species. If you have June bugs and May beetles, you might want to use other natural ways of removing them in your lawn.
Signs Of A Lawn Grubs
Patchy lawns with brown or bare patches are the tell-tale signs of a lawn grub infestation. Other signs to keep an eye out for include white moths flying around as the sun goes down, white egg sacs on your house as well as an increase in lawn grub predators such as birds or orange/black wasps.
Preferring a healthy lawn, lawn grubs are far more likely to attack a well-maintained lawn. This goes double for all forms of couch grass as they are more prone to infestation. While Sir Walter DNA Certified is more resilient to these pests and usually recovers quicker it is still susceptible to attack.
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How To Kill Lawn Grubs On An Organic Lawn
As gardeners become increasingly concerned about using traditional chemical-based pesticides, alternative pest control solutions are growing in popularity. This is largely due to increasing education and awareness about the harmful impact of chemical pesticides. Many chemical-based pesticides will only get rid of lawn grubs initially, which often leads to the pests returning time and again as they will develop a resistance to the chemicals.
You may have tried do-it-yourself grub-killing solutions to ensure a chemical-free method of pest control. Some DIY solutions call for a combination of household products like mouthwash, lemon juice, liquid dish soap and water to create a spray that can be applied all over your yard. However, this homemade solution only acts as a deterrent for grubs and is not an effective or immediate way to kill them.
To truly eliminate your pest problem, you will need to apply a treatment that eliminates the grubs completely, which gives you the space to be able to restore your lawns health. Better yet, a treatment that can be applied to grubs at any stage of their life cycle will be a better solution for year-round pest control.
How Do I Prevent Grubs In My Lawn
I always advise people to take preventative measures rather than treating them later. Below are some means to prevent grubs in the lawn.
- Use beneficial nematodes along with Milky spore disease. This process may take a year or two but prevents further infections.
- Do not use artificial fertilizers to feed your lawn as it kills the beneficial nematodes. Use only organic fertilizer.
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Does Dawn Dish Soap Kill Grubs
You can control grubs using a commercial grub killer or a homemade recipe such as dawn dish soap. If the infestation is not extensive, you can use some simple natural treatments. But how effective is dawn dish soap for grub control?
Dawn dish soap kills grubs in the lawn by smothering and suffocating them. To get rid of grubs using dish soap, mix 3 tablespoons of soap with 1 gallon of water and spray it on the infested lawn. The soapy liquid will also interfere with the exoskeleton of adult beetles and kill them.
Get the Dawn Liquid Dish Soap for this procedure here.
Tip : Use Beneficial Nematodes To Kill Grubs Naturally
What if you don’t have a Tall Fescue Lawn and you’re concerned that you might have some Grub problems? The best time to kill Grubs in your lawn, without chemicals, is in late Summer or early Fall, when the new Grubs are very small. We’ve found that Beneficial Nematodes will eliminate 50-75% of the Grubs in your lawn, and that is usually enough to minimize the damage. What? You want to kill all the grubs? Well that just isn’t necessary or even possible. A healthy lawn can withstand up to 6 grubs per square foot. If you have an average American lawn , your lawn can withstand 48,000 Grubs before showing signs of damage. It still might be a good idea to do whatever you can to reduce the populations however, and that’s where our Organic Grub Control Service will come in handy.
Beneficial Nematodes are microscopic worms that occur naturally in all soils. Like people, there are good nematodes and bad nematodes. The bad nematodes plant roots, and the good nematodes attach themselves to Grub Larvae in the soil and suck the life out of them. Most soils are lacking in good nematodes, so it helps to apply a round of these good microorganisms early each Fall, to reduce the number of Grubs in your lawn. If you’d like to address this issue on your own, we recommend, Beneficial Nematode Natural Grub Killer.
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