How To Stop Grubs In Lawn

Controlling Grubs In The Lawn

Beetles, like Japanese and chafer beetles, emerge in early summer, feed on plants in the garden, and lay their eggs in the soil in the lawn. Later in the summer, the grubs hatch and immediately begin to feed. They will continue to eat and grow until mid-fall, when they move deeper in the soil so they can survive through the winter. When the soil warms up again in the spring, the large, mature grubs move back into the upper soil levels, where they transform into adult beetles that emerge in early summer and start the whole process over again.

The key to controlling grubs is to kill them before they hatch and begin to cause damage to your lawn. In spring or early summer, apply a preventative grub control product, such as Scotts® GrubEx®1 to your lawn, following label directions. This is especially important if youve had problems with grubs in the past. One application of Scotts® GrubEx®1 can kill and prevent grubs for up to 4 months.

What Is The Best Time Of Year To Treat Soil With Beneficial Nematodes

Treat your garden soil with beneficial nematodes whenever the curl grubs are visible and present! And, when the temperature conditions are ideal as described above. Spring and/or fall are generally a good time to treat in most locations. Curl grubs are most active in warm weather. Some sources recommend a spring application, as the grubs will be vigorously feeding closer to the surface on new plant roots in the spring. Yet others suggest treating in the late summer to fall, to kill the grubs when theyâre still small and the benefits will carry over to next spring.

I am not an expert on all the species of curl grub beetles, but I suspect that there are slight differences in each of their life cycles that would make spring versus fall more effective. Not to mention all of our varying climates. Therefore, if you are struggling with a severe infestation of grubs in your garden soil , it may be best to treat twice per year.

How To Kill Grubs Immediately

Scotts GrubEx1 Grub Killer for Lawns.

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Youre in luck if youre seeking a quick solution to eliminate grubs. Carbaryl and trichlorfon are the principal compounds utilized for immediate grub control. They are commercially available as rub preventers and grub killers.

These chemical control methods can be used on populations of lawn grubs that are too large to be killed by natural methods. To learn more about controlling grub populations using chemical treatments, refer to this comprehensive guide here.

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Signs You Have Lawn Grubs

There are certain signs to watch for to know if youre faced with a grub problem. First of all, you may have noticed other wildlife being attracted to your lawn. This wildlife activity in your yard likely indicates you have a grub worm problem. Animals, such as raccoons, skunks and birds, enjoy grubs as a main part of their diet. If youre serving up an assortment of tasty lawn grubs, then these creatures are going to get digging which can also cause damage to your grass.

Secondly, you will notice dying patches of grass in your yard that are easy to pull up by hand. This is a clear indicator the roots of the grass have been destroyed as these patches are no longer thriving in the soil. You may have previously attributed dry, dying patches of grass to under-watering or environmental conditions. However, it is likely a grub problem, which is very common in North America.

Your natural inclination when you notice lawn damage caused by grubs might be to rip up the patches of grass that are browning and replace them with new lawn turf. This is, however, not the correct or sustainable solution. You can instead simply treat this area of lawn with a pest control treatment and begin your lawn care regime again. Once the grubs have been killed by the pest control solution, this will promote root growth in the grass, and it will begin to heal and regrow.

Different Species Of Nematodes

If youâve been around the garden block, youâve likely heard of root-knot nematodes. Those are pest nematodes that infect and feed on the root system of plants . Those arenât the good guys that we are talking about here. Just like Bt, there are different varieties or species of nematodes. That said, be sure to choose a beneficial nematode strain sold and known to specifically kill grubs in soil. When you look at the packaging, youâll notice that it says it kills white grubs along with many other soil-dwelling pests!

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How Do Grubs Get In Your Lawn

Grubs can get in your lawn through several ways:

• Adult beetles lay eggs in the soil, usually in late summer or early fall. The eggs hatch into grubs that burrow into the soil to feed on the roots of grass and other plants.
• Mowing or other activities that disturb the soil can bring grubs to the surface, making them more visible and vulnerable to predators.
• Birds and other animals can also spread grubs by eating and transporting them from one area to another.
• Grubs can also be transported through soil or sod that is being moved from one location to another.
• Grubs can also travel through underground tunnels, making it easy for them to move from one part of your lawn to another.

Controlling White Grubs In Turfgrass

ENT-10: Controlling White Grubs in Turfgrass |

White grubs are the most destructive insect pests of turfgrasses in Kentucky. Turf is damaged when the grubs chew off the grass roots just below the soil surface. The root injury reduces the turf’s ability to take up water and nutrients and withstand the stress of hot, dry weather conditions.

Several species of white grubs can cause this damage, but the two that are most common in Kentucky are the larvae of masked chafers and Japanese beetles. Other species occasionally infesting turfgrass in Kentucky are the larvae of green June beetles, May beetles, and the black turfgrass ataenius.

All of these grubs have stout, grayish-to-white bodies with brown heads. Depending upon the species, the mature grub ranges in size from 3/8 to 2 inches long. Most species are curled into a C-shape when at rest , although green June beetle grubs have the curious habit of crawling on their backs.

Figure 1. Mature white grubs

Signs of Infestation

White grub damage is usually most evident in August and September. Early symptoms include gradual thinning, yellowing, and weakening of the grass stand followed by the appearance of scattered, irregular dead patches. As damage continues, the dead patches may increase in size, and apparently healthy turf areas may exhibit sudden wilting. The turf may feel spongy as you walk over the infested area.

Sampling for White Grubs

Figure 2. Sampling for white grubs.

Grub Life Cycles

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What Is The Best Product To Get Rid Of Grubs

Carbaryl and trichlorfon are two compounds that are considered curative remedies for immediate grub control. They are transient chemicals that are lethal to all grub life stages. So, if large populations of grubs are discovered in the fall or the spring before early May, these two pesticides are the way to go!

Natural Ways To Get Rid Of Grub Worms In Your Lawn

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Grub worms damage your lawn by feeding on the roots, and eventually turn into adult beetles that eat the leaves of other prized plants in your garden. Many homeowners simply treat their lawn with a chemical grub control product, or grub killer, once or twice a year. But there are also a number of natural methods that can be effective ways to get rid of grub worms. Check out the following tips from our readers on how to get rid of grubs naturally.

Q: I have white grub worms all over my garden and I hate to use pesticides. Are there any natural methods to get rid of them?

Answer 1: Earth-friendly beneficial nematodes seek out and kill grubs and other soil-inhabiting insects. They come on a sponge that you soak in water, put in a sprayer and spray your dirt or lawn. They will multiply over time and continue to kill grubs. They have nematodes that seek and destroy flea larvae too. Here’s what one reader says about his experience with nematodes: “Works great. Did my yard last year, my dogs never have fleas unless we go someplace else. The nematodes for grubs work equally as well. Had them in my compost pile, wiped them out. No more grubs!” .

Answer 5: Other readers have seen results using neem oil. Mix as directed with water and spray affected areas of your lawn to deter beetles from laying eggs, as well as keep grubs from feeding. .

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How Do You Know If You Have A Grub Problem

The most common sign of a grub problem is patches of light brown or yellow grass especially in the spring when the rest of the lawn starts to turn green. Often this is a sign of grub damage from the previous summer and fall.

However, thats not the only sign of a grub problem, and by the time you notice brown patches, your lawn will usually have extensive damage from grubs. Instead of waiting for ugly, brown patches to emerge, keep an eye out for these lesser known signs of a grub problem:

• Grass that feels spongey when you walk on it. This is caused by the roots being detached underneath the surface of the grass because of grub damage.
• Grass that looks torn up or with small holes throughout. This is caused by racoons and other animals digging into the surface to feed on the grubs underneath.
• Mole problems including tunnels and damage to your lawn. Moles are attracted to yards with grubs and other lawn pests to eat.
• Beetles flying around your lawn or damaged plants from beetles feeding on them. If you have beetles, you likely have grubs feeding underneath your lawn.

How To Stop Crows Digging Up Your Lawn

If you have seen crows digging up your lawn, you may have wondered why. In this article, we look at why they do this and how to stop them from destroying your lawn.

Crows feed on the grubs on your lawn. The most effective method to stop crows from digging up your lawn is to reduce the number of grubs. Beneficial nematodes will kill ants, fleas, moths, beetles, flies, weevils, and other pests that raccoons feed on. Crows want an easy meal, so make it difficult for them.

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How To Repair Minor Damage From Grub Worms

If you can spot only a few grubs in your lawn, the situation is far from serious and can be handled easily. Here is what you need to do to salvage your turf without a complete restoration.

Use a Garden Rake

Use your garden rake to get rid of the brown, affected spots and remove the dead grass. Make sure to rake the damaged area a bit more to remove the extra thatch and loose soil.

Sprinkle Grass Seeds

The next thing you can do is sprinkle new grass seeds over the raked area. We recommend sprinkling 10-15 seeds per square inch for a completely bald area and 5-10 seeds per square inch for a semi-bald area. Sprinkle less if the surrounding turf is healthy

Tamp the Seeds

Once youve sprinkled enough grass seeds, tamp them with your foot. Next, it is good to sprinkle topsoil over the grass seeds.

Water Your Lawn

Lightly water your lawn every day until the grass is a few inches tall. It is recommendable to water every day for two-three weeks.

Preventing Lawn Grubs In The Future

The best thing you can do to prevent lawn grubs from taking hold in the future is to keep your lawn as healthy as possible.

The adult beetles dont like to lay their eggs in tall, healthy grass. Keep the lawn properly fertilized, avoid overwatering and underwatering, and above all, make sure you mow high. Let the grass grow taller, at least two inches or so in height.

You should try to fertilize and seed your lawn in the fall . Most beetles wont lay their eggs in grass thats lush and healthy. Its far easier for them to infest lawns that have weaker roots, since theyll be able to burrow more deeply.

The best time to fertilize is in the early fall since this is when most species of grub-producing beetles lay their eggs, but some grass types may need fertilizing in the early spring months instead.

The Bottom Line

If youre dealing with an infestation of grubs, there are things you can do to get rid of them and prevent them from coming back.

Consider using one or more of the tips weve shared to help eliminate these pests from your lawn for good.

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What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Grub Damage

As mentioned, grubs crawl deep into the surface of your lawn and feed on your grassroots. This causes sections of your grass to die. Early symptoms include gradual thinning, yellowing, and weakening of the grass. First, dead patches in your grass show up, then they increase in size and begin wilting. The main symptoms of grub damage include:

• Irregularly shaped brown patches
• Grass that peels up easily from the soil
• Tiny beetles flying over the surface of your lawn, beds, and gardens

Presence of Moles and Other WildlifeMoles and other wildlife love to feast on grubs as part of their dinner. However, the earthworm is the moles main diet and what sustains their lifecycle. Killing grubs will not stop moles. Trapping is the only effective method in managing mole issues.

How To Get Rid Of Grubs In Lawn: 6 Effective Ways + Natural Control

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If there are grubs in your lawn, youll start to notice a change in the shade of your turfgrass. Browning of grass during summer and early fall is a likely sign of white grub worms causing the damage. The key to getting rid of lawn grubs is first identifying their signs, and then applying the best control method as I am going to show you here.

The white grub worms in your lawn are a larval stage of scarab beetles. As soon as winter ends, these worms become active when warmth kicks in. They start to damage your lawn by eating grass roots at a high rate.

If you fail to identify and kill lawn grubs on time, theyll develop into pupae, and later into full-grown beetles. The beetles will later start eating lawn grass and other foliage in your yard, causing even further plant damage.

But how do you know youre dealing with grubs in your lawn and not a disease or other problems?

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Signs Of A Grub Infestation

The first sign of a problem is the appearance of brown, dead patches in your lawn. These can be caused by many other things like overwatering or underwatering, fungal infections, over-fertilizing, or even a dog thats a bit overzealous about where he goes to the bathroom!

However, you will know that its grubs if you can pull up the grass and the sod separates easily from the soil. This indicates that grubs have chewed through the roots entirely.

Signs of infestation usually appear in mid to late summer this can vary though.

Another sign of grub activity is increased animal presence. Grubs are a favorite food of many types of animals, including birds, skunks, and raccoons. If you see these animals or if you notice lots of holes in your lawn, thats a sign that theyre digging or pecking in search of grubs.

Other signs include:

• Seeing lots of white grubs on the soil surface
• Brown, straw-like patches on the lawn

Once you suspect grubs, its important to do a soil test. Remove a square foot of grass about three inches deep from one of these brown areas. If you see less than five grubs, youre probably okaythats a normal population of grubs.

If there are ten or more, thats an infestation, and you need to take action!

How To Get Rid Of Grubs In Grass

Dealing with a grub problem usually means using a pesticide. A preventive application in the spring will kill the grubs that have already hatched and keep new ones from hatching throughout the season.

Because preventive pesticides are typically combined with fertiliser, its important to apply them in the spring, so they dont burn the grass. Watering is also important, to ensure that the pesticide reaches deep into the soil where the grubs are hiding.

A curative application is in order if you discover a widespread grub problem. These pesticides will kill the larvae on contact, but dont work for as long. Its usually best to call a professional for curative pesticides.

Watering your lawn appropriately can help in grub control. Grubs love moisture and tend to die out in drought conditions so watering your lawn infrequently but deeply can help keep grubs away by preventing the soil from being too moist.

Keep an eye on how your neighbours lawns look as well. Grubs are rarely limited to one yard, so if you see signs in your neighbourhood, its likely you have the pesky critters as well.

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