What Do I Use To Kill Grubs In My Lawn

How Often Should You Spray For Lawn Grubs

Spray your lawn preventatively in the spring or summer. You can spray in spring to get rid of the overwintering grubs.

Spray in summer to eliminate newly hatched grubs. If you are applying the insecticide curatively, apply in the early fall to kill most of the grubs.

Wait for a month to actually see the results. Peel off a piece of the lawn and check for grubs in it.

Prevention & Maintenance Tips

Applying a preventative grub control product in the spring or early summer will provide much better grub control than waiting until after the damage has occurred. Use a spreader to apply Scotts® GrubEx®1. Be sure to follow application directions. To activate the product, water immediately after applying. A drought-stressed, underfed lawn will show grub damage faster, and with fewer grubs per square foot, than a properly-fed, well-maintained lawn. A properly maintained lawn can tolerate more grubs per square foot than a stressed lawn. Repair dead patches caused by grubs with Scotts® EZ Seed®.

How Grubs Affect Your Lawn

Grubs are the larvae of many kinds of beetles, such as Japanese beetles or June bugs. Grubs can be found within your lawn during the late summer months after the beetles have laid their eggs around July. Female beetles lay their eggs about one or two inches deep in the soil. They will spend two to three weeks laying eggs and will each produce as many as 60 eggs in this time. Once the eggs hatch between the two-to-four week mark, these grub worms begin looking for food to fuel their growth.

The lawn grubs youll likely find are small, white, worm-like pests that live in the soil and feast on organic matter in the lawn. They will eat anything within the soil thats in their path, including the roots of grass. By devouring the grass roots, they begin to kill off patches of your lawn, leaving it brown in certain areas. Grubs will continue to expand their destruction as they move under the lawns surface.

When severe destruction occurs from grubs in the lawn, its a result of the lawns health not being adequate enough to outpace the grubs feeding on it. In other words, a healthy lawn will grow faster than the grubs can eat it.

If your grass is unhealthy, youll want to kill these white grubs in the lawn immediately after finding them. Then take appropriate measures the restore your lawns health so it can withstand pests in the future.

The fewer mature female beetles you have in your yard, the less chance you will have of facing a grub problem later in the summer.

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Nematodes For Lawn Grub Control

Beneficial nematodes can be introduced into the affected lawns to control Grubs. These nematodes work efficiently.

The nematodes munch on the larval forms thus they also prevent future infestation to an extent. Ive tried this method of control and I can say it works.

You can buy such nematodes on amazon.

Dylox 62 Granular Insecticide

Without a doubt, the #1 product to quickly kill grubs in your lawn is Dylox 6.2 Granular Insecticide by Bayer. It contains 6.2% Trichlorfon, which targets white grubs , June bugs, Japanese beetles, Sod webworms, Armyworms, and more.

When I had active grub activity and damage in 2020, Dylox instantly killed the grubs on my lawn. Theres also some peace of mind with this product as there are no Dylox restrictions regarding turf species or sites for landscape and recreational-area uses. This chemical also does not stick around very long. Once applied and watered in according to the label, Dylox kills grubs then degrades quickly.

Pros:

• Kills quickly and degrades quickly
• No restrictions on sites and species
• The best and quickest of the lawn grub killers

Cons:

• Slightly more expensive than other options

30 pound bag:

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Apply Neem Oil Homemade Grubworm Killer

Neem oil has insecticidal properties and is effective in repelling grub worms in lawns and gardens. This natural pesticide deters grubs from feeding, laying eggs, and growing into adults, thus breaking their cycle and helping in their control and stopping lawn damage.

To use neem oil recipe to get rid of grubs naturally, mix neem oil with water and spray it on a grub-infested lawn using a hose-end sprayer. Apply generously over the areas with dead patches of grass to make sure you target the larvae.

Another common homemade recipe for getting rid of grubs naturally is dawn dish soap. While it is not 100% effective at controlling grubs, it can help control mild infestations in your lawn.

To get rid of grubs naturally using dish soap, mix dawn soap with water and spray it over the infested area. The dish soaps solutions smothers and suffocates grub worms and Japanese beetles, killing them in the process. This DIY solution can also kill adult beetles and prevent them from laying eggs in your lawn.

According to the Clemson University College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences, Insecticidal soaps kill by suffocation, they appear to disrupt the cellular membranes of the insect, and they remove protective waxes that cover the insect, resulting in dehydration.

Beneficial Nematodes Can Kill Other Soil Pests Too

By inoculating your garden soil with beneficial nematodes, youre likely killing several birds with one stone! And by birds, I mean pests. The strain of beneficial nematodes we use can effectively control many other pests including: cutworms, fungus gnats, fire ants, weevils, root maggots, flea larvae, crane flies, white grubs, and many more!

One study even showed that the beneficial nematodes also help reduce the population of root-knot nematodes in soil. We previously had an issue with root knot nematodes in our garden soil, and that has seemingly gone away with the grubs too! Other species of nematodes target different pests. For example, Steinernema carpocapsae Is great for organic flea control. As discussed in our introduction to organic pest control series, it is always important to identify your garden pests before acting.

If you have a pet, dont fret! Beneficial nematodes are not harmful to anything except their target pest species. They will not harm mammals, aquatic life, birds, reptiles or amphibians. When applied correctly, beneficial nematodes should not negatively impact beneficial insects such as ladybugs, who have very different above-ground life cycles. They do not harm earthworms either!

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Make A Homemade Grub Killer With Borax

Before you consider making a homemade grub killer using borax, it is important to note that borax contains boron, and too much boron will kill your grass. If you use a borax grub killer repeatedly on your lawn or in flowerbeds or garden beds, the boron will accumulate in the soil and nothing will grow. So, this option should be used sparingly, if at all.

If you choose to use borax, the simplest recipe is to add one tablespoon of borax with warm water in a spray bottle. Then, use the spray bottle to distribute the borax-water solution on areas where you have found grubs. You will need to repeat this treatment until you have eradicated the grub population, so remember the part about boron accumulating in the soil over time before you choose this option.

Other recipes for borax grub killers include mixing onion, peppers or garlic in the warm water with the borax.

Soapy Water Lawn Grubs

You can eliminate lawn grubs efficiently with the help of soapy water. Dawn dish soap is popularly used to eliminate grubs on the lawn.

Here are instructions on how to make the solution.

• Add 3 teaspoons of liquid soap to a gallon of water. Stir thoroughly to make a fine mixture.
• Spray this solution on the patches where the grass turned brown. Check to see if you eliminated them successfully.
• If they persist, treat the brown patches once more.

This works best when theres a small infestation in parts of the lawn. If grubs are devouring a large part of your lawn, this method might not be as efficient.

Tip: Add some lemon and mouthwash to make the solution more efficient.

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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 theyre 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.

Fertilizing Your Lawn A Valuable Ally

When it comes to insect-related plant problems, fertilization can be a very valuable ally. People tend to fear this process these days, but in reality it is still the most potent weapon against certain pests.

The fertilization process itself should be done in two phases for maximal efficiency, the first phase during the fall months, and the second phase in the early springlawn care season.

If possible, putting down a layer of dead leaves after the first phase is ideal, that way you will maximize the fertilizers effect during the winter months.

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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.

How To Control Lawn Grubs

A few grubs aren’t a problem, but if you see lots of them when you turn the soil, take action.

If youve had problems in early summer with beetles, and by late summer dead patches of grass have appeared in your lawn, you probably have grubs. Grubs are the larvae of Japanese beetles, June beetles, chafers, and others. These white, C-shaped grubs feast on organic matter in the soil, including grass roots.

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Using Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management is a natural pest control solution and process that uses beneficial insects and other biological solutions. Gardeners often choose these forms of pest control due to their lower environmental impact. Beneficial bacteria and diseases are alternative solutions for killing off white grubs long-term and protecting your lawn from infestations for years to come.

Bayer 24 Hour Grub Killer Plus

Bayer 24 hour grub killer plus has Trichlorfon as an active ingredient. You can find this in your local store so there is not waiting on professional products to kill armyworms or your grub problem. You want to apply this in the summer when you see the grubs and they are causing lawn damage. This is the best time for grub control and killing grubs.

Pros:

• Convenient to find in local hardware stores
• Granulated formula is 50 percent higher concentration with the same substantial coverage

Cons:

• There are a number of restrictions around using the product

10 pound bag:

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Best Recommended Company For Grub Control And Prevention

Grub control can be confusing and time-consuming for many homeowners, and some find the waiting period concerning because you wont know if the treatment has worked for several years in some cases. Hiring a professional lawn care company to handle your treatments is often a better idea and yields faster, guaranteed results.

We strongly recommend TruGreen as a professional lawn maintenance company. It provides a huge array of services to help remove grubs and other insects and keep your lawn and property looking beautiful and lush. Its prices are reasonable, its results are based on a soil test and science, and it guarantees your satisfaction. Check out TruGreens plans and services to find one that works for you.

Read our TruGreen Review to learn more about its services.

• Large variety of plan options tailored to homeowners wants and needs
• All services are backed and performed by TruExpert Certified Specialists
• Services provided in 49 states

our rating9.5

Encourage Birds To Hang Out In Your Yard

Birds love to dine on grubs, so if you do not mind birds digging around in your flowerbeds or lawn, invite more of them to hang out in your yard. You can attract birds with bird feeders, bird baths and bird houses. To learn more about attracting birds to your yard, read Learn the Secrets of Attracting Birds to Your Backyard.

If you dig up grubs, you can also scatter them on top of the ground to encourage birds to eat them. Just know that any that are not snatched up by hungry birds will burrow back into the soil.

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Chafer Grub Lawn Damage

Chafer grubs are the larval forms of Chafer Beetle. A severe infestation of these larvae causes brown patches in the lawn.

Chafer grubs devour the roots of the grass and could go unnoticed for months. They are only outed by critters when they dig out the lawn.

The aforementioned methods work well to eliminate chafer grubs but the most efficient way to get rid of them is by using Provado.

Provado Lawn Grub killer

Provado lawn grub killer can eliminate Chafer grubs and Leatherjacket larvae efficiently. Imidacloprid thats present in the insecticide is the miracle behind such efficiency.

How Many Nematodes Do You Need

Application rates for nematodes vary widely. Some people claim control with very low rates, and others recommend very high rates. One pack of 50 million of our nematodes will treat between 2,500 and 5,000 square feet. If you know you have a lot of Grubs, and you’re concerned about the damage, you’ll want to use the pack to cover 2,500 square feet. If you’re applying it preventatively, and haven’t had Grub problems in the past, one pack of 50 million will probably cover 5,000 square feet just fine.

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The Beetle Life Cycle

The majority of adult beetle species lay eggs in the summer. The grubs hatch and eat the grass roots until cold weather arrives. Then grubs burrow 2 to 8 inches into the soil to overwinter. When spring arrives and the soil warms, the grubs begin feeding on the grass roots again. In late spring and early summer, they pupate, and emerge as adults in midsummer.

Products That Kill Grubs

If its already fall and grubs are taking over your lawn, its too late for preventative products. Instead, opt for an insecticide that contains either carbaryl or trichlorfon. Products with either of these chemicals will kill grubs on the spot, but neither last long.

This means that if you dont get the grubs the first time, the product will dissipate, and the grubs will keep on living their lives.

These products likely wont kill all the grubs in your lawn, but they will significantly reduce their numbers. Expect that grub-killing products will kill anywhere from 20 to 60 percent of the grubs in your lawn.

If its already winter then theres no reason to apply any of these insecticides. The grubs can already be eight to twelve inches below the surface at this point, and the insecticides will never get far enough down to kill them.

Also, while grub prevention products are generally safe around kids and pets, thats not the case with grub-killing products.

These chemicals are much harsher, and they can have adverse effects on kids and pets. Because of this, try to have them avoid treated areas for at least 24 to 48 hours to be safe.

Finally, youll still need to water the area right after application to get the insecticide down to where the grubs live. The grubs are still underground, so if the insecticide stays on the surface, it wont do you any good!

Thoroughly water the area right after you apply the insecticide for best results.

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How Detergents And Dawn Dish Soap Solutions Kill Grubs

Grub control using home remedies like detergents and/or dish soap solution is quite popular.

Weve established the fact that this is effective in killing grubs but how does this happen? When soap mixed with water is applied to grubs, it causes suffocation.

Here, the soap chemicals cling onto the skin of grubs. This leads to a situation where grubs are starved of oxygen and die by suffocation.

What more? Detergents cause zero damage to your lawn but benefit it by adding phosphorus which is good for grass growth.

How To Tell If Grubs Are Killing Your Grass

The beetles show up from early to mid-summer during which time they lay their eggs.

The new set of grubs that hatch from those eggs starts destroying your lawn immediately.

As winter approaches, they burrow deeper into the soil to protect themselves from the cold.

When spring arrives, they awaken and resume eating the roots of grass before they turn into pupae when you have a lawn grub infestation, you will notice the following:

• Your lawn feels spongy when you step on it because it is not firmly supported by its roots .
• Its almost as if it has just been laid.
• After noticing the looseness, you see patches of brown, dead grass even when you water your lawn regularly.
• Animals like raccoons, birds, armadillos, and skunks start visiting your lawn looking for grubs.
• Be careful with this observation as they could also be looking for earthworms.

If you have correctly identified all those signs, the next step is to physically verify that you have an infestation.

Dig up a few sections of sod each section typically one square foot area, three inches deep.

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