How to identify and get rid of grubs

While most of us dream of that perfectly trimmed lawn that looks bright green and vibrant, too many of our lawns are under attack from below the soil’s surface.

If you’ve noticed wilted patches of turf around your lawn, then you just might have a problem with grubs.

Grubs are the immature stage of a certain family of beetles that include scarab beetles, chafers, may beetles, green June beetles, and the infamous Japanese beetles. They eat the roots of turf grass, causing the blades to die and turn brown.

Here are some common characteristics of grubs below:

• Curled into a C-shape
• Brown head capsule
• White body
• Tip of abdomen brown with short hairs
• Six legs

How big are grubs?

Grubs can range in size as they grow but are typically 1/2 to 1 inch big.

What are the symptoms of a grub infestation in your lawn?

The first signs of a grub infestation are wilted or dead patches in your lawn. Since critters like raccoons, skunks, birds, and moles love to eat grubs, you often see digging damage done by these animals in search of grubs to eat.

Most turf grasses can take a bit of grub damage, but too many grubs will make the turf grass susceptible to drought damage.

Grubs are found throughout the United States and Canada and feed off of turf grass roots. They are susceptible to drying out so moist soil is the preferred habitat.

The life cycle of a grub can take anywhere from 1 to 3 years and eggs usually hatch in late spring to early summer. Adults emerge from May to July.

Treating for grubs seems to be an annual ritual for most serious lawn owners. Nearly every hardware store has preventative and curative grub control products to choose from in their lawncare aisles, but choosing the appropriate solution can make all the difference. However, before you treat for grubs, make sure you have a grub problem in the first place. The best practice is to use a shovel to dig up a dinner plate-sized piece of turf where it is turning brown and look under the turf. If you see more than 6 grubs, you should do some sort of treatment.

Preventative Controls

Preventative grub control products are best used in late spring or early summer when grubs just hatch from their eggs. The best treatment time is about 4 weeks after seeing the adults emerge.

Curative Controls

You'll want a curative control product if you need to control grubs that have already caused significant damage. This insecticide will kill grubs at every growth stage. It’s important to check the active ingredient in the grub control product. Any products that have an insecticide ending in -thrin won’t be effective for soil-dwelling pests. They are better for above-ground pests.

Make sure to water your lawn thoroughly after applying the treatment.

Natural Control Options

If you are looking for a more natural treatment option, there are a few strategies you can employ.

For infestations of Japanese beetles, you can use milky spores. Milky spores are a bacterium that infects grubs and kills them before they can grow. However, this can take several years before you see significant results.

You can also buy microscopic worms called nematodes that parasitize grubs. Using nematodes can be a bit tricky, so make sure you follow the instructions from your supplier regarding application, temperature, and moisture.

Some deterrents to grubs include cedar oil, neem oil, and garlic juice that can be applied on the lawn.