What Are The Signs Of Lawn Grubs And What To Do About Them?

Have you ever noticed dead patches of grass popping up all over your lawn? Harsh summer heat, over-watering, or tarp disease could be possible causes, or you could be sitting with a lawn grub problem. Grubs are larvae of various beetles such as Junebug, Japanese Beetle, and May Beetle that live underground in the soil underneath our grass. But how can you be sure? What are the signs of lawn grubs, and what can you do about them?

Patches of brown grass in between green grass is one of the major signs of lawn grubs. The best way to get rid of lawn grubs is to follow these basic steps;

• Identify grubs.
• Inspect a small section of grass to determine the severity.
• Treat your lawn with pesticides.
• Prevent future infestation.

Lawn grubs feed off the roots of grass and cause extensive damage to your garden route system. This damage prevents your grass from absorbing water and nutrients, leaving it too weak to fight off tarp disease or protect itself from the summer heat. This article will discuss the signs of lawn grubs and what to do about them. 

Signs of Lawn Grubs and Symptoms

The first signs that you might have a lawn grub problem include: 

• Discolored patches in between green grass on your lawn.
• Increased bird activity in your yard. 

To be certain, here are two ways that you can try to detect lawn grubs:

Mix a bucket of soapy water and pour it along the edges of the discolored area. If there are lawn grubs present in the soil, they will surface after about 10 minutes. 

Or you can place a wet towel over the affected area and leave it overnight. If you remove the towel in the morning and see any grubs, you have a grub problem.

How Do You Get Rid Of Lawn Grubs? 

It takes a while to kill a grub’s life cycle, so don’t get discouraged if the problem isn’t solved immediately. Instead, make sure you apply an insecticide that will stay in the soil for a long time. Follow these easy steps to take care of your lawn grub problem for good.

Step 1: Identify

You need to identify if your problem is a lawn grub infestation to treat it correctly; otherwise, you will waste your money and your time. A grub worm is about 3/8 inches to 2 inches (1 cm – 5 cm) in length.

They have a thick, soft, and white body, and they are usually curled into the shape of the letter “c.” They have well-developed legs and heads that are brownish with large mandibles. They have three pairs of legs near their heads.

Step 2: Inspection

You need to recognize the signs of grub worm activity, and you need to know where and how to look. Use a shovel to dig out a small square foot block of grass in the discolored patch (3 inches deep). 

If the number of grubs present in that square foot exceeds five, you have a grub problem, and treatment is necessary. They hatch in the late summer and begin eating immediately when winter arrives. 

They dig deep into the ground and hibernate, re-emerging in spring to feed and pupate into beetles, where the process starts with the new generation. Keep an eye out for an abundance of beetle activity in the summer, which can indicate that you have a lawn grub problem.

Step 3: Control

August and September are the peak months for grub activity and the best time to treat your yard. The newly hatched grubs will be close to the surface, feeding on the grass, so they are more likely to come in contact with the pesticides. They are also weaker and more susceptible to treatments. 

You can use a granular pesticide like Imidacloprid 0.5G Insect Control or a liquid pesticide like Dominion 2L Insecticide. Dominion 2L can be mixed with water and penetrates deep into the soil where the grubs are hiding. It is a systemic insecticide and works its way through the root system of your entire lawn. 

The grubs will be exposed to the liquid pesticide where they are feeding on the roots. Even coat a gallon of water mixed with the liquid pesticide per 1000 square feet and steer clear of the area until it has dried. 

The granules also control various turf pests and larvae and are systemic insecticides, just like the Dominion 2L. Spread the granules over your entire yard and water thoroughly afterward.

Step 4: Prevention 

If you maintain your garden regularly by mowing it at the correct height, watering it thoroughly, and fertilizing it in the fall, you will help strengthen the turf roots and prevent lawn grubs. Apply systemic insecticides every three months for a grub-free lawn all year round.

Natural Ways To Get Rid Of Lawn Grubs

There are a few natural insecticides that you can use instead of chemical pesticides. These include:

• Neem Oil like this one from Greenskeeper’s Choice is a healthy, natural pesticide consisting of two teaspoons of liquid soap and two tablespoons of neem oil mixed with a gallon of water. Apply a generous amount over your entire lawn.

• Homemade/Organic Fertilizer – 29 Organic and Homemade Fertilizers

• Beneficial Nematodes – You can purchase this eco-friendly method at your local garden store or online like this one from Biologic. Soak it in water on the sponge it came on, put it into a sprayer attached to a garden hose, and rinse your garden thoroughly. Critters and pests will die within +/- 14 days after being infected by the nematodes.

• Diatomaceous Earth (DE) – A special powder containing skeletal diatom remains. It takes care of insects and pests by dehydrating them to death. You can check out the highest rated diatomaceous earth product on Amazon here.

• PyGanic – Special organic insecticide (Pyrethrin is the active ingredient) that controls various garden pests. Check it out here.

Wrapping Up

Keeping your lawn nice and green all the time can be a difficult task, but there are ways to make it easier. The most important thing to do is to prevent lawn grubs and other critters from ruining your lawn in the first place.

These tips and tricks are sure to help, and if you have any further questions or need some expert advice, it is always a good idea to ask a garden expert for help.

Go and take care of those lawn grubs, for good!