Lawn Grubs

How to Deal with Lawn Grubs

Homeowners often raise concern about lawn grubs and how best to manage them. They usually show up in the early months of fall, in the Midwest. Only a small percentage of yards will ever be affected by lawn grubs, but they are capable on inflicting serious damage if you have a large population in your yard.

How do you know if your yard has lawn grubs?

Grubs feed on grass roots, so your yard will begin to brown and wilt in many areas. Of course, there are many other reasons for lawn browning, and the grub may not always be the likeliest reason. Check one of the brown areas by lifting up the sod. If you see ten or more lawn grubs in a one foot square area, your lawn is infested enough to be seriously damaged.

There are many other factors besides lawn grubs that can cause roots to become poorly attached to the sod in which they grow. Lawns in shady areas sometimes have weaker roots that can be pulled up more easily. Grubs aren't usually a factor in shady yards. Some yards can be pulled up easily because a part of the lawn was dead, and the roots were loosened.

Why does your lawn have grubs when your neighbor's lawn doesn't?

A beetle is the adult stage of the grub, and beetles can fly. It could be simply a random thing that you have lawn grubs but your neighbor doesn't. Adult beetles generally choose to lay eggs in a yard with a lot of direct sun and with good moisture levels in the soil. So, if the weather in your area has been dry, but you water your lawn more than your neighbors do, your yard may have become a target.

Can you prevent damage caused by lawn grubs?

You do have options in the area of prevention. You can let your yard go into a dormant state if you have dry conditions, which will reduce the chance of grub damage. This will, of course, mean your lawn will look brown for the season.

You can also check your grass frequently as you advance into the later months of summer, and watch for areas of grass that begin to brown. Check that area for lawn grubs, and use an insecticide to eradicate them. This should prevent most damage. Also if you notice adult beetles in your yard in late July, you can apply other products that work before the actual grubs are present, to prevent damage. With any insecticide, be sure to carefully follow label directions.

Keep your eye on your yard, as the danger months for lawn grubs approach. This will help you to catch them early and minimize the amount of damage they can do.