Anyone with an enviable lawn knows that maintaining the verdant blanket is a full-time job. Even the most dedicated homeowners run into lawn grubs (also called white grubs) — pesky creatures that feed on grass roots and ultimately cause the fresh, healthy grass to turn brown and soggy.
“[Lawn grubs] wreak havoc on a lawn once they’re in,” said Ryan Connor, director of landscape maintenance at Groundworks Landscaping in East Hampton, New York.
Once you spy brown patches on your lawn, it’s highly possible that you have grub damage that needs to be dealt with before it spreads to the rest of your yard.
The best way to tackle the problem is to follow a strategic lawn care plan that kicks off in the spring. However, sometimes you must fix the problem of lawn grubs at another time, like when they’ve already been feasting on your grass.
Read on to learn about how to get rid of grubs quickly and safely and bring back your yard to full splendor.
What are lawn grubs?
Lawn grubs are the larvae of beetles in the Scarabaeidae family. Japanese beetles, June bugs, Asiatic garden beetles and European chafer beetles are a few examples of these pests. After adult beetles lay eggs — between June and August — the larval stage begins in late summer, as does the munching of grass roots. They damage warm- and cool-season grasses alike.
Grubs will start eating the roots in the first top inch of your lawn. “That’s when you’ll start to see dead patches in your lawn. As they get bigger, they’re going to go deeper into the soil,” Connor said.
These white grubworms are C-shaped and measure about 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches in length. Large larvae tend to be feeding in full force by September.
Why should you get rid of lawn grubs?
There are many types of beneficial insects that call your lawn home. However, lawn grubs are a sharp contrast and can be a significant problem for your lawn because they feed on grass roots. While they’re foraging around for meals, they create unsightly brown patches and weaken the overall health of your grass root system.
“[Lawn grubs] are going to make your lawn very unsightly,” Connor said. “Soggy, brown and ugly.”
Japanese beetle grubs, for one, aren’t all that particular about what type of grass they eat. They will feed on the roots of various grass species — Kentucky bluegrass, fescue and ryegrass. Their presence is an open invitation to other creatures seeking out the bugs for their next meal. Animals such as raccoons, skunks and rabbits are eager to feast on the grubs and dig around in your lawn, tearing it up and leaving patches of grass.
What’s the best way to get rid of lawn grubs?
While many people seek natural ways to get rid of lawn grubs, pest control professionals generally agree that few organic products can tackle the problem sufficiently. That said, some research shows that neem oil, a natural “contact insecticide” may help with your grub problem. Mix it with water and distribute it with a sprayer.
While a grub infestation is a job for pest control professionals, homeowners can attack the problem themselves.
“There are several methods, including using beneficial nematodes, applying insecticides or using biological controls like Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt),” said Sara Bendrick, a landscape contractor and owner of Sarita Landscape Design in San Diego.
Other options for grub killers include carbaryl, milky spore granules, imidacloprid (an insecticide made to mimic nicotine), or other pesticides such as trichlorfon.
DIY approach
Here’s a look at how to remove the grub population from your lawn, according to our experts.
Purchase grub control and a spreader from local hardware stores and garden centers.
Set the spreader to the specification on the back of the grub control product. Each spreader can be calibrated to function at the level of your choice. Walk back and forth over the area with brown spots and a suspected grub population. Make sure to overlap just a little once the product is applied, Connor advised.
Once the product is distributed, water it into the grass. This can be done by putting a sprinkler over the area or using the built-in irrigation system to allow the treatment to soak into the grass.
Professional approach
Pest control professionals likely use specialized treatments such as insecticides or nematodes, Bendrick said. These products can come in different formations, ranging from liquid products that are sprayed on the grass to bead-shaped granules that are scattered around the lawn.
Connor applies a preemergent grub preventative in the late spring, as well as fertilizer and other products to prevent crabgrass and other weeds in April and May. But his team also uses granular products to kill lawn grubs by applying mid to late summer when temperatures are at their highest.
The slow-release treatment is meant to take hold when the grubs are most active, tearing through your lawn and looking for their next meal. However, it’s important to remember that your state may restrict the time frame when the treatments can be applied.
“In New York, there’s only a certain amount of time that you can apply fertilizer and granular products to your lawn,” Connor added. “It’s typically April 1 to November.”
Lawn curative actions that kill grubs come down to personal preference. Some clients prefer grub control early in the season, requesting that a preemergent grub preventative product be applied in the spring when mowing starts. This approach is usually followed up with additional applications in early summer for continuous grub control.
Keep in mind that the frequency of your grub treatment will be directly related to the severity of the grub infestation and your chosen treatment method.
What’s next?
Lawn grubs are annoying but not the only thing you need to get rid of to have a healthy lawn. “Other pests like chinch bugs, armyworms and aphids can also damage lawns,” Bendrick noted. Encourage the ladybug population to handle aphids.
Larger animals, such as moles and voles, which come in to attack the grass roots and eat the grubs, can also wreak havoc.
The best way to treat your lawn to prevent any pests from taking hold is by performing regular inspections. If you see evidence of grub activity after you put down the proper grub control, Connor recommended aerating your lawn when the heat breaks in early fall — September and October.
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