Controlling and Preventing Lawn Grubs
Grubs — these ugly critters have caused, otherwise, pleasant people to start personal crusades against this insect. It doesn't really make sense to get angry at grubs. But it is a good idea to make sure they don't make a meal of your property or upend your yard care work.
Step #1: Check areas of your turf to locate the lawn grubs.
Grubs feed on the roots of your grass. In areas of extreme damage, the turf begins to brown and die, and the sod can be lifted up like a piece of carpet. To check for grubs, simply grab a handful of turf grass and tug. If grubs are there, chances are the sod will lift off. Grub damage can go unnoticed for weeks, and even months, on turf that is watered consistently. The grubs stay out of sight under the sod and, with enough water, the turf can appear healthy. But while the damage may not appear quickly, it can completely devastate a lawn — making major lawn renovation and repair the only solution.
Step #2: Identify the type of lawn grub and stage of the cycle they're in.
There are many varieties of grubs. June beetles (and others) start their life cycle by laying eggs in the thatch layer of your lawn. These eggs hatch out as "baby grubs" and begin eating their way through the thatch and into the soil. Grubs feed heavily through late summer and fall until cooler weather sends them deeper into the soil for winter. Come spring, they return to the surface to feed until they "pupate" (or go into a type of cocoon) which is when they change into the adult beetles and start the cycle again.
Step #3: Prevent further damage by installing lawn grub treatments.
Grubs are not a concern until there are enough of them to form a damaging population. Healthy lawns can support a wide variety of insects without suffering noticeable damage. Grubs are not "damaging" until we find at least 8 to 10 per square foot. Spring-Green has a variety of lawn treatment services to control grubs as either a curative or a preventive treatment. What's important is making sure that the material is active in the soil where the grubs are present, but before serious damage occurs. Applied too late (after extensive damage) and you'll get control of the grubs, but have a lawn repair job on your hands. If you have any questions on this, contact your neighborhood Spring Green lawn care service. We'd love to help eliminate freeloading grubs before they make a lunch of your lawn.
Find more information about a grubs' life cycle, good-to-know facts and how to prevent them from taking over your yard here.
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