What do Lawn Grubs do?

Lawn Grubs feed on turf roots. Damaged turf grass will exhibit weak growth and have irregular patches of dying or dead grass. Most damage is evidenced in late summer and fall when grubs are ½” to 1” long and drought stresses are at their peak. Most lawns that struggle in spring had most of the damage done the previous fall.

Treatment Tips

• Curative treatments generally only stay active in the soil for a short duration which means they must be applied at the right time.
• Since most grubs hatch in mid-July- mid-August, this is generally the right time to apply your curative products. However, contacting your local extension office to speak to the master gardener about the best time to treat white grubs in your area.
• The thatch layer in your lawn should be less than 1/2 inch thick. If the thatch layer is thicker than 1/2 inch you will need to remove it. Thatch layers encourage pests and also stop insecticide applications from getting down into the soil where grubs are present.
• Apply a product that is labeled for active grubs. Curative grub products typically come in two formulations, liquids, and granules. Both formulations work well and you should choose the formulation that is easiest for you to apply. Most curative grub products require the application to be watered in to move the product down into the soil where grubs are active. Be sure to read and follow the product label for best results.
• A second application may be needed to help eliminate those grubs that were not near the surface at the time of the first application.