Grubs

Posted on: Aug 29, 2023Raunie

Grubs: These worm-like insects on your lawn can feel unsettling. They are unpleasant and damage your lawn by living just below the grass and feeding on its roots. Follow these tips when forming a game plan to get rid of grubs.

Look at your lawn to see if you can spot some of the major signs of grub infestation: It is best to control them with regular maintenance and a product called Nematodes. Nematodes are micro-organisms that are designed to attack grubs at their earliest stage. This is why it is typically applied in late August/early September. This is the time that adult grubs are breeding and the soil loosens up for them to come closer to the surface.

What to Look For:

• Irregularly shaped brown patches of dead grass
• Holes in your lawn caused by birds and other animals digging in the grass
• Grass with no roots
• A spongy feeling when you walk on the lawn

How to Confirm You Have a Problem?

While they may be unpleasant, a few are a natural part of any lawn. To determine whether they are causing your lawn issues, take a closer look underneath the surface by lifting one square foot section of sod two inches deep with a spade where the dead grass meets the green grass. Look for C-shaped bugs with legs on the inside of the body near the head.

If you find 5 to 10 grubs, it’s highly likely they are causing your lawn issues, and you need to take action to remove them.

How to Repair Grub Damage?

A thick and healthy lawn is your best defense against grubs. Experts agree that by seeding and fertilizing your lawn, you can repair any damage they have created and prevent new ones from laying more eggs.

In the spring and fall, rake away dead grass from brown patches. Water your lawn, then sprinkle new grass seed over any thin or dead areas. After reseeding, fertilize the lawn to help the new grass grow. Keeping your grass about two inches long is also a good idea.

Lawn aeration helps prevent grub damage by thickening the lawn and strengthening the roots of the grass.

Deterring Animals from Coming Back

Grubs are a big problem because they feed on the root system of the lawn, which will stop grass growth. Another cause of damage to your lawn is the animals. If you have a small number of grubs throughout the property and an animal finds them, it will continue to dig for more, causing more damage.

A quick solution: Put cayenne pepper on the surrounding area, as it will help deter these animals by irritating their paws. It isn’t 100% effective, so if the animals keep coming back to the same area, put down some more

cayenne pepper.