
When to apply Grub prevention?
Understanding that cycle aids in proper control strategies:
- Adults lay eggs in the lawn during early to mid-summer.
- These eggs hatch in mid-August and start to feed. It is this feeding period that damages the lawn.
- Winter’s arrival forces the grubs deep into the soil.
- Come spring they move back to the soil surface and prepare to emerge, starting the cycle over.
How to control grubs without chemicals?
Controlling White Grubs Without Chemicals. October 20, 2006 in Lawn Care, ... Fortunately, there are biological control alternative to synthetic insecticides that can reduce the need for chemical control of white grubs. Although there is one commercially available type of nematode, Steinernema carpocapsae, that does not provide white grub ...
When to apply grubex and obtain the best results?
Treating For Grubs
- Nematodes. When you notice changes to your lawn which is indicative of grub activity, you’ll need to probe further to be certain.
- Applying Effective Grub Killers Yourself. There are lots of over-the-counter remedies developed for grub infestation. ...
- Calling the Experts. ...
- Beneficial Organisms May Suffer. ...
How to get rid of grubs in lawn naturally?
- 24-HOUR GRUB KILLER: Delivers overnight results by killing grubs in 24 hours
- PLUS INSECT KILLER: Also kills Ants, Ticks, Billbugs, Chinch Bugs, Crickets, Cutworms, Earwigs, Grasshoppers, and more
- PREVENTS LAWN DAMAGE: Use at the first sign of grubs to stop further lawn damage

Is grub prevention necessary?
You do not have to apply grub control annually unless you see grub damage. If you have been treating your lawn with a preventer and killer for successive years, it may be time to stop until you notice any signs of grub damage return. In healthy turfs, grubs may not be a significant problem.
When should you put down grub prevention?
The best time to apply grub control is between early spring and late summer when there's increased grub worm activity in your lawn. For grub preventers, apply between June and July just before they hatch while for grub killers, apply the treatment from spring when you see signs of grass damage.
What is preventive grub control?
Grub treatments are applied sometime between late May and mid-July when grubs are active. Our Preventive Grub Control application uses an insecticide that works to reduce immediately, if not eliminate, the population of grubs on the lawn.
What is the best grub preventative?
BEST OVERALL: BioAdvanced Granules 700745S 24 Hour Grub Killer.BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Scotts GrubEX1.BEST PREVENTATIVE: St. ... BEST ECO-FRIENDLY: Bug Sales 50 Million Live Beneficial Nematodes.BEST READY-TO-SPRAY: Bayer Crop Science 700280B Complete Insect Killer.BEST FAST-ACTING: Ortho BugClear Lawn Insect Killer.More items...•
What are signs of grubs in lawn?
Signs of Lawn Grubs Grubs normally strike in mid to late summer and cause brown or yellow spots in your turf. if you have moles, skunks, raccoons, or birds digging around your turf, that can be a sign of grubs.
How do you know if you have grubs?
0:321:46How to check your lawn if you think you have lawn grubs - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf you want to find out for certain there's a few little tricks that you can try. The first test youMoreIf you want to find out for certain there's a few little tricks that you can try. The first test you can try is to mix together a bucket of soapy water and pour it over the edge of the affected.
What causes lawn grubs?
The grubs get their start when the adult beetles lay eggs in your turf, usually in spring. After the eggs hatch, the grubs evolve in three stages, with grub damage greatest in late summer, when you will see areas of your lawn thinning and yellowing. Later, irregular brown patches appear in your turf.
What is the best treatment for grubs?
There are two chemicals, carbaryl and trichlorfon, that are considered curative treatments. They are short-lived compounds that kill all life stages of grubs. These two insecticides are the only options if high numbers of grubs are found in the fall and in spring before early May.
What time of year do you treat grubs?
Treating in late summer or early fall is ideal, as that is when the smaller, young grubs are most susceptible to nematodes. There is also usually a short window for application in early spring before the grubs get too big and pupate, but that is a narrower window and can be difficult to time properly.
How can I control grubs naturally?
So, let's look at some home remedies for grubs and natural ways to get rid of grubs.Encourage birds to hang out in your yard. ... Feed your chickens. ... Limit irrigation. ... Relocate them. ... Treat with milky spore. ... Introduce beneficial nematodes. ... Apply neem oil. ... Repel the beetles.More items...•
Will grub damaged lawn grow back?
Grub counts from six to 10 or more per square foot can damage and kill grass. Before you repair your lawn, treat any grub infestation using beneficial nematodes or pesticides allowed in your area. It is best to repair your grub-damaged lawn in the fall or early spring to restore it to its green glory.
Is it too late to treat for grubs?
By the time damage is apparent it is much too late for preventive white grub products such as Merit and Grub-X. These must be applied before mid-August. Insecticides must be watered in to be effective.
When to apply grub control?
Since most grubs hatch in July and early August, it is best to apply your preventative product in mid-June to mid-July, so it can be in the soil before the eggs hatch. Products labeled for white grub control containing imidacloprid, like Merit, are great for preventative control.
Can you prevent beetles from laying eggs in lawn?
It can be difficult to completely prevent the adult beetles from laying eggs in your lawn. When it comes to white grub prevention it is more about preventing damage rather than preventing any grubs at all.
What is a grub in the lawn?
Grubs are the larvae of Japanese beetles, June beetles, chafers, and others. These white, C-shaped grubs feast on organic matter in the soil, including grass roots.
When do grubs come back to the lawn?
When the soil warms up again in the spring, the large, mature grubs move back into the upper soil levels, where they transform into adult beetles that emerge in early summer and start the whole process over again. The key to controlling grubs is to kill them before they hatch and begin to cause damage to your lawn.
How do I know if I have grubs in my yard?
Signs of Grub Problems. There are several easy-to-spot signs that you may have grubs in your lawn: • Raccoons, skunks, armadillos, or birds are digging up your yard. These animals all love to dine . on large, mature grubs. • You can pull back the dead patches on your lawn like pieces of loose carpet. This happens .
When to apply Scotts grubex?
• Applying a preventative grub control product in the spring or early summer will provide much better grub control than waiting until after the damage has occurred.#N#• Use a spreader to apply Scotts® GrubEx® 1. Be sure to follow application directions.#N#• To activate the product, water immediately after applying.#N#• A drought-stressed, underfed lawn will show grub damage faster, and with fewer grubs per square foot, than a properly-fed, well-maintained lawn.#N#• A properly maintained lawn can tolerate more grubs per square foot than a stressed lawn.#N#• Repair dead patches caused by grubs with Scotts® EZ Seed®.
When do grubs hatch in the lawn?
Beetles, like Japanese and chafer beetles, emerge in early summer, feed on plants in the garden, and lay their eggs in the soil in the lawn. Later in the summer, the grubs hatch and immediately begin to feed.
What Are Lawn Grubs?
Lawn grubs, also known as white grubs, are small white creatures that curl up into a distinctive C shape when disturbed. The grub worm is the larval form of several types of scarab beetles including Oriental beetles, Japanese beetles, chafer beetles and green June beetles.
Do You Need Lawn Grub Control?
There are several types of damage in the lawn that may indicate grubs. Brown patches that don't green up in the spring may be the result of grubs feeding the previous fall. In late summer and fall, randomly shaped dead patches may indicate grubs.
How to Control Grubs in Grass
Some grub control methods are simply good lawn care practices. A healthy, thick lawn discourages beetles and grubs, and has a deep root system that'll be more tolerant of damage that does occur. See 8 Easy Tips for the Perfect Lawn for ideas on how to maintain a healthy lawn.
Repairing Lawn Grub Damage
Once you've found an effective method of lawn grub control, you need to repair the damage they caused. Some areas may recover simply with proper care. Just clear away the dead material and water the damaged area.
How to prevent grubs from destroying my lawn?
Proper fertilization is important to prevent and allow the lawn to recover from grub damage. Mow lawns immediately before applying an insecticide for grubs to remove weed flowers and protect bees. Make a regular practice of mowing your yard with the mower on the highest setting (3.5-4 inches).
What insecticides kill grubs?
There are two chemicals, carbaryl and trichlorfon, that are considered curative treatments. They are short-lived compounds that kill all life stages of grubs. These two insecticides are the only options if high numbers of grubs are found in the fall and in spring before early May. Our research indicates they will kill 20-80% of grubs when applied in September or 20-55% when applied in late October. They are not as effective as the preventive compounds in reducing grub numbers.
When do grubs appear in lawns?
Grub damage may appear in home lawns from mid-September to November or from March to early May. However, for low-maintenance lawns, even if the turf is not killed from grub feeding, the thinned and weakened turf may be prone to weeds and drought stress. Healthy turf with a few grubs may not need an insecticide.
When to apply chlorantraniliprole?
The preventive compound chlorantraniliprole should ideally be applied in April or May to control grubs that would be damaging turf in the fall as it will take longer for the material to move to where the grubs will be feeding in July. To kill grubs in the spring or fall, use carbaryl or trichlorfon.
How long does a turf outbreak last?
The outbreak phase where turf damage is common may last five to 10 years. If you see a dead patch, use a shovel to dig up a few Frisbee-size samples of turf around the bare spot to a depth of 2 inches and look for 0.75-inch long, C-shaped white grubs.
Does chlorantraniloprole help grubs?
Products containing imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin or chlorantraniloprole will not control grubs in the spring. They are preventive products that work very well on newly hatched grubs present in July, but do not work well for large grubs found from September to May.
When will grub control be available in stores?
Below is a short list of products now being sold for grub control as of May 22, 2020, in stores checked in the Mid-Michigan area. An online search indicates there are other products that will be available at other stores. Check the active ingredients.
How does grub control work?
This includes removing the infested areas of turf, controlling the grubs that are present, installing new lawn and then the maintenance required by the addition of a new lawn.
What is a grub in lawn?
Grubs, white grubs or lawn grubs are all names for the larval form of the beautiful scarab beetle species. While the adults are gorgeous, their immature grub forms are ugly and downright dangerous for your lawn. These caterpillar-like forms are white with brown heads and they often curl up like a “C” when disturbed.
How often should I take grub control?
Grub control measures need to be taken on annual basis to work consistently. Skipping a year may be fine, but if any beetles have laid their eggs in your lawn’s soil over the course of that last year, you can be looking at a seriously damaged lawn by mid-fall.
How long does a grub lawn last?
However, their lifecycles can range anywhere from one to three years, so you can see damage during other warm parts of the year as well. Grub lawn damage looks like big, irregular dead patches and once those appear, there is nothing you can do but cut out sections of your turf and lay new sod down.
Is grub prevention more expensive than grub control?
You may need it, you may not. Here’s what we do know – grub prevention is significantly less expensive than grub control or repair should your property wind up with a grub outbreak.
Signs of Grub Problems
Because grubs typically live underground, it can be a bit challenging to figure out if you have any in your lawn, but challenging doesn’t mean impossible. Below we’ve highlighted a few signs that you might have a grub infestation on your hands.
How To Check for Grubs
Since grubs live underground, there’s really only one good way to check for them – start digging. We completely understand that you don’t want to tear up your entire lawn though, and that’s why we recommend only checking a single square foot of your yard.
Tips for Selecting Grub Control
If you’ve found grubs in your lawn, you need to get the right product to kill them or keep them from coming back. We’re not going to highlight any individual product here, instead we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to get what you need.
Final Thoughts
White grubs can be one of the most annoying and destructive lawn pests, if you stay committed and use the right products, there’s no reason you can’t get them under control in just one season.
How to kill grubs in soil?
At their most destructive, grubs are sitting just below the surface of the soil, happily munching on grassroots. This is why the number one most important thing to remember when applying a grub killer, whether preventative or not, is to water the solution in. This ensures the insecticide soaks into the soil instead of just sitting on top. In order to maintain the most control of the environment when applying: 1 Dethatch (or rake away the dead grass) the affected area 2 Apply the grub control on relatively dry soil 3 Remember this is a chemical solution – always wear rubber gloves and follow the label 4 Some rain in the forecast is okay, but a heavy rainfall may wash the solution away 5 Water half and inch to an inch deep after applying
Why is it important to water grub killer?
This is why the number one most important thing to remember when applying a grub killer, whether preventative or not, is to water the solution in. This ensures the insecticide soaks into the soil instead of just sitting on top. In order to maintain the most control of the environment when applying:
How long does it take for grubs to hatch?
Application of a preventative insecticide needs to happen close to when the eggs are hatching, which is within 10 days of the eggs being laid.
When is the best time to put down grubs in Illinois?
For example, if you are wondering when is the best time to put down grub control in Illinois, the answer is somewhere between mid-June and early August.
Can grubs cause lawn damage?
Signs of damage due to grub worms. Pesky grubs are only pests if they are resulting in lawn damage. If you have not experienced lawn damage in the form of dead patches that grow as the season progresses, there is no need to turn to chemical solutions against grubs. Grubs are a very common presence in lawns.
Do you need to water a lawn after grub control?
Once the grub control is applied, it is essential to care properly for your lawn afterward and ensure the solution gets where it needs to be. Because grubs thrive among the roots of the grass in the soil, the grub killer needs to be watered in.
Can you apply grub control too early?
Therefore, it is neither in your lawn’s or the environment’s best interest to be applied unnecessarily. If you apply grub control too early, the solution will soak too deep into the soil or wash away before the new grubs hatch and become vulnerable.
What are white grubs?
Photo: amazon.com. The white grubs that damage lawns are the larval life stage of several beetle species. Japanese beetles, June bugs, masked chafers, May beetles, and other beetle larvae feed on plant roots as they progress through their development before pupating into adults. In low concentrations, grub damage may not be noticeable in a lawn.
What is Scott's grubex1?
One application of Scotts GrubEX1 kills and prevents grubs from causing extensive lawn damage all season long. One annual application can also help prevent Japanese beetle infestations. This product will not harm earthworms, beneficial nematodes, or soil bacteria and is safe for wildlife when used as directed. The granules are formulated to flow efficiently through rotary, drop, and handheld spreaders. This value-priced 28-pound bag treats up to 10,000 square feet. The active ingredient is 0.08 percent Chlorantraniliprole, considered a safer alternative insecticide that has significantly fewer negative effects on non-target species, like bees.
How to use Bonide insecticide?
Use a rotary, drop, or hand spreader to apply over the affected area and water thoroughly to activate. The systemic component is most effective when applied in early summer. This 6-pound bag treats up to 7,500 square feet. The active ingredients are 0.5 percent imidacloprid and 0.1 percent Lambda-cyhalothrin.
What insects does a rotary spray kill?
This product also kills ants, ticks, billbugs, chinch bugs, crickets, cutworms, earwigs, grasshoppers, and more. The 20-pound bag covers up to 10,000 square feet.
How to use Ortho Bugclear?
In addition to lawns, this product is safe to use as directed in flower beds and vegetable gardens. Apply with any rotary, drop, or handheld spreader. One treatment kills and protects against grubs and most other insect pests for up to three months. This 20-pound bag treats up to 20,000 square feet. The active ingredient is 0.115 percent Bifenthrin.
When to apply granules to soil?
While this is a relatively clean and convenient way to treat, it’s important to note that the best time to apply is just before rainfall, so the active ingredients penetrate deep into the soil.
How to mix insecticides?
Always read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for mixing and applying insecticides, both organic and synthetic. Wear protective clothing such as gloves, eyewear, long sleeves, and closed-toe shoes while mixing and handling. Avoid splashing and spills of liquids. Dry products may be dusty.
