What are grubs? They are immature form of many species of beetles, including the Japanese beetle. They appear in the soil as C-shaped, white and wrinkly with a brownish head and have 6 legs all grouped under the head.
The cycle starts with females laying eggs in July and about two weeks later the eggs hatch. By Autumn, when the temperatures have dropped, grubs burrow into the soil and spend their Winter below the frost line. By early Spring, the grubs have moved back up toward the surface.
Grubs live in the soil and feed on the tender roots of the grass, therefore if you notice part of your grass is yellowing and starting to thin it could be a sign of grubs. Typically if the grass feels spongy and you can easily lift it up, then it’s most likely grubs because they have eaten the roots. If you see more of birds, moles and skunks than normal, they love to feed on grubs.
If you have only found a few grubs in your grass don’t be alarmed. They can easily be removed by simply picking them out and will not harm your grass. If you have 10 or more per square feet it may indicate control is necessary. We have a product to help remove the grubs from your lawn called Triazicide Grub & Insect Killer.
To prevent grubs the best thing you can do is keep a healthy and thick lawn by doing seasonal lawn maintenance. For example, mowing before the grass gets too tall and fertilizing early in the growing season. In the Spring or early Summer it is the best time to apply a preventative treatment for grubs.
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