The grub jinx is another issue that most of us endure after the weeds and fungal spell. Gub attack becomes apparent when you see that your local garden store is running low on grub control products.
When grubs attack your lawn, it is natural for us to fear, and you will be amazed at the myths we debunk to cure this problem. Fortunately, we will show you how to treat the lawn for grubs.
The warm season is here, and grubs are about to infiltrate your healthy lawn undetected. Knowing how to properly treat the lawn for grubs will be a valuable tool in your armory before your lawn gets an unpleasant brown hue due to grub invasion.
Contents
Understand what you’re treating
Few people like how they seem, but before we dismiss them as a complete menace, remember that grubs are larval stages of many other beetles, including the Japanese beetle.
Thus, they are simply a natural order of nature. These worm-like pests have soft bodies and tiny legs near the head.
When these white animals are startled, they coil into a distinct C shape. They enjoy eating organic waste, but they also injure our plants by digging deep into the dirt and attacking the roots of our plants.
Are there grubs on your lawn?
There is no point in wasting time and money on something that does not exist; instead, validate the presence of grubs first.
Browning of your lawn at the start of warm weather is the first indicator most of us assume to be an indication of grub attack; however, browning is not enough to establish that your lawn is being attacked by grub; other lawn diseases, such as a fungal attack, can appear similar. So, to appropriately confirm and diagnose a grub assault, you must prepare yourself with a few sure-fire indications.
The first indicator of a lawn grub attack is beetles flying around at grass level; this could indicate that your lawn is about to undergo a significant grub attack. This will be followed by your lawn appearing drought-stricken in a few weeks.
Later your grass will turn brown and patchy. The grass will start to thin out and then turn yellow due to the grubs’ destruction of the roots of your lawn. This makes the turf spongy, and it easily pulls when you tug the grass.
A sign that solidifies your suspicion of a grub attack on your lawn is the presence of these critters. Use a shovel to cut a section of your lawn about 4 inches deep and inspect for grubs. You have an infestation if there are more than five grubs in a square.
Moreover, the presence of grubs on your lawn will attract other creatures. The grubs are a favorite of various species, including skunks, raccoons, and birds who will be digging holes in your lawn.
How to treat the lawn for grubs
1. Grub control pesticide
Now that you know you have a grub problem, you can deal with it by utilizing grub control insecticides. The pesticide effectively controls grubs, but you must use the correct pesticide. So, check for the active ingredient while buying a grub control pesticide. Look for pesticides containing bifenthrin or carbaryl, such as Scotts GrubsEx.
Many homeowners reckon that Scotts GrubsEx is the finest for treating lawns by destroying the grubs when they are young. Grub control pesticides come in two forms: granular and liquid. They are also classified as preventive or grub killers.
See also: Spray vs granular lawn fungicide
The grub killers are ideal if the grubs are already on your lawn, while the prevents are better if the grubs are not yet on your lawn, keeping your lawn safe from grubs until the next season.
2. Nematode to control grubs
Nematodes are small roundworms that naturally cleanse lawns of grubs. These beneficial nematodes are not harmful to your lawn. When you obtain yours, use them immediately in the evening or when there is a cloudy sky because heat and light kill them.
Water the lawn to help the nematodes establish and become more mobile, allowing them to develop quickly and search out the grubs.
Once treated, these beneficial nematodes will find their way beneath the soil and infect the grubs with pathogens that will kill them. Ensure you obtain your nematodes from reliable sources so as to get one with plenty of active nematodes.
Reapplying the nematodes after two weeks will destroy the white grub population in your grass.
See also: Distinguishing between grub and fungal damage in lawn
3. Milky spore disease
Something milky is related to something tasty, whereas spore is associated with something alien in reverse, the milky spore is a bacterium called Paenibacillus papillae.
Don’t worry; using the milky spore to cure grubs is a non-toxic and environmentally benign approach to eliminating grubs on the lawn. The only drawback to this method is that it is only effective on white grubs such as the Japanese beetle larva.
Furthermore, when no grubs are on your lawn, the spores remain latent in the roots until the grubs feed on the roots. You should apply it a couple of times a year for optimal benefits.
Apply a teaspoon of the dust to your grass three feet apart, then water it to soak it up. The effects will not be immediate; it will take several seasons, but once it takes off, you will no longer have reoccurring grub problems.
See also: Should you apply fungicide before or after rain?
If you employ this method, keep in mind that its success depends on environmental circumstances, as the spores are quite sensitive and take longer to become active in cooler temperatures.
4. Neem oil
Neem oil is another environmentally safe way to get rid of grubs and will prevent adult beetles from producing eggs.
The neem oil will help prevent the grubs from maturing into adults by preventing them from eating on the roots of your lawn.
The effective recipe combines neem oil and water and sprays it on the affected areas. To make this procedure work, use pure neem oil, and blend it according to the directions.
See also: What do yard mites look like
The appearance of these little white fat larvae poses a significant issue to many homeowners, which is why people are frantic to find a solution that will get rid of them quickly, leading to many inefficient methods of treating lawns for grubs.
If you follow the methods we’ve provided, you won’t have to worry about how to treat the lawn for grubs.
Reference
University of New Hampshire; How do I treat for grubs in my lawn?
