How Do I Know if My Lawn Has Grubs?

Grubs are beetle larvae.If you’ve ever cooked a pot of elbow macaroni, you’ve got a good idea of what they look like. They have a ravenous appetite, and their favorite food is the root system of your grass. You may not necessarily see the grubs directly, but you can tell the damage they’ve left behind if you see large areas of your lawn that look damaged, as if it was burnt by the sun.

How Do I Deal With Grubs?

If you think you have grubs, what can you do to bring the problem under control?

Finding Grubs

Unlike the beetles they grow into, grubs are harder to spot. They’re feeding below the surface of the soil. Sometimes digging up a dead-looking patch of lawn will reveal grubs, but not always. If you dig in the wrong spot, you may find that they’ve already moved on to greener pastures (and when you dig matters, since grubs don’t stay grubs forever).

Rule Out Other Causes

There are a few other common lawn issues that cause patches of dead or burnt-looking grass. Improper watering, certain molds and fungi, and animal waste — whether from your pets or other animals that might be camped out in your yard — might also be to blame. Solving the problem starts with making sure you’re solving the right problem; otherwise, your time, effort, and money will be wasted.

Get Your Timing Right

Some pesticides work on contact. Grub pesticides, by contrast, need to be ingested, which means that they need to be put down when grubs are feeding (between July and September). Put down the wrong pesticide and you kill off beneficial insects like ladybugs and bees; put it down at the wrong time and you’ll simply trade your grub infestation for a beetle infestation.

Get Help with Pest Control

There are many variables at work here, as you’ve probably figured out by now. If you want the job done right the first time, your best bet is to call for professional pest control. From grubs to moles and a host of other unwelcome critters, Jay-Lan Lawn Care can help you get the problem under control.

Maintain Your Lawn Year ‘Round

There’s one more consideration, and it’s one we can also help with: many lawn problems, from pests to weeds, thrive in lawns that haven’t been properly maintained. A dense and well-maintained lawn chokes out weeds and isn’t nearly as hospitable to pests. When you call, be sure to ask about our Siouxland lawn care programs that can treat and prevent many common lawn issues.