Grubs are the larvae of multiple types of beetles, and they can do significant damage to an otherwise beautiful lawn. Until they are adult beetles, grubs do all of their damage underground. Many grubs emerge as beetles in late spring or early summer, and they are very active underground in the early spring. This leaves your lawn’s root system very vulnerable to grub damage during this time.
Most of the grubs you’ll find underneath the root system of your grass are white grubs, and they are usually curled up into a C-shape. They have a spiny backside, and they can be identified by the patterns of their spines. Identifying which type of grub you have in your lawn can help you to determine how much of a problem it is and what is the best way to get rid of them.
In order to locate grubs, you must get beneath the grassy layer of your lawn. They will be in the next couple inches of dirt. If you water first, this will bring them closer to the surface. Then, you can use a shovel to lift and peel back a layer of turf. Finding them is relatively easy. If you have over 10 or so in 1 square foot of soil, you may have a problem.
Unfortunately, spring is not the best time to get of grubs unless you are in a position to remove them by hand. They are quite large, so this may not be as daunting as it sounds. They’re a great treat for hens if you have backyard chickens. Otherwise, it will take some pretty heavy pesticide to be effective this time of year. Instead, you should wait until mid-summer when new grubs are small and more impacted by more environmentally-friendly options such as milky spore disease or beneficial nematodes.
Grub damage eventually is very visible, as they destroy the roots of turf grass. It will look similar to any lawn suffering from disease or rot. The grass will get, thin, and it will have yellow patches. These patches will not be in uniform rings but rather unpredictable patterns. If you grab a patch of turf with your hand, it will easily come free from the soil.
One of the first things you can do if you are suffering lawn damage from grubs is to find a grub and bring it to your local extension office. They’ll be able to help identify the type of grub you are dealing with and instruct you about how to get rid of them. Grubs are everywhere, and they aren’t always a problem. However, when they overpopulate a lawn, something must be done.
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