How Do You Know if Your Lawn Has Grubs

I accept had the experience of lawn grubs damaging my backyard. I similar to share my experience to help others.

Lawn Grub or White Grub or Grub Worm

bobistraveling CC By-2.0 via Flickr

How I Noticed Signs of Grubs in the Lawn

It was an early October morning, and I was up early merely after sunrise. I opened the back door to allow the dog outside and was shocked at what I saw.

The grass was all torn up. Kind of like a "grass massacre" (see photograph below). I shook my head and looked again wondering what happened overnight. My first guess was that a deer got into the grand and dug upwards the lawn. That'southward what information technology looked like. But it didn't brand sense considering the yard is entirely fenced in.

My adjacent thought was another kind of animal, yet why? I mean this mess was pretty bad.

Figuring Out What Dug Up My Grass

I took a rake and a large garbage can to start cleaning up. As soon as I pulled a patch of grass, I saw them!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! GRUBS! White ugly, creepy, wormy-similar lawn grubs!

Just how could these trivial worms brand such a mess?

My early morning surprise!

Sharyn's Camber

A closer expect.

Sharyn'due south Slant

Types of Beetle Larva That Impairment Lawns

At that place are several types of beetle larva (chosen backyard grubs, grub worms or white grubs) that damage grass, including larva from the:

• June Beetle
• Japanese Beetle
• Dark-green June Protrude
• Masked Schafer Beetle
• Blackness Turfgrass Ataenius Protrude

What Are Lawn Grubs (Often Chosen White Grubs)?

A archetype lawn grub or white grub is a whitish C-shaped larva of a beetle (such equally June beetles) that are about ½ inch in length. The beetles typically lay their eggs during mid summer in sunny areas of the lawn. Their larva (backyard grubs) alive in the soil eating on the roots of grass and other organic matter leaving it dry, brownish and dead.

Eventually grubs turn into developed beetles and come out of the soil to mate and lay eggs which hatch into more than grubs.

Backyard Grubs Attract Unwelcome Wildlife

Not only practise grubs damage the lawn, their presence also attracts unwelcome wildlife. These critters have no concept of "property lines" and can easily find their mode into fifty-fifty a fenced in one thousand.

Read More than From Dengarden

Animals such as raccoons, skunks, moles, and other rodents will feed on backyard grubs. They volition strip away your grass or dig tunnels underneath in search for i of their favorite delicacies.

Important note: Many of these animals including birds too dig your lawn to find earthworms. E'er confirm that grubs are nowadays before pursuing a backyard treatment.

Identifying Lawn Grubs

These signs volition vary past the time of yr.

In the Tardily Summertime or Early Fall:

Lawn grub impairment is normally visible from late summertime and peaking in the early on fall. If you have irregular patches of grass that are brownish and dry out, check to see if a patch easily peels abroad from the soil. If a patch of grass lifts up similar a rug with no roots holding information technology down, you likely have an infestation of lawn grubs.

In the Leap:

Equally your lawn begins to green up, look for brown patches that never turn green. These dead patches of grass may be grub damage from the previous autumn.

Dry patch from grub damage.

Sharyn'due south Camber

Wait: Some Grubs Are Okay

As you audit your lawn to identify that grubs are present, it's of import to know that a healthy lawn can easily support some grubs without the need for any type of treatment.

To determine the extent of the infestation, dig and lift several sections of sod the size of one square human foot by approximately 3 inches deep. Then follow the guidelines in the table beneath.

Number of Grubs inside a Foursquare Foot	What To Do
0-5	No need to treat
6-nine in a healthy lawn	If lawn is good for you, no need to treat
6-nine in a stressed lawn	A less healthy lawn may crave handling, especially if animals are digging up the grass
ten or more	It's likely that the lawn will continue to be further damaged and will crave a handling plan

When to Apply a Backyard Grub Treatment

Grubs are larger and no longer feeding in the bound, therefore they are less susceptible to handling. In addition, spring rains can easily launder away a handling.

Midsummer to early autumn is the best fourth dimension to treat backyard grubs because at this betoken, grubs are small, immature and closer to the surface.

I Got Rid of the Dry Patches and Cutting the Grass Before Treatment

Get rid of the dry out dug-up patches and if you can, discard whatever grubs you come across.

Sharyn'due south Camber

Unproblematic Chow Control Options

• Birds: Practise what you tin to attract birds to your yard using bird feeders, bird baths and nesting homes. Birds swallow bugs including grubs.
• Beer: Another lawn control option that is said to work is to set a beer trap. Use an old plastic basin approximately three inches deep by six inches in bore. Dig a concord so the bowl fits to where the top lip of the container is at ground level. Pour beer in the bowl.

Reseeding Afterward Backyard Grub Treatment

Expressionless lawn patches should be reseeded. For me, it's currently also belatedly in the flavor. So I've cleared out most of the patches, treated the lawn with Scotts GrubEx, will also soon spread Winterizer fertilizer and then reseed in the bound. And hopefully, my m will remain chow free!

This is Sharyn's Slant.

Types of Chow Treatment Products to Consider

E'er read the instructions and follow them carefully when using any blazon of lawn treatment. There are difference applications with different ingredients recommended for killing lawn grubs and/or preventing them.

Curative Products: Curative products volition kill existing grubs on contact.

Preventative Products: Preventative products will impale grubs that are present at the time likewise as those that may hatch throughout the flavour.

• Dylox – fast acting and most effective in the fall.
• Merit and Mach-two – used early in the season as a helpful prevention.
• Milky Spore – effective and environmentally safe. Used on active grubs and as a prevention.
• Neem Oil – a botanical pesticide that repels against beetles and lawn grubs.
• Nematodes – a soil-abode worm that releases leaner into the soil which in turn, infects and kills lawn grubs.

Great Video on All Types of Insects That Impairment Lawns

This content is accurate and truthful to the best of the writer's knowledge and is non meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional person.

Questions & Answers

Question: Is lawn treatment rubber for animals such every bit dogs, cats, and deer?

Reply: No, not all treatments are safe for animals. Be sure to read the bag thoroughly.

Sharon Smith (author) from Northeast Ohio USA on March 21, 2020:

Hullo Alice, I believe it information technology really depends on the distance from your neighbors. If your lawns are attached, definitely. In my situation our lawns are literally only a single driveway away from each other in the forepart. I absolutely believe if my neighbour'due south have them, I will also. Best wishes!

Alice on March 21, 2020:

My neighbours have grubs I don't think I do yet should I treat before they start on my backyard

Lori on September 01, 2019:

Hi Sharon. I'm from Ontario Canada and I'm experiencing severe grub and cinch issues problems. Nosotros are non permitted to utilize pesticides so I'k asking about neem oil and instructions on its use if you can aid, I would much appreciate it. It'southward and so much work hither to continue a lawn these days especially when the neighbors have lost hope and no longer care. Thanks

Sharon Smith (author) from Northeast Ohio Usa on March 12, 2018:

Hello Kimmy,

I really can only advise you lot to read the label on the bag start since all products may be different. And yes, SO nasty! Expert luck!

Kimmy on March 08, 2018:

Hi , tin can I care for my potted plants with any grubs killer ? Bec at 1 fourth dimension I repotted one of my plant and I constitute out that information technology has grubs inside the pots ,, information technology'southward and so nasty

Sharon Smith (author) from Northeast Ohio Usa on January 09, 2018:

Hi Alexi,

I would bank check what they say on the purse of what you lot use to get rid of the grubs. Make sure y'all tin plant vegetables in the aforementioned area. Information technology may/should requite you a timeline like "practise not plant vegetables for at least vi months after treating."

Alexi on January 09, 2018:

How-do-you-do, Can I dig up the grass ,get rid of them and turn the area into a vegetable patch ? I was thinking of treating the area first

Brenda Hawkins on September 30, 2017:

Hi we have a new puppy and an 18 year old domestic dog, both vaccinated, and I regularly pick up the large dog Poop, now nosotros have the puppy fifty-fifty more so as I now am starting to let onto dorsum backyard supervised sometimes on a lead sometimes not. Whilst picking upwards the poop I noticed the Grubs, are they harmful to the dogs?

Sharon Smith (author) from Northeast Ohio The states on April 25, 2013:

Hi F.A. ~ Grubs are definitely nasty. At that place are treatments that will non damage birds and other creatures. Definitely cheque it out to determine if y'all actually have plenty of a grub infestation that warrants a treatment. Thank you for stopping past.

Sharyn

FlourishAnyway from USA on Apr 22, 2013:

Cheers for writing about this. They are nasty, and I've been reluctant to treat them for fearfulness that I might harm birds and others.

Sharon Smith (writer) from Northeast Ohio USA on April 15, 2013:

Hi Natasha ~ ha, you made me giggle when you said that they are frightening. That's considering I truly understand that argument. I really was in shock when I woke upward one morning to the terrible harm. It was pretty creepy. I hope yous never feel that once more. Give thanks you lot for your feedback.

Sharyn

Sharon Smith (author) from Northeast Ohio USA on April 15, 2013:

Hi faythef ~ y'all got that right! Grubs are extremely ugly. I'chiliad then glad you found this article helpful. Thank you for stopping by.

Sharyn

Sharon Smith (author) from Northeast Ohio USA on April fourteen, 2013:

Howdy pinto2011 ~ you are very welcome. Sorry to hear that grubs have invaded your life too :( Expert luck. I capeesh you stopping by.

Sharyn

Sharon Smith (author) from Northeast Ohio USA on April 13, 2013:

Hi Vicki ~ aye, the harm is incredible and information technology happens overnight!! Thanks so much for your feedback!

Sharyn

Sharon Smith (writer) from Northeast Ohio USA on April xiii, 2013:

Hello Sharkye ~ OMG, that is really gross almost grubs burrowing into animals. Thanks for sharing your experience. I have to look farther into it and then that I can add some data to this hub. And I bet they exercise make not bad fish bait! Ugh, but I can't become that beast thing out of my mind. YUCK! Poor lil creatures. Thanks Sharkye for stopping by.

Sharyn

Natasha from Hawaii on April 12, 2013:

Ugh - I hate grubs! I had a thou for about a year and a one-half after college and grubs kept getting in my garden and ruining it! They were so huge, besides. They were kind of frightening really! I wish I'd had this hub to guide me back then. One twenty-four hours I'll have a yard again and and so this volition come in useful.

Subhas from New Delhi, India on Apr 12, 2013:

This is surely going to help me out as I am really perturbed because of these. Thanks for writing all these suggestions.

Faythe Payne from USA on April 10, 2013:

Not only do they crusade a lot of damage . They are all nearly ugly..cheers for this helpful article

Victoria Lynn from Arkansas, USA on Apr ten, 2013:

Gosh, they crusade a lot of impairment! Good to know what to practice! Great hub!

Jayme Kinsey from Oklahoma on Apr 10, 2013:

Wow. Interesting hub. Let me add that grubs tin also be a danger to pets. When we ran a farm, we had to really be careful about animals that would sleep or prevarication on the ground. Grubs will burrow into animals! You will notice an itchy place on your pet, and a deep wound that looks similar a puncture. If yous sentinel closely, you will see the grub poke out a little chip for air. We had this happen to our free-range rabbits and chickens also as pets such as dogs and cats before we noticed what was going on and treated it. Grubs tin exist nasty business. Merely they exercise make great bait for angling!

Sharon Smith (author) from Northeast Ohio Us on November 08, 2012:

Hi CC ~ I said the same affair to myself. No way did these little worms do all that damage overnight. I honestly did non know what to recall at first, especially since the one thousand is fenced in. I learned quick though. Thanks and so much for stopping past.

Sharyn

Sharon Smith (author) from Northeast Ohio Usa on Nov 08, 2012:

Hullo Turtlewoman! It certainly is an annoying trouble. Oh gosh, I'm afraid to exercise the enquiry to come across if people really swallow grubs. Yuck! Thank you so much for stopping by.

Sharyn

Cynthia Calhoun from Western NC on November 07, 2012:

LOL...I was like 'those little worms cause all that damage?' LOL, so I kept reading. That'southward a cute piffling raccoon flick ya got at that place. Hehehe.

Kim Lam from California on November 07, 2012:

Oh yikes, that is an abrasive problem! This is a very useful hub!

It's funny, I just saw an episode on Travel where this guy was eating bugs that look but like that first picture. It was in the Philippines and the locals eat them for poly peptide. *shudder*

Sharon Smith (author) from Northeast Ohio USA on Nov 06, 2012:

Hullo Mo ~ Oh, be glad this is not a big trouble where you live. It's kind of like they sneak upwardly on yous and before you know it, your lawn looks similar my photos :( Cheers then much for stopping by.

Sharyn

Marisa Hammond Olivares from Texas on November 06, 2012:

Oh my goodness, this would totally freak me out! I tin can't get over those pictures Sharon. This must not be a big problem in our region only if it does go one I'm looking y'all upwardly for more info. Very interesting, great comment thread too.

Sharon Smith (author) from Northeast Ohio USA on November 01, 2012:

Hullo Blink ~ well I'm not certain what to say about your daughter, ha. Thanks for the comment well-nigh the milky spore. I may try using that in the jump. I appreciate you stopping by.

Sharyn

Sharon Smith (author) from Northeast Ohio USA on November 01, 2012:

Golfgal ~ as I said, YUCK, ha. Dainty to know she had that "Mona Lisa" smiling :)

Claudia Mitchell on November 01, 2012:

Actually useful hub Sharyn! Voted up besides. Your grass looks a little similar mine. For some reason my daughter loves to wait at the grubs. I love to go rid of them and nosotros actually beloved the milky spore. Information technology seems to piece of work well.

Golfgal from McKinney, Texas on October xxx, 2012:

Simply yesterday.....she found a chow, lapped information technology into her mouth, rolled it around on her natural language until she got it merely right between her teeth....and yes, with a mona lisa smile she bite down and squished that chow right between her teeth with great delight. I only had to LOL

Sharon Smith (author) from Northeast Ohio Usa on October 29, 2012:

Hi Golfgal ~ ooooh, yuck! Just sayin'

Sharon Smith (author) from Northeast Ohio USA on October 29, 2012:

Kelly ~ Yup, grubs are really gross. Before you lot do any kind of treatment, follow the instructions to bank check a square foot of grass in several places. It does NOT sound similar they are bad (if at all in the lawn) to care for. Proficient luck. And thanks for your "open up" comments, ha.

Sharyn

Sharon Smith (author) from Northeast Ohio USA on October 29, 2012:

Hi Janis ~ Ugh, yes, it tin be a lot of work. Particularly when critters wreak havoc on it! I appreciate you lot stopping by to read and annotate. Cheers so much!

Sharyn

Golfgal from McKinney, Texas on October 29, 2012:

I have a puggle, when I dig a hole to plant something she is right in that location looking for a tasty snack aka grub, so add together dogs to the listing of grub eating predators LOL.

Sharon Smith (author) from Northeast Ohio U.s.a. on Oct 29, 2012:

Howdy Golfgal ~ No, I am not sure what tore up the chiliad just it must accept been either skunks or raccoons. Our fences are likewise loftier for deer to leap in (I recall). Thank you for the tips about the beetle traps. Sure sounds similar information technology would assist. I am also thinking we might have moles too. Considering - in that location take been times when the canis familiaris is digging in the yard. Ugh, what a hurting. Thanks so much for your feedback. May you remain grub gratis, ha :) Take care,

Sharyn

Kelly Umphenour from St. Louis, MO on Oct 29, 2012:

Ah ha! Okie dokey then, mama has an issue. I bet you anything that is shy I DO have a few brown spots that won't abound grass! I practise have a lovely lawn except a few spots! I've establish those grub in my garden! And so disgusting Sharon! Oh I could blow chow thinking about those ugly things.

Thanks so much! I have even had a lean service and they never said anything about this...I do have tons of birds, feeders and baths. Hmmmm...I think Dvae is gonna take to take a closer look for me:)

Sharon Smith (writer) from Northeast Ohio USA on October 29, 2012:

Howdy Carol ~ Probably pretty difficult to find any grubs in Arizona :) Information technology was creepy when I woke upward 1 morning and saw the thou similar that. I was like WTH??? I appreciate y'all stopping by and sharing too.

Sharyn

Sharon Smith (writer) from Northeast Ohio Us on October 28, 2012:

Hullo Stephanie ~ Nope, you lot are definitely not the only i that finds grubs annoying. I was/am annoyed for sure. But I'm hoping they are gone. Best wishes for your condom throughout the hurricane.

Sharyn

Sharon Smith (writer) from Northeast Ohio USA on October 28, 2012:

Hi Susan ~ I never really put it together, that skunks similar grubs and that may exist what brings them effectually. So glad it seems like you got rid of the problem. I do retrieve I volition also put a "preventative" treatment on in the spring as well. I don't desire to go through this mess again if I don't have to. Thanks so much for sharing your story with us.

Sharyn

Janis Goad on Oct 28, 2012:

Interesting hub. I never knew a backyard took so much piece of work. I am gradually replanting grass areas with native plants, herbaceous perennials and vegetable beds, but I demand to proceed some lawn for an open playing surface area. Encouraging birds is a not bad idea--let them swallow the grubs.

Golfgal from McKinney, Texas on October 28, 2012:

Hey Sharyn, Did you ever observe out what critter it was that feasted in your backyard? When living in Maryland we had tons of grubs,aftermoving to Texas we too have tons of grubs. Beetles are everywhere I am afraid. I would also add that ja[anese Protrude traps work great to collect the adult beetlesbefore mating and laying eggs occur. The traps have mating hormones that are irrestible to thelittle beasts. Organic preventativefor sure. Some people become yard moles infestations and that is why.....great source of protein for moles. Cheers for sharing your yard therapy with us.

carol stanley from Arizona on October 28, 2012:

I never heard of these. Nosotros only accept rocks and stuff here in Arizona. Pretty creepy what happened to your m. Thanks for showing and sharing...Voting up and this needs to be shared.

Stephanie Bradberry from New Jersey on October 28, 2012:

I was just checking around my g today--securing things for the coming backlash of hurricane Sandy. And I kept seeing all these beetles. I think they were Japanese beetles because nosotros used to become them a lot during the summer. This summer seemed pretty bad for grubs in my area. Glad I am not the only i finding these critters annoying.

Susan Zutautas from Ontario, Canada on Oct 28, 2012:

We had lawn grubs when nosotros showtime moved into this firm. Before we got the dogs we had all kinds of critters that would walk around and banquet on the grubs. Raccoon's, a skunk and a groundhog. I haven't seen the groundhog in quite a few years or smelt the skunk since he sprayed Maggie only I know the Raccoon's are even so around. Nosotros treated our backyard with a production we got at home depot and information technology did the trick. We did take to reapply it the following year but haven't had or seen any grubs for a few years now.

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Source: https://dengarden.com/gardening/How-to-Get-Rid-of-Lawn-Grubs