Lawn Grub Prevention and Control
Posted on Sun, May 15, 2011
What Grubs Do To Your Lawn
Lawn grubs feed on the roots of your grass. In areas of extreme damage the turf begins to brown and die, and the lawn can be lifted up like a piece of carpet. To check for grubs, simply grab a handful of turf grass and tug. If grubs are there, chances are the lawn will lift off. Grub damage can go unnoticed for weeks and even months on turf that is watered consistently. The grubs stay out of sight under the lawn and, with enough water, the turf can appear healthy. But while the damage may not appear quickly, it can completely devastate a lawn — making major lawn renovation and repair the only solution.
Where Do Grubs Come From?
There are many varieties of grubs. June beetles (and others) start their life cycle by laying eggs in the thatch layer of your lawn. These eggs hatch out as "baby grubs" and begin eating their way through the thatch and into the soil. Grubs feed heavily through late summer and fall until cooler weather sends them deeper into the soil for winter. Come spring, they return to the surface to feed until they "pupate" (or go into a type of cocoon) which is when they change into the adult beetles and start the cycle again.