Preventing Grub Infestations: Tips for a Healthy Lawn

Have you heard of grubs in grass? Likely, you haven’t unless they’ve wreaked havoc on your Northeast Ohio lawn. 

And you’re certainly better off not coming face to face with these insects. They are not only gross, but they are also pretty sneaky. 

Why are they so stealthy? Well, there’s no way you can really tell when they attack your lawn because they do their dirty work underground where you can’t see them very well. 

In fact, your grass can look just fine on the surface, while grubs are eating away at the lawn roots. And this can not only make your lawn look bad down the road, but it also cuts off the pathways of vital water and nutrients to your lawn. And that doesn’t help; your lawn needs those things to survive and thrive. 

Since grubs can devastate your lawn, we thought we’d put together some tips to help you prevent grubs on your lawn and learn about how to get rid of grubs so you can get your nice, green grass back. 

Grubs in Grass in Northeast Ohio 

Learning how to get rid of grubs starts with understanding more about these pests that attack your grass roots. 

If you have ever heard of Japanese beetles, the northern masked chafer, or June bugs, then you know what white grubs are. These fat, juicy, C-shaped, milky white creepy-crawlies are the larvae of these adult beetles. 

In fact, if you see Japanese beetles crawling around your roses or other plants, then that could be a sign they are laying eggs in your grass nearby. And those eggs turn into the white grubs that feed on your lawn all summer and fall. As temperatures get colder before winter, they burrow deeper into your soil. In spring, they awaken and resume their feeding of your lawn until they emerge as adult beetles in late spring. 

It’s a vicious cycle, for sure. 

Here are more details you need to know about grubs in grass to help you prevent them in your lawn.

Look For Signs You May Have Grubs on Your Lawn

Since grubs in grass are hard to spot since they eat the roots under your lawn surface, you might have a hard time figuring out if they are actually causing you trouble. 

There are a few things you can look for, though, that can signal you have a grub infestation. 

First, is your lawn underperforming? If it’s not growing strong in May, June, and July or you see yellow or brown spots or dead patches, this could be a sign you have grubs. 

Another issue with a lawn being attacked by grubs is that it can feel loose – sort of like it’s not connected to the ground. In fact, if you try to pull it up, it might come up easily as if it’s a carpet that isn’t tacked down. This is a sure sign of grubs since it shows the grass roots may not be connected to the soil. 

Also, when you walk on your lawn, it may feel spongy. This is not a normal feeling when you walk on your grass, so it can be a sure sign of a grub infestation.

The other problem with lawn grubs is that they are thick, juicy protein meals for animals like birds, raccoons, moles, and skunks. So you might see them digging up your lawn to get to these “treats.” 

Understand How Grubs Feed

Knowing how grubs in grass work can help you better prevent them. 

In spring, grubs wake up from winter hibernation. They dig their way up from deep in the soil to just beneath the grass surface and begin to feed on your lawn’s root system. But because your grass is vigorously growing in the spring, it’s less likely that you’ll see damage.

Then, later in spring the larvae pupate in the ground and emerge in mid-summer as flying beetles. Some species like Japanese Beetles feed during the day and are more obvious. Others only feed at night. You could have a large infestation and not see beetles feeding on the leaves of your roses or other desirable plants. 

As the flying adults feed, they also mate and deposit eggs in lawn areas and landscape beds. In late summer and early fall, their newly hatched grubs begin to feed on lawn root systems. This is where major damage occurs as lawns get more and more stressed in the hot, dry weather. 

Know What Kind of Damage Grubs on Your Lawn Can Do

Grubs are pretty hungry pests and can do quite a bit of damage. Once you discover grubs in grass, there are a couple scenarios you can encounter, depending on how long you’ve had them and how many grubs are present. 

The best-case scenario is there are a minimal amount of grubs that have been eating your grass roots, and your lawn may bounce back if it gets enough water. Imagine a newly-laid piece of grass with no root system growing new roots and knitting itself to the soil again. 

However, the worst-case scenario is you have dead patches of grass from a grub infestation, and with some grub control measures, as well as aeration and overseeding, you can fill in bare spots and boost lawn health. 

How to Get Rid of Grubs

You get the picture that grubs are pretty nasty insects. Once they move into your lawn, they don’t leave. 

Now that you know something about grubs in grass, let’s talk about how lawn grub control can help. 

Grub Control Timing Is Important

The key to how to get rid of grubs is to take care of them in their early stages or even before they hatch so they don’t have a chance to cause serious damage to your lawn. 

So, prevention is your best bet. June and July is a great timeframe for early prevention of grubs. This is best done with a preventive treatment to your lawn.  

Grub-Proof Lawns Take Planning

Preventing grubs in grass is best accomplished with a complete, proactive lawn care program. 

Turf Pride offers a grub solution that provides season-long control. This means it lasts all through summer and fall. We will also come back and inspect your lawn in the fall to ensure grubs haven’t returned if you see some signs that are worrisome to you.

Plus, we offer other lawn care services, such as fertilization and weed control, that can enhance your lawn’s health and help heal any damage. While we’re on your property taking care of your lawn, we will continue to monitor for grubs to make sure they stay away. 

Eager to Know if You Have Grubs on Your Lawn? Trust Turf Pride

In your Northeast Ohio lawn, the last things you want to see are rough patches of lawn or grass that is spongy and seems disconnected to the soil. 

You have enough to worry about. Who has time to look for small, white, C-shaped grubs in grass crawling under your lawn? It’s probably not your No. 1 pick of what to do on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. 

If you want to eliminate grubs and make better plans for your weekend, try professional lawn care services. An effective grub control solution from Turf Pride could save you time, money, and – most importantly – your lawn’s appearance and health. 

Ready to learn why Turf Pride could be your choice for grub control services in Northeast Ohio? We’d love to learn more about you and help you have the best lawn on the block. Get started today with a free quote. Together, we can prepare a customized plan that is perfect for you.