Many of our North Texas clients ask about grub treatment, when should it be done, and how often? Even more so, customers ask about the dying patches of brown grass in their lawn, as this could be a sign of grub infestation. Living in the DFW area means you are no stranger to grubs popping up almost out of nowhere. Chorbie is here to help you understand how these insects affect your lawn, and with summer approaching it’s imperative to know how to treat grubs. Springtime is the season when you typically do maintenance on your yard. However, a homeowner’s job is never done when it comes to lawn care.
What are Grubs?
Grubs attack your yard in large numbers and create brown patches of dying grass. They are the larvae of beetles that hibernate during winter and early spring, once the weather warms up they come above ground and wreak havoc on your lawn by laying eggs in the soil of your grass. Grubs are typically white and curled up and are about an inch long. You can see them if you dig below the surface. They are not only unsightly creatures, but they eat at the root of your grass. Grubs are sneaky, hence why they need to be attacked while young, which, fortunately, is right around this time of year! Grubs don’t typically cause visible damage to turfgrass lawns as they are strong growers that can outlive damage; devastating damage can be done to weedy, mown lawns that have native grasses.
Attack Grubs During Summertime
Summertime is the best time to initiate your grub treatment as they are young and also, above ground because they are not hibernating. To understand if grubs are hiding in your yard take a sample of one square foot of soil to see. Homeowners can be frustrated if they treat a grub problem that was actually a disease or other yard issue.
Here are some tips on understanding if it is actually a grub infestation:
- Ten or more white, inch-long bugs in your soil
- Your grass is starting to discolor
- Noticeable tan or copper-colored beetles, they are most active at sundown
- Spongy ground with dying roots
- Excessively moist ground from rain or watering can attract beetles
- Bare spots in sunny areas
How To Treat A Grub Problem
Treat grubs with pesticides, but you have to be careful about placement and timing as solutions can contain harsh chemicals. Mach 2 is an insecticide that can kill grubs but works to not hurt beneficial insects. Just because a grub is seen does not mean you need to treat your yard, Integrated Pest Management practices recommend treatment when grub counts exceed five visible grubs per square foot. If you feel professional help is needed, even as a preventative measure do not hesitate to give Chorbie a call. Chorbie’s experts possess the knowledge of climate effects on these pest’s life cycles and can pinpoint a solution. We will evaluate your lawn and make sure the right decision is made to keep your family safe and your lawn beautiful. Getting rid of grubs is not the simplest of tasks but it is worthwhile when you get to enjoy your yard!
