How to Rid a Lawn of Grubs

Grubs live in the soil and kill grass. The damage of these grubs to a lawn is apparent by the browning grass and bare spots where weeds soon take over. If you dig a hole in the soil and see fat white worms, you need to know how to rid your lawn of grubs so that you can have a healthy lawn next year.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Lawn spreader
• Milky spore
• Grass seed

1. Purchase a host-specific pesticide, such as Milky Spore, to spread on the lawn to kill the grubs. This particular pesticide will only kill the grubs and not harm worms, spiders, bees and household pets.

2. Read the instructions on the pesticide for the correct amount per square foot of lawn. Pour enough product into a lawn spreader and adjust the product per foot on the dial of the lawn spreader. Walk the entire lawn and monitor the amount of pesticide. When you run out, stop and add more. Continue spreading out the product until you have covered the entire lawn.

3. Wait one week and use the lawn spreader to overseed the lawn with grass seed. Use a sun or shade grass seed because it will have more resistance to any grub larvae that might remain in the soil.

4. Water the lawn as little as possible. If possible, avoid watering at all because that is how the grub larvae survive. Without water, they die. Water just enough to moisten the grass seed.

5. Fertilize the grass once in the spring, summer and fall. This will help the grass stay strong and fight against the possible reoccurrence of the grub infestation.

Tips & Warnings

• Grubs will come back the next year if you do not stay on top of the infestation. Overseed the lawn the first and second years after the infestation.
• If you use a product other than Milky Spore, make sure to keep household pets off the lawn for at least 24 hours.

References

• Pest Control Rx