Treatment for Grass Grubs
Gardeners are likely to see lawn damage caused by white grubs in the late summer to early fall. The grub treatment you use depends on the extent of your pest population. Low numbers of white grubs call for different treatment options than lawns completely infested with these root-eating pests. Does this Spark an idea?
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Grubs
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Grubs are the larvae stage of insects such as Japanese beetles, northern masked chafers, June beetles and Oriental beetles, according to Pennsylvania State University. You may notice wilting, browning and dead grass blades caused by grubs eating away at the root systems of the lawn. In fact, severe grub damage allows gardeners to roll up their turf as if it were carpet. Wildlife such as raccoons, moles and skunks may be found digging grubs out of heavily infested lawns.
Test
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Cut a 1-square-foot piece of turf out of the lawn using a sharp blade. Lift up the grass and examine the soil for grubs. You may have to sift through the soil or removed grass. Look for white soft-bodied insects. Grubs typically lay in a C-shape when exposed. If there are more than 10 grubs in 1 square foot of lawn space, you will have to apply a pesticides. Fewer than 10 grubs per a square foot may be controlled using other non-chemical methods.
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Cultural Treatment
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Allow your grass to dry out during July to early August, advises Penn State's College of Agriculture. Though your lawn grass may dry up and go into dormancy, beetle eggs will die out from lack of moisture. Dry grass will deter other beetles from laying eggs in your lawn. You may water the grass after August to bring your lawn out of dormancy after you have killed off the eggs and prevented new eggs from being laid in your lawn.
Chemical Treatment
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Treat your grub infestationwhen damage is first noticed with insecticides containing either trichlorfon or diazinon. For heavily infested lawns, use a pesticide that contains imidacloprid or halofenozide. Avoid spraying water-stressed yards with pesticides to avoid causing damage. Apply the pesticide over the lawn and water the pesticide into the soil. You may have to reapply the pesticide to manage the grub population. Lawns that have been severely damaged may need complete renovation or new grass.
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