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What’s the best way to get rid of grubs? 185 homeowners share their answers
Many lawns host a handful of grubs. They usually go unnoticed. But if you get an infestation, you're in for it. Their population boom will ruin a good lawn. Homeowners who want a good, durable lawn should know how to look for and manage grub infestations, which is why we asked 185 homeowners how they do grub control.
Knowing how to identify and control grubs is important, especially now. While grubs are active in warmer months, they're also an issue in the fall. They're upping their calories ahead of winter, so if your lawn is looking worse for wear, it's best to be on the lookout for grubs.
Survey Results
Insecticides | 41 |
Natural Predators | 14 |
Letting Grass Go Dormant | 29 |
Milky Spore | 27 |
Nematodes | 38 |
Neem oil spray/Dish soap | 10 |
Hire a pro | 26 |
Grub control is about dealing with or removing the grubs (larvae of some beetles) from your lawn. Untreated grubs feed on the roots of turf, shredding or killing patches of grass. You should spot grubs in the earliest stage and treat them accordingly if you don't want them to multiply and decimate your hard work.
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Understanding Lawn Grubs
Lawn grubs are the C-shaped larvae of different types of beetles, like Japanese beetles, European chafers, and June beetles. The grubs waste no time. They begin devouring the roots of the grass before becoming adult beetles. Grubs are usually present in late summer and early fall, so this is when you'll be able to find them and eliminate them.
If you know what to look for in a grub infestation, you can begin to keep your lawn safe. Here are a few key things to look for:
Unusual brown spots: If your grass is beginning to brown or yellow and looks patchy, you may have a grub problem. Their diet is mostly grassroots, so dehydrated and weak grass is most likely the first thing you'll notice.
Thick sponge-like turf: Grass infected by grubs is often tender and may lift up if the grubs have begun wreaking major havoc on the turf system.
Predators coming around: Birds, raccoons, skunks, and moles rip up lawns to catch grubs, leaving holes or scars.
Beetles flying: The white grubs killing your lawn will one day be mature beetles. If you notice their adult counterparts flying around at grass level or chilling on trees, their offspring may be about to tear up your lawn.
If you have any of these issues, grubs are a likely cause.
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How to Inspect Your Lawn for Grubs
You can inspect for grubs by picking a damaged spot on your lawn and seeing if you can locate them beneath the surface. If you pull on the grass and it comes up easily, grubs have likely torn out the grassroots.
You can also use a shovel to dig out a section of the lawn near the damaged area. You'll want to dig down to where you can see the grassroots. That's where the grubs will be.
Why You Need Grub Control
Too many grubs are dangerous to your lawn. If their population spikes, their feeding habits can kill your grass. As they chomp down on the grassroots, they reduce your turf's capacity to soak up water and nutrients.
A damaged root system leaves your lawn more prone to drought, stress, and disease. Grub infestations often cause irreparable damage if not treated and must be repaired or re-seeded.
How to Control Grubs in Grass
As with many things in lawn care, good habits go a long way. Mowing, watering, fertilizing, and all the other things you do to keep your yard healthy matter. What does all this have to do with grubs?
Well, the thicker your lawn, the less space it gives beetles to move in. Plus, healthier root systems can hold better. Grub control typically boils down to preventative and curative control.
To help prevent grubs, preventative insecticides containing imidacloprid and chlorantraniliprole kill grubs that are in the process of hatching. Follow all package directions regarding the application to ensure you're keeping grubs from hatching and turning into a root-eating mob.
When you use any chemical grub control, wear gloves and other protective equipment included in the product guidelines.
Typically, application windows are in the late spring and early summer.
When you know grubs are in your lawn, curative products are the way to go. They're designed to kill grubs. They get 'em all — regardless of the grubs' development stage. Homeowners voted for preventative and curative insecticides as their preferred grub-control method with 41 votes.
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Biological Grub Control Methods
Biological control solutions are good for homeowners looking for eco-friendly options. Simple things like letting your grass go dormant discourage beetles from laying their eggs in dry soil. Here are a few other natural ways to keep them at bay:
Beneficial Nematodes
Biological control solutions are good for homeowners looking for eco-friendly options. Beneficial nematodes are one such creature that can help with grub control. They're microscopic worms that kill grubs. Here's how:
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They are 96 percent effective against Japanese beetle grubs in field studies. It's important to apply the nematodes according to all product instructions. Keep this in mind, too: strong sunlight can kill nematodes, so use them when you have a space of overcast or rainy days.
Milky Spore
Milky spore is a natural bacterium that kills grubs. It's spread in powder or granule form over months, accumulating in the soil for long-term control.
It only affects Japanese beetle grubs, so you'll need another option if you're unsure what type of grubs you have. Plus, if you live in a colder part of the nation, the soil may not be warm long enough for the milky spore to be effective.
DIY Grub Control Solutions
Neem oil and dish soap are two DIY methods homeowners claim are effective on grubs. Neem oil spray has azadirachtin, which interferes with the grub's hormones and ultimately eliminates them.
Many also say dish soap and water poured directly on the grubs kills them, but this is much harder to do as you'd have to apply it directly on the grubs.
When to Use Grub Control Products
In most cases, treatments are most effective in late summer to early fall because grubs are still young and feed near the soil's surface. If you're looking for prevention, late spring to early summer is a good time to apply products before eggs hatch.
Treating early in the spring with a preventative provides your lawn with a chemical barrier built into the soil, making future infestations less likely. Curative treatments, meanwhile, should be applied when grubs are most active in late summer and early fall.
Use good application techniques to get grub control products to their intended target. Always pick products based on the size, soil conditions, and grub species of your lawn.
For many products, you'll want to lightly water them after application (but read the directions first) to help them get into the soil and activate the ingredients.
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Grub Control Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are grub control products safe for pets and children?
Not all grub control products are safe for pets and children to be around, so be sure to read the label for warnings and follow all application guidelines. Keep children and pets away from treated areas until the product is dry.
When should I apply grub control?
Preventative treatment is usually used only once a year in spring or early summer. Based on infestations and product labeling, curative treatments might need to be applied again.
Should you mow before grub treatment?
Again, it depends on the product and the instructions. As a general rule, you'll want to mow first to ensure the yard is dry and the product is getting down into the soil.
Quick Summary
Grubs aren't a problem when they're just a handful spread across your lawn. But if they start multiplying in droves, that's an issue.
We asked 185 homeowners about the way they chose to approach grub control. We learned that 1) there are many ways to fight grubs, and 2), like always, good lawn care habits are key to a healthy lawn and affect everything.
At the end of the day, there are many ways to handle grubs — from DIY remedies to nematodes to insecticides.
