How to Get Rid of Grubs in Lawn and Prevent Future Damage
White Grubs are a common pest in Virginia and Mid-Atlantic lawns and need to be treated as soon as an infestation is identified. By utilizing grub control on your lawn you can minimize the risk of root damage and attracting animals that dig for grubs such as skunks, raccoons, and moles.
Topics Index
- What Is a Grub and How Can I Identify a Grub?
- White Grubs in Virginia
- How Do Grubs Damage Your Lawn?
- Is Grub Control Mole Control?
- Controlling Grubs in Your Lawn
- The Holy Trinity: Grub Control, Mole Control, Tree and Shrub Services
What Is a Grub and How Can I Identify a Grub?
Grubs are the larvae stage of several different kinds of beetles but are not limited to, June Beetles, Japanese Beetles and Masked Chafers. Often dirty and white in color, grubs sit below the earth's surface and lay on their side in a c-shape. These grubs can cause severe lawn disruption from wide scale root damage and the attraction of nuisances like moles to your yard.
Beetles will lay their eggs in the summer. Upon hatching, the white grubs will begin feeding on the roots of turf grass until the temperature outside is too low. The cooler weather will drive the grubs to overwinter 2 to 8 inches into the soil where they will stay until the spring. The white grubs will continue to feed on roots until they pupate, often from May to June.
White Grubs in Virginia
White Grubs are a common pest in Virginia lawns and need to be treated as soon as the infestation is identified. Mentioned above, there are a number of white grubs you may find in your mid-Atlantic lawn. Listed below are a few common ones:
- June Beetles
- Japanese Beetles
- Masked Chafers
These grubs mature into the beetles you may find terrorizing your trees and shrubs in the summer, so it is important to tackle the problem as soon as you see them.
How Do Grubs Damage Your Lawn?
Grub damage can come in a variety of forms, with extreme root damage being the most prevalent and problematic for your lawn. As white grubs hatch, they immediately begin terrorizing your lawn by feeding on the roots of turf grass, causing thinning and dead grass spots. Aside from lawn damage, grubs can attract yard nuisances such as moles, skunks and raccoons who dig for and eat grubs. By controlling grubs, you not only improve your lawn's health but fight back against damaging animals.
Is Grub Control Mole Control?
The simple answer is no, grub control is not mole control. This is a common misconception, and while there is some overlap, grub control is only a part of mole control. Moles feed on grubs, but they also feed on earthworms, beetles, ants, and centipedes. By controlling grubs, you are improving your defense against moles but not entirely controlling them. It is very important to combine grub control with mole control to keep your lawn healthy all year round!
Controlling Grubs in Your Lawn
Grub Control is extremely important for your lawn's health. By handling the problem at its root, you can avoid brown patches in your lawn, spongey feeling turf from damaged roots and digging from pests like moles, raccoons and skunks. At Virginia Green we utilize and recommend a single application of grub control in the early summer to attack the next generation of grubs. This way you are reducing the young grub's opportunity to feast on your roots and attract pests. Combining grub control with mole control and tree and shrub control is the perfect way to remove grubs from your lawn and save your ornamental plants from beetles.
The Holy Trinity: Grub Control, Mole Control, Tree and Shrub Services
By attacking grubs in the early summer, you can get ahead of grub damage in the fall and reduce damage done to the roots of your lawn. Adding Mole Control gives you another layer of protection by reducing the amount of moles in your lawn that are attracted to grubs and will dig across your lawn to find them. Lastly, making sure you are caring for your trees and shrubs will handle any beetles that have formed from the previous, untreated generation of grubs as well as neighboring beetles that have flown in your yard. By combining these three Virginia Green services, you can bolster your defense against unsightly lawn and tree and shrub damage!