Signs & Prevention of Grubs in Your Lawn
Lawn grubs love a healthy lawn and rich soil. And they can quickly ruin all your hard work on your St. Louis lawn. Identifying a grub problem is the first step to solving it fast. These are some of our top tips for dealing with grubs in your lawn.
What are Grubs?
Lawn grubs are tiny, white, C-shaped larvae of beetles that burrow in the soil to feed on grass roots and other organic matter. When beetles feed on plants in the early summer, they also lay their eggs in the soil. As soon as they hatch, they begin eating the closest thing: your grass roots. The growing and eating process continues through the fall, then they start to burrow deeper to spend the winter. Once the weather warms up, the grubs return to the surface, emerge as beetles, and the cycle continues.
Signs of Grubs
Some early signs of grubs may not be grubs at all. Here’s what to watch out for:
- Beetles are around your lawn and garden in the early summer.
- Your lawn feels spongy when stepped on.
- Dead patches of grass in late summer. If it’s easy to pull back these areas, it’s most likely because grubs have already eaten the roots that would be holding it to the ground.
- Animals, such as raccoons, skunks, and birds, are digging up our lawn. These animals are looking for all the tasty, mature grubs feasting on your grass.
If seeing is believing, pull back several areas of grass. If you see grubs, it’s time to act.
Grub Control Tips
There are several ways of preventing and treating a grub problem.
- Maintain your lawn. If it’s thirsty and underfed, grub damage will make it worse. Proper lawn maintenance makes your lawn stronger and able to tolerate a few grubs.
- Kill them before they hatch. Apply a preventative grub control product in the spring, especially if you see a lot of beetles around or have had grub problems before.
- Make a soapy mixture to spray over the trouble spots in your lawn. This will force the grubs to the surface, where the birds will be happy to help you take care of the problem.
Professional Grub Control in St. Louis
Loyalty Lawn Care offers lawn pest control, including curative and preventative grub control in St. Louis. We know how to spot the signs early and tackle grubs before they make themselves at home. Our treatments are timed in late spring through early summer to help prevent grubs before they come back up for feeding. In addition to pest control, we offer weed control and fertilization, tree and shrub care, mosquito control, and more. For more information on grub control and how to properly maintain your lawn, contact Loyalty Lawn Care today.