Yard guides / Problems and fixes
Grubs: check before you treat
How to tell if grubs are the problem, and when treatment makes sense.
White grubs are beetle larvae that eat grass roots. Brown patches that peel back like carpet can mean grubs, but many lawns have a few without harm. Check before you treat.
Check
- In late summer, cut three sides of a 1 ft by 1 ft square of turf at the edge of a brown area
- Fold it back and count the C-shaped white grubs in the soil and roots
- Check a few spots around the lawn
- Many extension services suggest treatment only when counts are high, often around 6 to 10 or more per square foot, depending on the beetle species
Other clues
- Skunks, raccoons or birds digging the lawn
- Turf that lifts easily with no roots
Treatment
Preventive products are applied in early to midsummer before eggs hatch; curative products target active grubs in late summer to early fall. Choose one labeled for grubs, water it in as the label says, and avoid treating lawns that don't need it.
General lawn care information. Grass, soil and climate vary; your cooperative extension office can give local advice. Reliable Service Crew isn't paid by any brand or lawn company.