grubs

Keep These Root-Eaters from Killing Your Grass

If you see Japanese Beetles in your trees, and dead patches of grass in your lawn, you could have grubs. Grubs are the larvae of Japanese beetles, June beetles, and chafers. These C–shaped creatures (off–white in color with a dark head) feast on the roots of your grass causing irregularly shaped patches of wilted, dead or dying grass in April and May, and again in August to mid–October. A bad infestation can kill your lawn. To find out if you have a problem, peel back a square foot of turf. If you see six or more grubs, it's time for action. With good treatments available, such as Scotts® Grubex®, and good timing, you can keep grubs under control.


Prevention and Maintenance

Time your treatment
You want to apply your lawn treatment when grubs are newly hatched or just before. That's because they're easier to control when they're small. For most lawns, that means applying around June and July, or when you see adult Japanese Beetles flying around.

Prepare your lawn
You want to make it easier for the treatment to work. That's why it helps to mow your lawn before treatment. Also, if you have more than half an inch of thatch, it could get in the way of the treatment. You'll want to de–thatch your lawn first.

Don't forget watering
Apply the day after watering your lawn, then water thoroughly after treatment. You want the treatment to soak in and get the grubs where they live.

Maintenance
Make it a routine to apply Scotts® Grubex® lawn treatment every June or July. You can also apply it your in April or May, but the grubs are much bigger, and harder to control at that time.