Disclaimer: The use of specific brand or trade names in this article is for educational purposes only. The best and most effective insecticides are systemic and provide optimal control if applied to the lawn while the beetles are flying. Since most grubs hatch in mid-July through mid-August, this is generally the right time to apply your curative products. To successfully use nematodes for grub control, you should keep the following principles in mind: For home gardeners that do their homework and follow instructions carefully, nematodes can be a great natural option for controlling grubs. If you find five or fewer grubs per square foot, you need not apply grub control. Healthier grass can tolerate more grub feeding, and all grass can tolerate some grub feeding. It is a natural option to treat grubs in the lawn. Treatment for white grubs in late summer is problematic. These products should be applied in the beginning of June. My Lawn App by Scotts helps simplify your lawn care. The later in the season these products are applied, the farther down the chemical needs to travel in the soil to contact the grubs. There are several types of insecticides labeled for the treatment of grubs. This product is readily available at many garden centers and can be sprinkled onto and watered into the soil according to the manufacturer's instructions. They are what you get before it develops into different types of beetles such as Scarab Beetles, June bugs, May bugs, Japanese … To treat grubs it is important to first understand their lifecycle. How To Treat for Grubs [Prevent Before its Too Late] Posted by Dave Schwarm on Jun 25, 2020 4:02:18 PM Tweet; The Importance of Preventative Grub Control Grubs are the silent killers of lawn pests. These are the larvae of Japanese and June beetles, as well as Chafers. If you have a very high concentration of grubs – 10 or more grubs per square foot – treatment may be necessary to maintain healthy grass. Keep your lawn at its driest throughout July and August, when the grub eggs are most likely to hatch. If using a preventative treatment against grubs, aim to apply just before the grubs hatch – typically late spring or early summer. Repair any damage. These products can be effective, but are broad-spectrum and have a low residual, killing beneficial insects on contact as well as lawn pests like grubs. As you’re scouting for grubs in your lawn, take notes so you remember which areas of your lawn have high counts and which don’t. If you have a grub problem, the best time to kill them is when they are freshly hatched and living near the surface – that is usually between late summer and early fall. You can even let your lawn dry completely, which will likely have an adverse effect on your lawn but may kill grubs naturally by depriving them of moisture. There are also several preventative products that include both a neonicotinoid and a pyrethroid, which provides control not only for grubs but also caterpillars, billbugs, and some other lawn insect pests. GrubEx with the active ingredient chlorantraniliprole is used for preventive soil treatment. Always check the root zone of affected areas for the c-shaped grubs. The best treatment for these grubs is a chemical called “Imidacloprid”. A few signs will tell you that your lawn needs treatment. You can focus your scouting on areas of the lawn that are showing symptoms of grub feeding. Come March, lawns already under attack by grubs are best treated in early spring or fall… How do I know if I have lawn grubs? Call toll free at 1-877-398-4769, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., or e-mail us at answers@unh.edu. Traditionally, to treat for grubs in your lawn you would have to spray several potentially toxic chemicals on the leaf of the plant. You may know, Is It Too Late to Treat for Grubs, if you have learned when the right period to treat grubs. In addition, you need to apply it when the sun is away. A grub infestation will cause patches of thinning turf, and these patches will gradually increase in size. These animals all love to dine 
on large, mature grubs. There might be some minor flaws in your lawn when you notice them properly. When Should Grub Control Be Put Down?. In spring or early summer, apply a preventative grub control product, such as Scotts® … Typically, more than five grub worms per ¼ square foot warrants treatment and lawn grub control. From about late April into early June, you can effectively use a … This ingredient is in two widely available products: GrubEx® and Roundup® For Lawns Bug Destroyer. Natural Methods of killing grubs. Milky spore comes in two formulations, granules and powder. Keeping grass mowed high – at least 2”, and ideally 3” or more – which means that your grass will have a deeper, healthier root system that can tolerate more sub-surface insect feeding. Before we talk about the best preventative insecticides it’s important to point out the importance of timing. We know the best time to apply whichever material is the latest or greatest product to prevent grubs. When grubs infest your lawn or hatch, they don’t immediately cause severe damage. It won’t be the same grubs. If you have treated for several years and you do not see evidence of grubs in your lawn or in the neighbor’s lawn, it may be time to stop treating. A good rule of thumb is to examine several soil plugs (up to one square foot per 1000 square feet of turf) from widely scattered parts of the lawn. This blog, accompanying a live video we produced in the field, addresses some of the common questions we get at the UNH Extension Infoline about grubs. From about late April into early June, you can effectively use a product with the active ingredient chlorantraniliprole to control all species of white grubs we have in New Hampshire. Examples of grub control products with neonicotinoids are Merit®, Meridian® and Arena®. Unfortunately, grubs and their notorious below-ground destruction may go unnoticed until late summer, when dead patches of grass suddenly appear in your lawn and begin to spread. A few grubs aren't a problem, but if you see lots of them when you turn the soil, take action. When the turf is lifted to expose the grubs, they usually will be lying on their sides in a C-shaped position. Sticking with the Northeast and cool season lawns specifically, applying a preventative application of grub control is imperative and timing is everything. The best time to treat for white grubs is early in their life cycle when the larvae are small, or prior to eggs being laid in the soil. The Right Time for Grub Treatment Coincides with Periods Having the Most Damage. Hire a lawn care company to perform a preventative grub control treatment to your lawn EVERY year as part of a proactive lawn care program. Grub Control: It’s Time To Treat Grubs On Your Lawn. The lawn needs to be well watered and the soil can’t go dry while the nematodes are getting established. By David Cappaert, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org , via Wikimedia Commons Another tip-off that you have a grub problem is the increased activity around your yard from raccoons, skunks or birds. To kill grubs in the spring or fall… Treating adult grubs are more difficult than the younger ones, so you need to get rid of them when they are in the larvae stage. when to treat for grubs in yard? Only use chemicals to control grubs if necessary, and always follow all instructions on the label. At that stage, they will have started eating roots. These animals love to eat grubs… The size of a white grub … Once lawn grubs have been detected and treatment is necessary, you need to know when to apply gru… © 2002-2020 The Scotts Company LLC. 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