To manage such a problem effectively, we’ll be considering the common signs of grubs in lawns.
While keeping or maintaining a lush green lawn, it’s also important to know that such areas are easy targets for pests such as the white grub. These pests feed on the roots of grass and are hardly visible until certain symptoms or signs begin to manifest.
Unfortunately, it’s only after these signs begin to show before you’re able to respond with appropriate control measures. By this time, parts of your lawn are ruined and will need to be nursed back to their original look.
If you know what to look out for, you’ll easily spot or identify a grub infestation. However, for those with limited understanding, this article comes in handy and shows you just what and where to look.
Are you ready? Let’s begin;
What Are Grubs?
Does this sound too obvious? If it does, not all readers do know about grubs. Some may require a memory refresh! Grubs are basically immature beetles which hatch from eggs laid in the soil. White grubs possess a voracious appetite and gorge or feed on organic matter as well as plant roots.
Grubs are mostly white and C-shaped and will stay out of sight by burrowing under the soil to get access to grassroots. Now, signs of their feeding activity on roots begin to show as such grasses are damaged. Grubs eventually mature into beetles and leave your lawn.
However, these matured beetles return to continue the breeding cycle; that is, they lay new eggs which then hatch into grubs.
Grubs Aren’t the Only Culprits
Before we begin listing the signs of grub presence in your lawn, it’s necessary to also mention that grubs could either be the sole culprits for damage signs or could be part of the problem.
In other words, other lawn pests may also be responsible and maybe present alongside grubs.
Examples of other lawn pests include cutworms, armyworms, sod webworms, and chinch bugs. These will equally cause damage like bugs and may show the same symptoms. Having identified the tell-tale signs, it’s necessary to further probe for clear identification.
More on this will be covered after providing the signs of grub presence on a lawn. This takes us to our next point; the common signs of grubs in the lawn.
Common Signs of Grubs On A Lawn
With grubs present in your lawn and feeding on the roots of lawn grass, there are bound to be tell-tale signs of their presence and feeding activity. However, it requires frequently inspecting your lawns each morning.
Doing this helps you quickly detect any changes in coloration among other things. The following are common signs to look out for;
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Your Lawn Becomes Attractive to Critters
Apart from the damage caused by grubs, their presence is also inviting to other predators such as moles, raccoons, skunks, and armadillos among others. This worsens your situation as such critters come around to dig up your lawn, thus further ruining it.
Your best bet is to identity grub presence as early as possible. If you’re too late to do this and find critters coming around and digging up your lawn, consider taking appropriate action by calling for effective pest management.
This approach is comprehensive and looks at the source of critter attraction. Grubs are focused on and eliminated to make your lawn less attractive to these critters.
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Seeing a Grub
Actually, this is one of the best ways of spotting grub presence. Remember we said grubs burrow under your lawn soil to feed right? Well, on rare occasions, these beetle larvae may be spotted at the surface.
When you find one, consider further investigations or probing by digging up a few spots around your lawn. The aim is to inspect if there are more than 5 grubs per square foot. Shouldn’t all grub presence be met immediately by extermination or application of bug control?
Grub presence in your lawn can be tolerable when they do not exceed a certain number (less than 5 per square foot). They carry out important functions such as soil aeration and also help breakdown organic matter while also feeding on roots.
However, when their population shoots up, the effects are visible as your lawn begins to show signs of stress such as those being discussed. Only when grub numbers are above the minimum should you act fast to save your lawn.
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Flying Moths Around your Lawn or Garden
Remember what we said about beetles perpetuating the reproductive cycle by laying eggs that hatch into grubs?
Well, when you begin to notice beetles flying around your lawn, garden, or yard, you should know that it’s about going down!
Such moths are looking for healthy lawns to lay their eggs. Lush-green lawns are seen as sufficient food sources that ensure the survival of grubs. You’ll need to act fast during this stage to ensure that a grub infestation doesn’t break out.
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Dead Patches on Lawn
One of the most common and easily observable signs of grub presence and activity is dead patches on lawns.
Such situations worsen and become more visible in late summer or early fall. This ruins the look of your lawn and is due to the increased appetite for maturing bugs.
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Spongy Spots
Is your lawn suddenly giving way beneath or feeling spongy? This could be due to grub activity.
As grubs feed on lawn roots, your lawn begins to feel spongy and gives underfoot when walked on. This loosens the soil’s density earlier supplied and supported by roots.
Inspection For Lawn Grubs
Most of the signs of grub presence mentioned above are visual and only assessed based on the look of things or what you notice. However, you’ll need to further clarify things by inspecting if there are indeed grubs in your lawn.
To do this, you’ll need to take the following measures; August and September are the best times of the year to inspect and treat for grubs simply because these pests are closer to the soil surface and most active during this time.
Get a spade and cut about a square foot of the lawn section. The cut should be at least 2 to 4 inches deep. Next, pull back the cut area to reveal the soil beneath. This is the time for careful inspection. Inspect for white grubs.
There shouldn’t be more than 5 per square foot. If there are, you’ll need to commence treatment. Replace the cut area of the soil and apply water to prevent it from dying off.
This article provides you with the critical signs of grub presence in your lawn. Now that you know, it’s left for you to take urgent actions to fix an existing problem.