Grubs can wreak havoc on beautiful lawns and landscapes across Florida. As they feed on grass roots and organic soil matter, they cause portions of your grass to die. If you’re dealing with a grub problem, or you want to prevent one, read on to learn everything you need to know about these troublesome pests.
What Are Grubs?
The term “grub” is a blanket term that refers to the larval stages of several beetle species, including many that are common in Florida, like European chafers, Japanese beetles, June beetles, and more. Grubs have soft, white bodies and sets of legs near their head, and they curl into a “C” shape when disturbed.
Grubs are dormant in winter and become active when warm weather arrives in early Spring. They can cause major damage to a landscape since they feed on grass roots and other foliage in yards across Florida. Lawn grubs turn into adult beetles, and they lay their eggs near their feeding sites, perpetuating an infestation. That’s why a grub problem, once established, can be so hard to treat.
How can you tell if you’re dealing with a grub problem in your lawn? Keep an eye out for these common signs:
- Spongy grass. Grubs feed on the roots of turfgrass, so your lawn will quickly start turning spongy and yellow in the areas they’re feeding. If you notice spots in your lawn feel soft underfoot, give that area of turf a tug. If the grass lifts up very easily, it’s a good sign that grubs have made your lawn their home. In many cases, you may even see grubs wriggling around in the soil.
- Brown, patchy grass. Before grass becomes completely yellowed and easy to pull up, grub damage can cause it to turn brown and patchy. You’ll notice this issue in random spots across your lawn, especially in late summer or early fall when a grub’s appetite goes into overdrive.
- Hovering moths. Noticing tiny moths hovering over the surface of your lawn or garden beds? It could be a sign of an imminent grub attack. These moths are likely mature grubs searching for a healthy, thriving lawn to lay their eggs. Over the next several days, you may see additional activity on your turf as the eggs hatch and the young grubs begin to feed themselves.
- Presence of other pests. Many pests love to feed on grubs, including skunks, raccoons, and other digging critters. They can even destroy your lawn while searching for grubs, causing damage that can be just as difficult and expensive to treat as the grub problem itself.
How to Keep Grubs Away from Your Lawn
Want to make sure grubs won’t make themselves at home below your turf? There are some natural ways to prevent grub infestations before they start. Follow these simple steps:
- Work with pest control experts. The best way to prevent a grub infestation—or any other lawn pest infestation, for that matter—is by maintaining a relationship with your local pest control professionals. The experts at Evergreen Lawn and Pest Control take an integrated pest management approach to pest control, making your yard inhospitable to grubs and other pests so that it can grow lush and green.
- Aerate the lawn. You can make your lawn much less attractive to grubs by aerating it. This labor-intensive task is best left to the professionals at Evergreen Lawn and Pest control who can aerate the lawn and create a less welcoming environment for pests.
Evergreen Keeps Your Lawn and Landscape Grub-Free
Grubs damage grass at the root level, destroying your lawn from the ground up. Whether you’re dealing with an active grub infestation, or you want to keep one from damaging your beautiful lawn, the experts at Evergreen Lawn and Pest Control – Leesburg are ready to help. Our eco-friendly treatments keep your lawn grub-free for good. Call us today at (407) 880-6655 for your free consultation!