Grub Worms in Your Lawn This Spring?
Now that Spring is near, chances are you’re getting out into your lawn to see what winter has done to it! As you dig around, you may come across some grub worms either in the turf, or in your flower beds. Should you be concerned about them? Should you call your Dayton Area Lawn Service to take care of them?
The answer is “no,” and here’s why…
Grub worms are the larvae of the Japanese beetle or June Bug. These beetles fly around in early summer…, munching on your trees and shrubs, warming themselves on your front porch lights, and getting caught in your pool skimmer. In July & August they begin laying eggs in well irrigated lawns like yours! These eggs develop into larvae called grub worms. They basically look like little shrimp under the turf.
Grubs chew up the roots of the grass plant, causing dead patches that begin to show up in early Fall.
Just before winter, they head deeper into the soil and overwinter until June, when they emerge and the process starts all over. With this in mind, some grubs will grab a quick snack in April and May just before they fly out, but are not going to be enough to cause any noticeable damage to your lawm.
Don’t worry if your neighbor’s lawn was chewed up last year either… Your neighbor’s grubs are in his lawn to stay until June, and even if you had some of your own last year, any early feeding they do this year will not cause noticeable damage.
We wouldn’t want you spreading pesticides in your lawn when they are not needed… just keep your lawn properly fertilized and mowed, and you’ll be all good.
So if your lawn care guy tells you to get a grub treatment in the Spring, go find another!
I would, however, recommend this summer you put down a grub worm preventative product such as Scott’s Grub X, or have your landscape professional do it. Be sure he uses a product that is long lasting in the soil such as Merit. If he tells you he’s using Dylox, then he is not fully protecting your turf. Merit is a proven, long lasting grub worm preventative and is the industry standard.
Japanese beetle populations have been extremely high in the Midwest in the last couple years, so get the treatment… but not until the summer!