Grubs Are Out in Full Force

Grubs Cause Damage

Over the last couple of weeks, I have received several calls about grass coming up with no roots attached, or dying in certain areas. This damage is characteristic of grub worms feeding on the roots of the grass. The damage has been worse than normal this year due to the recent dry spell, during which the grass did not grow new roots to replace the damaged ones. Grubs tend to avoid hard and compacted soils and prefer areas that stay more wet and softer throughout the year, making it easier for them to burrow and move. An infestation of grubs can also bring secondary damage from armadillos that are looking for a meal, and cause further damage to yards in the process.

A Grub's Lifecycle

A majority of our white grubs in Georgia are the larvae form of either green June bugs or Japanese beetles. These beetles lay their eggs in the soil during their active period during the summer, and the grubs feed in the fall and spring predominately. The following summer the grubs pupate into beetles that emerge and complete the life cycle. To monitor for grubs in an area, peel up a small section of sod and look for grubs in the top 2 inches of soil. During very dry spells, the grubs will travel deeper in the soil in search of moisture and can be much harder to detect. Grubs will also burrow deeper as the soil cools off in the fall months and they are typically dormant during the winter months, making scouting and treatment more difficult or ineffective. 

Grub Control

If you have grub damage, but cannot locate them in the top inch or 2 of soil, then a treatment with insecticide is likely to be ineffective in controlling the grubs. The ideal time to control grubs is April through September when the grubs are most active and close to the surface.There are a variety of products labeled for control of grubs, though it is important to note that these products need to reach the top couple inches of soil. This is usually achieved by watering the product in or treating before a rainfall for the product to soak in to the root zone of the grass. We are always here to help at the Banks County Extension office.