Grub Infestation? Here's How to Get Rid of Grubs for Good

Several things can damage your lawn, from poor maintenance to extreme weather and pests. But one of the most damaging culprits is arguably a grub infestation. These tiny larvae can wreak havoc on your yard, leaving behind a patchy, yellowing landscape where your healthy, green lawn once flourished.

In this guide, Bethel Farms discusses what grubs are, how to identify them, and how to get rid of them for good.

Key Takeaways

• Grubs, the larvae of beetles like Japanese beetles and June bugs, can cause severe damage to your lawn by feeding on grass roots. This leads to weakened grass, yellowing, and susceptibility to drought and other stressors. Adult beetles also contribute to damage by feeding on plant leaves.
• Managing a grub infestation requires a comprehensive approach that combines natural methods, such as introducing nematodes and avoiding excessive moisture, with chemical treatments if necessary. Additionally, dethatching and aerating your lawn can reduce grub populations and improve soil health.
• For extensive grub damage, sod installation is an effective solution, providing instant coverage and improving lawn resilience. Bethel Farms offers high-quality sod grass for sale, ensuring a healthy and lush lawn recovery.

What are Grubs?

Despite their name, grub worms are the larvae of beetles, including Japanese beetles, June bugs, and other scarab beetle species. While a few grubs contribute to the ecosystem by breaking down organic matter and enriching the soil, they become a serious infestation on your lawn in large populations.

How Grubs Can Damage Your Lawn

Grubs feed on the roots and can devour an entire turf as they multiply. Because grass relies on roots to absorb water and nutrients, a grub infestation can leave your lawn too weak to support healthy growth and recovery. It also makes the grass more susceptible to drought, foot traffic, and other environmental stresses.

Unfortunately, the effects don't end there—without healthy roots, the damaged grass is more likely to dry out, leading to a drought-stricken appearance despite regular watering. The stress caused by grubs can also attract other pests, compounding the damage. Even as they mature into adult beetles, they remain destructive, feeding on different plant leaves and further harming your yard.

5 Signs of Grub Infestation

Recognizing the early signs of the presence of grubs in your lawn is key to preventing serious damage. Some signs that your lawn may be hosting these pests include the following:

Yellowing Grass: One of the first signs of grubs feeding on your lawn is when the grass turns yellow. This happens because the roots of your grass cannot effectively absorb water and nutrients.

Brown or Patchy Grass: As the grub populations grow, the damage, such as brown patches or thinning turf, becomes more visible.

Drought-Stricken Look: Even if you water regularly, your lawn may appear dry and wilted because the roots are too damaged to absorb and retain moisture.

Increased Presence of Beetles or Moths: Because grubs are the larvae of beetles, seeing more adult beetles or moths in your yard can suggest an infestation.

Other Pests: Raccoons, skunks, and birds often dig up lawns, searching for grubs to eat. If you see these wild animals frequenting your yard, it may be worth investigating further for grubs.

How to Address Grub Infestation

If you suspect grub activity in your lawn, immediate action is essential to prevent further damage. Effective grub control involves a comprehensive approach that combines natural methods and chemical grub control products. 

Introduce Beneficial Insects: Nematodes are microscopic worms that are natural predators of grubs and can be introduced to your lawn to control their populations. Nematodes enter the grubs' bodies and release bacteria that kill them. This is a safe, eco-friendly way to control grubs that will not harm the environment.

Avoid Excessive Moisture: Grubs prefer moist environments, so proper watering is essential in making your lawn less appealing to them. Water deeply but less often, aiming for about one inch per week. This practice encourages deep root growth and prevents soggy soil conditions that attract grubs.

Dethatch and Aerate: Grubs often hide beneath the thatch layer of your lawn, where they stay moist and feed on grass roots. Dethatching and aerating disrupt their hiding places, reducing their numbers and improving soil health, making it harder for grubs to thrive.

Chemical Treatments: For severe grub problems, you may have to resort to chemical treatments to protect your lawn. These may include preventive grub control using products applied in the early spring, which targets grubs before they become a problem. If you already have an infestation, curative treatments containing trichlorfon or carbaryl can eliminate active grubs.

How to Recover from Grub Damage

Before focusing on repairing the damage, it's essential to get the grub infestation fully under control; otherwise, the new grass will be vulnerable to the same issues that affected your previous lawn. Once the infestation is managed, you can start repairs. In severe cases, sod installation offers an excellent solution, providing immediate coverage and a lush, healthy look.

Dethatch and Remove Damaged Grass: Start repairing grub damage by removing damaged or dead grass. Dethatch the lawn to remove the buildup of debris and improve soil aeration.

Aerate the Soil: Aerating your lawn helps the soil absorb nutrients and water more effectively, encouraging new root growth. This is particularly important after a grub infestation, as the roots require time to recover.

Lay Sod: For large, dead patches of grass, sod installation is an effective way to restore it. Sod provides instant coverage, giving your lawn an immediately lush, green look. It also provides other benefits like flood and erosion control, particularly in sloped areas.

Water and Maintain: After installing sod, water the area thoroughly without flooding to help the new grass establish roots. Continue to water consistently for 10-14 days and avoid heavy foot traffic until the grass has settled in its new environment.

Why Choose Sod Pallets from Bethel Farms

Sod is one of the most effective ways to restore a damaged lawn, providing instant lush, green turf you can enjoy almost immediately while improving your lawn's overall resilience. It's particularly useful for controlling erosion, as the sod serves as a cover that holds the soil in place, preventing further damage.

When it comes to reliable sod solutions, Bethel Farms stands out as a trusted sod farm in Central Florida. We offer sod pallets featuring a variety of warm-season grasses cultivated in a controlled environment to ensure optimal health and resilience. We provide high-quality sod that meets your needs, helping you cultivate a thriving lawn.

Final Thoughts

Grub infestations can devastate your lawn, but with immediate action and the right approach, you can restore it to its best condition. By recognizing the signs early and addressing the infestation, you can eliminate grubs for good. And if your lawn has suffered extensive damage, sod installation offers an effective way to recover and enjoy a lush, healthy landscape for years to come.