how to repair your lawn after grubs

How to Repair Lawn Damage From Grubs

• Step 1. Water all parts of the lawn that have undergone grub damage. Thoroughly water at least 10 minutes.
• Step 2. Remove grass from the lawn that was infected by grubs. Peel grass back and roll it up. Deposit damaged grass in...
• Step 3. Turn over the soil with a rake or spade. Remove any grubs or grub larvae that appear when soil is...

Full Answer

How do you repair the damage caused by grubs?

When grubs appear in your lawn, the damage can be extensive. How you repair the lawn can depend on the extent of the damage. The first step is to kill the grubs.

How do I get rid of grubs in my lawn?

Water all parts of the lawn that have undergone grub damage. Thoroughly water at least 10 minutes. Remove grass from the lawn that was infected by grubs. Peel grass back and roll it up. Deposit damaged grass in garbage bags. Turn over the soil with a rake or spade. Remove any grubs or grub larvae that appear when soil is turned over.

Can I reseed my lawn after Grub damage?

Grub damage to grass roots is a common but fixable problem. Reseeding a lawn after grub damage is necessary whenever you have a grub infestation.

Do you have a grub problem in your yard?

If random sections of your lawn look completely dead even though you water them regularly, your yard may have a grub problem. Grubs, which are actually beetle larvae, feed on grass roots, causing damage or even death to parts of the lawn.

How do I restore my lawn after grubs?

It is best to repair your grub-damaged lawn in the fall or early spring to restore it to its green glory.Remove dead grass with a rake. ... Aerate your lawn. ... Choose a grass seed that matches your current lawn. ... Irrigate the entire lawn to germinate the grass seed and strengthen existing grass.More items...•

Do I need to reseed after grub damage?

Reseeding a lawn after grub damage is necessary whenever you have a grub infestation. Caused by the larval form of various species of beetles hatching underground and eating grass roots, Tomlinson Bomberger explains that the infestation can be identified by patches of dead or dying grass in an otherwise healthy lawn.

Will grass damaged by grubs come back?

Seed Areas as Needed If you have areas of dead turf, you'll need to re-seed them. Some areas will need to be scraped clean, soil added, and seeded. However, some areas may just warrant slice-seeding to repair them. Either way, they aren't coming back on their own.

How do you heal grub damage?

It's a simple process.Remove the dead grass. Rake the dead patches into a garbage bag or wheelbarrow and dispose of it. ... Loosen the topsoil. ... Add fertilizer. ... Sprinkle the seed over the loosed soil. ... Keep the area watered. ... Once the grass has reached roughly 2 inches, water once daily.Be careful mowing.

Do grubs come back every year?

In November, the grubs tunnel deep in the soil for the Winter. The grubs come back up to the surface in early May and eat a little longer. In early to mid-June, the grubs build an in-ground “cocoon” and transform into beetles that emerge from the soil and start the process over again.

Can I plant new grass if I have grubs?

If the grubs damaged your lawn so badly you had to replace grass; then you may choose to put the grass seed before or after the grub treatment. My advice? Wait for the new grass to grow first. If you only had to repair a few square feet of infested lawn, then you can add a top layer or reseed it.

How long does it take for a lawn to recover from grub damage?

Lightly water the seeded area every day— or more often if the ground feels dry—until the grass is a couple inches tall. This should take two to three weeks.

Is it too late to treat for grubs?

By the time damage is apparent it is much too late for preventive white grub products such as Merit and Grub-X. These must be applied before mid-August. Insecticides must be watered in to be effective.

How long does it take to get rid of grubs?

It can take up to three years for nematodes to establish a colony large enough to eradicate a large population of grubs, but going this route means you won't have to treat your lawn with chemicals.

What does grub damage look like on a lawn?

When your yard is under attack by grubs, grass will thin and turn brown. This leads to visible larger brown patch areas in your yard. It's common to notice these odd-shaped brown patches in late summer or early fall. During this period, grubs amp up their eating, and the damaged and dead grass becomes more visible.

What does your grass look like when you have grubs?

Look For Lawn Grub Damage Grass with damaged roots will begin to thin, yellow, and die. Irregular patches of brown grass will appear in random places in your lawn. Grass will feel very spongy and will pull up very easily. Since the roots are damaged, the turf will often roll up like carpet.

Can you mow after grub treatment?

You should wait to mow for 24 to 48 hours post treatment. This is because it takes at least 24 hours for broadleaf weed control to translocate throughout the vascular system of the plant.

How do grubs damage lawns?

Grubs damage lawns by eating the roots of the grass. When grubs appear in your lawn, the damage can be extensive. How you repair the lawn can depend on the extent of the damage. The first step is to kill the grubs. Once this has been accomplished, use a few basic procedures to repair the lawn and prevent grubs from returning the following season.

How to get rid of grubs in soil?

Turn over the soil with a rake or spade. Remove any grubs or grub larvae that appear when soil is turned over.

How to keep grass seed from getting too dry?

Water the lawn again. Grass seed stays better in soil that is moist.

What insecticide kills grubs?

Ask an expert what insecticide would be appropriate for killing grub in its larvae stages. A product called Mach 2 , for instance, is considered very effective at killing white grub larvae. Apply the insecticide for at least one more year in the spring.

How to keep seeds in place in a lawn?

Place a layer of straw over the lawn to hold seed in place. You can also place an erosion mat over a damaged area. An erosion mat is made of a biodegradable material. The mat allows water and sun to get in while holding the seeds in place.

When is the best time to reseed a lawn?

The best time to re-seed a lawn is during the spring. Instead of seeding the lawn, you can consider laying sod. If grubs keep coming back, consult an expert to find out if a different kind of grass will be more grub resistant.

Can you water grass seed with a hose?

Do not water grass seed with a hose. The stream from the hose can scatter the seed.

How to apply granular fertilizer to lawn?

Use a drop spreader to apply a slow-release granular fertilizer formulated for lawns before a scheduled watering. Follow the package directions for the amount to use to cover your entire lawn. Pour the measured fertilizer into the spreader and push the spreader over your lawn in rows, covering the entire lawn. Follow along the wheel lines the spreader makes to ensure full coverage. Go across the lawn again at a right angle to the first rows.

How to keep your lawn healthy?

Walk the aerator across your lawn like a mower, covering the whole area with at least one pass. Aerating keeps your lawn healthier and allows treatments to absorb better, which prevents the extent of insect damage in the future and gives you quicker growth in damaged areas.

What is the cause of dead grass in the fall?

If you have patches of dead grass that show up in the fall or spring, they are likely caused by grubs. Grub counts from six to 10 or more per square foot can damage and kill grass. Before you repair your lawn, treat any grub infestation using beneficial nematodes ...

How to grow grass from seed?

Cover the seeded areas with a thin layer of straw to protect the seeds from the sun and pests. Irrigate the entire lawn to germinate the grass seed and strengthen existing grass. Keep the soil moist for approximately two weeks until the seed grows.

How to reseed lawn after grub damage?

If reseeding a lawn after grub damage, an even 1/2-inch layer of topsoil on the cleared areas will help the grass seed find purchase. Moisten the topsoil before and after applying the new seed or moisten and apply seeds shortly before rainfall. Cover the seeded areas with a layer of hay to shield them from the sun and prevent drying out.

When to inspect lawn for grubs?

Inspecting your lawn in the spring and catching a grub infestation early is the best way to avoid extensive damage to your lawn and to prevent a later infestation of fully grown beetles. Regardless of when you discover the problem, you can quickly address it in a variety of ways and at a variety of price points.

What insecticides kill grubs?

MSN explains that there are two basic types of insecticides that target grubs: granule and spray. Granule grub killer is best applied while the lawn is dry but if heavy rainfall or watering is expected within the next few days. Spray grub killer is best applied while the lawn is already wet and further rain or watering is expected shortly.

How many grubs per square foot?

If replacing with new sod, check for grubs in the new sod to avoid reinfesting your lawn. The same metric of five or more grubs per square foot indicates an infestation, while fewer than five grubs is generally acceptable. Cut deep enough into the existing lawn so that the new sod lays even with the existing sod. Water the new sod several times a day until signs of growth indicate that the patch has taken.

Is a spray insecticide better than a granule?

It is important to consider your climate, the season, the plants in the area of application and the urgency when selecting the best grub killer for your unique situation. If you are in the middle of a rainy season, for example, a spray insecticide would be a better choice than a granule insecticide.

Is it safe to use natural pesticides on lawns?

As explained by Good Nature Organic Lawn Care, natural remedies, like beneficial nematodes, are safer to use. However, they do not take effect as quickly nor can they address intense infestations like the chemical treatments can do. While natural pesticides are often marketed as healthier, they can be just as dangerous as synthetics if not handled appropriately, explains Pest Control FAQ. Consider your situation, your needs and what pesticides you have available to you.

Can grubs eat grass roots?

Grub damage to grass roots is a common but fixable problem. Reseeding a lawn after grub damage is necessary whenever you have a grub infestation. Caused by the larval form of various species of beetles hatching underground and eating grass roots, Tomlinson Bomberger explains that the infestation can be identified by patches ...

What to do if you have grubs in your yard?

Of course there are many things you can do once grubs have infested your lawn. However, it's important to prevent the damage before it occurs, then tackle the grub infestation with as little harm to your yard as possible.

What to do if you get a grub infestation?

If you get a grub infestation, there are a few treatments to get rid of these pests. If they attack in the spring, it's a good idea to wait until summer to treat the next cycle. Beneficial nematodes are what we'd recommend for a grub problem.

What does grub damage look like?

Grubs focus their feeding around the roots of your grass. If you begin to find that your grass is drying up and dying in patches, as if it's been burned, you have grubs. You may also begin to find animals and birds come around more often in order to root around in your lawn. This is because they're hunting for the pesky insects to complete their meal.

What is the best way to treat a grub infestation?

Sometimes this means starting over from scratch following a grub infestation. In cases like this, reseeding is the best treatment to add to your lawn care services once damage has occurred. It's a simple process.

How to get rid of dead grass?

Remove the dead grass. Rake the dead patches into a garbage bag or wheelbarrow and dispose of it. If you have a compost pile, you can add this without fearing disease. These bits of dead organic matter are not infected with disease; they're just no longer alive.

How to get roots to grow in a garden?

Add fertilizer . The best kind to use is high-phosphorus fertilizer, such as bone meal, as it will encourage deep, healthy roots. Just rake it into the soil that has been loosened.

When to apply grub control on lawn?

You can’t prevent nature from doing its thing. However, if you think ahead, you can apply a preventive grub control application on your lawn in late spring or early summer, and say goodbye to your grub woes.

How to tell if a grub is in your lawn?

Grub damage is easy to diagnose. Just simply tug on areas of your turf and look underneath. Since grubs feed on root systems, the grass will pull up like a piece of new sod and the grubs won’t be hard to find. The more grubs you find in a square foot, the worse your problem is. Even if grass is still green, you could still have grub damage, so start hunting and inspecting areas of your lawn. Some years with ample rainfall and mild temperatures will keep the grass growing as grubs are feeding. But make no mistake, it’s time for you to do something about these devastating lawn pests.

What should you look for with grubs?

There are a few telltale signs to look for. Most times, lawn areas start to lose color compared to others. Sometimes there are holes dug in the lawn as birds, skunks, and other animals dig to get their “grub” on. In a year when there is drought, some areas just simply won’t green back up, leaving property owners suspicious about what is going on.

What to do about grubs?

No matter what your lawn looks like, if you are finding lots of grub activity you’ll want to apply a corrective grub control application. This is not the same material used earlier in the year for prevention. This granular material is a quick-control material with little to no residual activity. You will need to water it in thoroughly. Remember, those grubs are down a couple inches below the grass, so you’ll want to dissolve the granular material and get it down there to work. Water it in as soon as possible. Some materials start to lose their effectiveness if not watered in within 24-48 hours.

What is preventive grub control?

Preventive grub control is an application almost every lawn care program should include, or have added to it. Make sure you’re covered each year so grubs don’t destroy your lawn again.

What is grub damage?

Category: Lawn Care. Grub damage on lawns is one of the easiest types of lawn stresses to diagnose. Late in summer or early fall, property owners often suspect there is a problem with an area of their lawn. Here is more information on what to do when grubs kill your lawn.

How long does it take for grubs to get down?

Water it in as soon as possible. Some materials start to lose their effectiveness if not watered in within 24-48 hours.

How to control grubs in lawn?

The key to controlling grubs is to kill them before they hatch and begin to cause damage to your lawn. In spring or early summer, apply a preventative grub control product, such as Scotts® GrubEx® 1 to your lawn, following label directions. This is especially important if you’ve had problems with grubs in the past. One application of Scotts® GrubEx® 1 can kill and prevent grubs for up to 4 months.

When do grubs come back to the lawn?

When the soil warms up again in the spring, the large, mature grubs move back into the upper soil levels, where they transform into adult beetles that emerge in early summer and start the whole process over again. The key to controlling grubs is to kill them before they hatch and begin to cause damage to your lawn.

Why does my lawn feel spongy?

because grubs eat the roots holding the turf firmly in place on the soil. • Before the dead patches even appear, your lawn feels spongy when stepped on, as it it were 
. freshly laid sod. To check if you have a grub problem, peel back a square foot of green turf in each of several areas of your lawn.

When to apply Scotts grubex?

• Applying a preventative grub control product in the spring or early summer will provide much better grub control than waiting until after the damage has occurred.#N#• Use a spreader to apply Scotts® GrubEx® 1. Be sure to follow application directions.#N#• To activate the product, water immediately after applying.#N#• A drought-stressed, underfed lawn will show grub damage faster, and with fewer grubs per 
square foot, than a properly-fed, well-maintained lawn.#N#• A properly maintained lawn can tolerate more grubs per square foot than a stressed lawn.#N#• Repair dead patches caused by grubs with Scotts® EZ Seed®.

What is a grub in the lawn?

Grubs are the larvae of Japanese beetles, June beetles, chafers, and others. These white, C-shaped grubs feast on organic matter in the soil, including grass roots.

When do grubs hatch in the lawn?

Beetles, like Japanese and chafer beetles, emerge in early summer, feed on plants in the garden, and lay their eggs in the soil in the lawn. Later in the summer, the grubs hatch and immediately begin to feed.

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How to control grubs in grass?

However, the most common way to control the infestation is to use a commercial solution. These commercial products contain various chemicals which help kill off the grubs.

What happens if GRUBs are gone?

Grass needs the nutrients that the grubs provide in order to grow. If the grubs are gone, the lawn is starved for these nutrients. The grass can recover from grubs, but the grass needs to be planted in a soil conditioner.

Why is my lawn brown?

Grubs can cause the turf to have brown spots and patches of dead grass. This problem can occur on a lawn all year long. Grubs will start to feed on the ground after the grass is dead, which allows them to feed on the nutrients in the grass. The best time to weed out dead grass is winter.

How to grow grass back after a freeze?

In order for grass to be able to grow back after a winter freeze, it must have sufficient nutrients. Grubs will not consume this, so it is essential for plants to receive enough nutrients to survive. If a plant is not receiving enough nitrogen and phosphorous, it will die.

Why doesn't my grass grow back after a freeze?

One of the biggest reasons that grass does not grow back after a winter freeze is because of the cold temperatures. The grass has to get all of its nutrients, and especially the minerals, from the soil. Without them, the grass will die. Soil that is too dry can not provide the right amount of nutrients, while wet soil can only provide less ...

How long does it take for grass to recover from a freeze?

In the end, it will probably take more than three to four years for grass to fully recover from a winter freeze. However, if you are trying to save money by planting grass ...

What to do if you have problems with your lawn?

If you are having problems with your lawn, consult your local lawn care professional before making any drastic changes to your lawn.