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10 Essential Grub Control Facts: Lawn Care Tips for WI and MN Homeowners

5 MINUTE READ

If you’re the squeamish type, we apologize in advance.

But grubs can devastate your lawn, so let’s get to it. There’s no time to waste. 

Meet the Grubs 

They’re gross. We know. 

We’ll get this mandatory yucky part out of the way as quickly as possible.

Grubs are the larvae of Japanese beetles, June beetles, chafers, and other beetles.

Grub 2These white, C-shaped grubs have soft, squishy bodies with legs near their head. They feed on grass roots and organic matter in the soil, causing sections of grass in the lawn to die. 

Not a fan? Neither are we.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. Grubs Cause Devastating Lawn Damage

Grub damage can be devastating to your lawn.

One day you’re looking out at your healthy lawn, maybe planning where to hang the hammock, and two days later it’s wiped out — entire patches will be brown, dry, and wilted. 

You never saw the damage happening. The grubs silently feasted on your lawn’s tender roots, killing the grass.

They essentially eat the roots right out from under the grass. It’s not coming back once you find these little buggers were active for the last few months.

2. Timing is Huge with Grub Control

The key to controlling grubs is to kill them before they hatch and begin to cause damage to your lawn. 

Prevention is your best bet. 

At RainMaster, we apply Grub Guard grub control right away in the spring during our first visit.

Then, you’re all set. Our product lasts throughout the entire growing season.

Not all grub control lasts that long. Some products are weakened by the time a second wave of hungry grubs occurs in the fall.

Grub Guard is like getting insurance. You don’t know for sure you’ll get grubs. But better to keep them away than risk your beautiful lawn.

3. Grub Damage is on the Rise

We’ve seen an increase in grub damage in recent years. 

How can you tell? Look for these telltale signs: 

  • Raccoons, skunks, and birds rummaging in your yard. Apparently, grubs are delicious.
  • Grab a handful of your lawn and tug. If it rolls up like loose carpet, you probably have grubs. They eat the roots holding the turf firmly in place on the soil.
  • Walk on your lawn. If it feels spongy, you could have grubs. 

4. Grubs Never Move Out

Like that cousin who says he needs to crash for a weekend but stays for five months, grubs hang around. 

Japanese beetleThe beetles lay their eggs in your lawn’s soil. Then the grubs hatch and start chowing down.

They eat and grow until fall, then burrow deeper into the soil to wait out the winter.

Then, in spring, when the soil warms up, the mature grubs emerge, and transform into adult beetles that start the process all over again.

You can see the problem — and the need for grub control each year.

5. DIY Grub Control is Iffy 

Do-it-yourself grub control can be successful. But you have to do everything right. 

And, no offense, but despite the best intentions, people often don’t often do everything right. (No judging. You have a lot of other things on your plate.)

What are the chances you buy enough? Think one bag will do it? You might actually need five bags. 

Do you know how many square feet are in your lawn? Is your spreader calibrated accurately? Most aren’t.

And you have to apply it at just the right time.

While you’re juggling a million tasks, chores, and obligations, we focus on lawn care. Feel free to leave it to us. 

Read Our Guide to Lawn Care in Minnesota & Wisconsin

6. The Mole Myth

It’s a common misconception that killing grubs will get rid of your mole problem.

Not exactly.

Mole in lawnYou might see fewer moles, but moles also chow down on insects and worms.

If you have moles, you’ll need mole prevention. 

7. Grub Control: Is Yours Safe for Bees?

When we apply Grub Guard to your lawn, it won’t kill bees like the cheaper products most other companies use. Let’s all do what we can to help the little guys. 

8. Grub Control Cost

Here at RainMaster, our bee-safe Grub Guard is included in the top two tiers of our comprehensive lawn programs, Luscious Lawns and Terrific Turf.

If you have our basic program, Healthy Habitat, you can add grub control for an additional cost.

9. Killing Grubs

If you pass up prevention and end up with a grub infestation, we can treat them at any time of year. 

But if the mere words “grub infestation” cause your skin to crawl, we highly recommend you spring for a complete lawn program that includes grub control and rest easy.

10. Grub-Proof Lawns Don’t Just Happen. Plan Ahead.

Your best bet for grub control: choose a complete, proactive lawn care program that includes Grub Guard to keep the slimy pests away.

lawn technician applying grub controlAt RainMaster, we believe the best lawn care services focus on your lawn’s total health, from grub control to preventing weeds to high-quality fertilizer — care that starts deep below the soil’s surface for a healthy lawn.

Ready to Give Grubs the Boot? Trust RainMaster

You have better things to do than worry about gross grubs gobbling your grass. 

Let’s create a custom nutrition plan for your lawn, so while grub control keeps the sinister slime-balls away, the roots will be nourished, the soil packed with nutrients, and your grass thick and healthy to give weeds a tough fight. 

Are you ready to stop worrying about grubs destroying your lawn in Eau Claire, WI or the Minneapolis area? Request a quote today! We’ll review your options together so you can make a great choice. Then, you can finally enjoy your lawn and stop worrying about it.

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Image sources: grub in soil, grub, japanese beetle      

Topics: Lawn Care, Pest Control

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