Grub Prevention & Control Services in Maryland and Northern Virginia
Last updated: 6/24/2021
Estimated read time: 4 minutes
If your lawn is beginning to turn brown, and rodents and birds are digging at your lawn, you may have a grub infestation. You’ll begin to notice white grub damage starting in late summer and is more noticeable when there has been heavy rainfall or in an overwatered lawn.
What are Grubs?
Grubs are the larvae of Japanese beetles, June beetles, chafers, and others. These white, “C” shaped insects feed on the roots of your turf and can quickly devastate even the healthiest of lawns.
When are Grubs Most Common?
Grubs typically emerge in early summer, feed, and lay their eggs in the soil. In late summer, the grubs hatch and immediately start to feed and will continue to eat and grow until mid-fall. They then move deeper in the soil so they can survive through the winter. Once spring comes around, the mature grubs move back into the upper soil levels, where they transform into adult beetles that emerge in early summer.
Signs of Grub Infestation
How do you know if you have grubs? There are key signs to look out for that indicate you may have grubs in your lawn:
- Rodents and birds are digging up your yard…animals love to feast on these little guys.
- You can pull back the dead patches on your lawn like pieces of loose carpet. Grubs eat the roots from the grass, which is what keeps the turf firmly in place.
- A lawn that feels spongy when stepped on.
White grubs are not only eating the accumulated thatch, but also the roots and crowns of the grass plant. When these grub populations explode is when you will begin to see visible damage to your lawn.
The Best Way to Get Rid of Grubs
Our preemptive grub control application is the best way to prevent and eliminate white grubs before they cause extensive damage. All of our lawn care programs include grub control. You can also aerate your lawn to help dethatch your lawn, which will help to prevent an infestation the following summer. We begin offering aeration and seeding service in September. You can reserve your spot here.
When to Apply Grub Control in Maryland
When applying grub control in Maryland, it’s important to know what kind of grub control you’re using. There are a variety of different types, but the most common fall into one of two different categories: preventative and curative treatments. Preventative treatments aim to prevent a grub problem, and curative treatments get rid of already existing infestations.
When to Apply Preventative Treatments
Grubs start feeding and are most active in the months of August through October. If you’re applying preventative treatments, the best time to do it is before this happens. June and July are the best months to apply preventative grub treatments. This will get ahead of the infestation and solve the problem before it occurs.
When to Apply Curative Treatments
If you’ve already noticed grub activity in your lawn, it’s too late to apply preventative treatments. The treatments you need fall into the curative category. The best time to apply curative grub treatments is during the months of August through October. This is when they are most likely to be feeding and the most active in your yard. While it’s best to prevent an infestation from happening, these curative treatments are great for getting rid of existing grubs.
Will Grubs Go Away on their Own?
Typically, no, grubs will not go away naturally or on their own. While there are some DIY treatments in order to prevent killing your garden, it can up to three years to completely eliminate a grub problem. Three years is much too long and will only cause more permanent damage, which is why we recommend getting a professional to treat your infestation as soon as you notice the signs.
Types of Grubs
There are many different types of grubs, but the most common grubs in Maryland include the European Chafer and the Japanese Beetle grub. Knowing how to identify these grubs will help you understand their behavior and how to treat them.
European Chafer Grub
Chafer grubs are the larvae of Chafer beetles and are typically harmless to your lawn unless a heavy infestation occurs. If there are too many, your lawn can become damaged. Chafer grubs are small and have white-colored bodies. They also have brown or orange-colored heads and three pairs of legs. When you see them, they’ll most likely be curled up in a “C” shape in the grass.
Japanese Beetle Grub
Japanese beetle grubs are the larvae of the Japanese Beetle and look very similar to the European Chafer. They are white and creamy colored on their bodies and have tan heads. The only way to distinguish them from other grubs is to look closely at the pattern of hairs on the underside of the tip of their abdomen. These grubs do damage to your yard by chewing the roots which cause the grass to die and turn brown.
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