Diagnosing and Treating Grub Damage in Loose Lawns

Introduction

Turf that lifts like a blanket with no root attachment is a classic sign of grub infestation.

Dig into the soil at the edge of damaged areas. Look for C-shaped white larvae (grubs).

Chemical: Grub insecticides from garden centers; follow label.
Organic: Beneficial nematodes (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora) or Milky Spore (Bacillus popilliae) for Japanese beetle grubs.

Reseed or resod after treatment. Keep soil moist until new grass establishes.

Grubs destroy roots, causing loose turf. Prompt treatment and reseeding restore the lawn.

Lawns: Pricing a 17,500 Sq Ft Sod Job: Don't Guess—Calculate; Acorns on the Lawn: Harmless Nuisance or Real Problem?; Grub Damage in Late Summer: Identification and Next Steps; Controlling Moss in Shady Lawns: The Limestone Solution; Growing Grass in a Small, Heavily Shaded Yard; Fixing a Mixed Bermuda and Kentucky Bluegrass Lawn; Moon-Like Craters in Lawn Near Water May Indicate Tidal Influence; Visible Runners on Lawn: Causes and Renovation; January Lawn Care in Corona, CA: Fertilizer and Mowing Timing; Managing Clover in Your Lawn: Effective Control Strategies

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