Grubs are one of the most common causes of lawn damage in central Illinois, and one of the most preventable. The problem is that most homeowners do not find out they have them until the grass is already dead.
Here is what you need to know.
What Grubs Are and What They Do
Grubs are the larvae of beetles, most commonly Japanese beetles and June bugs. Adult beetles lay their eggs in lawn areas during early summer, and those eggs hatch into small white larvae that feed on grass roots just beneath the soil surface.
The damage is not always visible right away. Your lawn can look completely normal in June and show significant browning by late July or August. By that point, the root system has already been destroyed.
How to Tell If You Have a Problem
There are a few signs to watch for. Patches of grass that look drought stressed but do not respond to watering are a common indicator. If you can pull up sections of turf like a loose rug, the roots underneath have likely been eaten away. Increased activity from birds, moles, or skunks digging in the lawn is another sign. Animals are good at finding grubs, and if something keeps tearing up your yard, it is usually following a food source.
Why Timing Matters
Preventative grub treatments are most effective when applied before eggs hatch, which in central Illinois typically means late spring through early summer. Once grubs are larger and deeper in the soil, treatment becomes more difficult and the results are less predictable.
Waiting until you see visible damage means the turf has already lost its root system. Recovery at that point takes much longer and often requires overseeding or sod.
Green View's Approach
Green View applies preventative grub control as part of our summer lawn care program across central Illinois. The timing of that application matters, and we track soil conditions and beetle activity throughout the season to make sure treatments go down when they will do the most good.
If you are already seeing signs of damage, we can assess the situation and recommend the best path forward for your lawn.
Not sure whether grubs are an issue on your property? We are happy to take a look.
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