Controlling White Grubs

White grubs are one of America’s most notorious lawn pests. Primarily found in areas east of the Rocky Mountains and particularly troublesome in the northeastern U.S., these tiny pests can cause severe damage and even ruin an entire lawn. In fact, damage has become such a concern, consumers now spend more than $100 million annually to control white grubs in the U.S. The key however, is early prevention and early Spring is a prime time to begin preparing your plan of defense.

White grubs live in the top few inches of soil and feed on the roots of lawn grasses. White grubs are typically .5" to 1.5" long, milky white with a brown head and almost always are curled into a "C"-shape.

White grubs are the larva or "juvenile" stage of various breeds of scarab beetles including Japanese beetles, chafers, June beetles and May beetles. These "adult" grubs can also cause damage to roses, trees and other plants around your yard.

The White Grub Test

To determine if white grubs are a problem in your lawn, use a spade to dig-up several 12"x12" patches of turf, approximately four inches deep, from different areas in your lawn. Examine the turf closely. If you see more than five white grubs in a section, it’s time to take action.

There also are some simple but effective ways to identify white grubs without digging in your lawn. Look for the following symptoms:

• A general thinning and weakening of the lawn
• A wilted or dried-out look to your grass, even when soil is moist
• Large, brown, irregular patches of grass
• Large patches of dead turf that can easily be pulled up in one piece, much like a piece of carpet
• Moles, birds or raccoons digging in your grass; these animals love to feed on grubs, so frequent visits could be a sign of white grubs.

White grub damage is usually most severe in late summer, but problems can begin as early as mid to late spring. Since white grubs are easiest to control when they are young, long-term prevention and control is best achieved by taking action in spring, usually in May.

Tips for Controlling Grubs

• Be sure your lawn is healthy and strong by watering, mowing and fertilizing regularly during the spring and summer.
• If your lawn has a thick layer of thatch (spongy layer of grass stems and debris between foliage and soil), aerate or dethatch.
• For the best protection against white grubs all season long, use Bayer Advanced™ Season-Long Grub Control Granules with Merit®.

Bayer Advanced™ is now the only national brand of grub control to include Merit®, the most effective active ingredient for treating white grubs. Merit® also provides additional benefits including:

• A broader spectrum of white grub control
• A wide window of application (May to August)
• Added suppression of surface feeders and chinch bugs

Click here for a list of available Bayer Advanced™ grub control products.

Products Mentioned In This Article

Season-Long Grub Control Granules