White grubs live in the top few inches of soil and feed on the roots of lawn grasses. White grubs are typically 1/2" to 1-1/2" 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.

There also are some simple but effective ways to identify white grubs. 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. You’ll find the C-shaped grubs underneath.
• 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. To control grubs now, apply Bayer Advanced™ 24-Hour Grub Killer Plus Granules this month. One application will kill grubs within 24 hours.

Here's what needs to be done in the garden this month.

CARE FOR ROSES. Remove spent flowers to promote more blooms. Feed and protect from insects with Bayer Advanced™ All-In-One Rose & Flower Care Concentrate to ensure beautiful blooms this fall.

WATER DEEPLY. Where rain has been lacking, plants may be suffering from the long, hot summer. Water deeply to wet the entire root system.

REPLENISH MULCHES. To cool the soil and conserve water, apply a fresh layer of organic mulch around landscape plants, flowers and vegetables.

PLANT FALL FLOWERS. Plant cool-season annuals like pansies, violas, calendula, snapdragons, sweet peas and primroses. They'll get a good start in this month's warm weather, then bloom long into fall (year-round in mild winter climates).

PLANT FALL VEGETABLES. Much of the country can plant cool-season vegetables like broccoli, lettuce, cauliflower, spinach, chard and carrots for fall harvest.

WATCH FOR INSECTS, INDOORS AND OUT. Mosquitoes, Japanese beetles, ants, scale, spiders and borers are just a few of many insects that can cause problems this month.

CHECK IRRIGATION SYSTEMS. Watch your systems run. Fix clogs, broken or misdirected sprinklers and emitters. Left without repair, you could lose plants during hot weather.

PICK VEGETABLES. Summer vegetable gardens should be at peak production. Keep picking (every other day if needed) so that beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and the rest remain productive. If necessary, share the bounty with neighbors.

REPOT. Ease watering chores and give container plants extra root space by transplanting into larger pots.

ENJOY. Summer won't be around much longer, so enjoy the garden while you can.

For more information and great garden tips for your specific region this month, visit the Home and Garden What To Do Now.

It's the heart of lawn-mowing season and a good time to check your mower and mowing practices to make sure you're getting the best cut. Proper mowing not only keeps your lawn looking its best, it also keeps it healthier with fewer weeds. Here are some summer mowing tips:

MOW HIGH. Mowing at the upper end of the recommended mowing height for your grass type encourages deeper roots and better heat and drought tolerance since the grass helps shade the soil to reduce evaporation and maximize soil moisture content. This is a critical area which can help reduce the need for more frequent watering. Set your mower at 1-1/2 inches high for common Bermuda; 1-inch high for hybrid Bermuda; 3 inches high for tall fescue; 2-1/2 inches for Kentucky bluegrass; and 2-1/2 to 3 inches for St. Augustine.

MOW OFTEN. Mow when the lawn reaches about 1/3 higher than the recommended mowing height. For example, mow tall fescue when it reaches about 4 inches high.

KEEP BLADES SHARP AND MAINTAIN MOWER. Sharp blades give you a cleaner cut. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for sharpening blades and other mower maintenance. Or, if you have a rotary mower, simply replace the blade with a new one.

ALTERNATE MOWING DIRECTIONS. This will help prevent ruts from developing.

MOW GRASS ONLY WHEN IT'S DRY. Mowing grass when it's wet usually produces a very uneven cut. The wet grass clippings can also clump leaving a mess on the lawn and underneath your mower.

SAFETY FIRST. Keep yourself and your children safe. Review and follow manufacturer's safety instructions.

If weeds still persist in your lawn this summer use Bayer Advanced™ All-In-One Weed Killer for Lawns Concentrate to help control them. It won't harm your lawn, but still kills annoying broadleaf as well as grassy weeds such as crabgrass.