Grubs are the larvae of Japanese beetles that feed on the roots of grass. They hide under the surface of your lawn and usually go unnoticed until the tell-tale unsightly brown spots appear. Unlike other lawn diseases, grub damage will cause the sod to lift in sheets. The key to getting rid of grubs is to manage the problem before it arises.

Factors Contributing to the Appearance of Grubs
The major factors that encourage damaging numbers of grubs are soil moisture and rainfall. Grubs increase in years with normal or above-normal rainfall. Well-maintained turf next to ornamental plants favored by the adults, such as lawns adjacent to rose bushes, tend to be attacked. Try to keep from over-watering and maintain good drainage of lawns by keeping areas mowed and removing any thatch that forms. Aeration can be easily achieved with something as simple as a pitchfork. The type of grass might also be a factor; fine and tall fescues aren't as severely attacked as Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass.

Water Management
Practically all white grub species require moist soil for their eggs to hatch. The young larvae are also very susceptible to desiccation, or drying out without proper moisture. In areas where turf can stand some moisture stress, do not water in July and early August, when white grub eggs and young larvae are present.

Moderate grub infestations can be outgrown if adequate water and fertilizer are applied in August through September and again in May, when the grubs are feeding. This last strategy is not preferred because mammals may dig up the turf to get at the grubs, or irrigation bans may occur due to low water tables or drought.

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