Treatment FAQ

how long before reseeding after grubs treatment

by Dr. Lazaro Purdy Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

After applying GrubEx to your lawn, you do not have to wait to apply a straight fertilizer. However, you must wait at least one week to apply a combination weed-and-feed control product after applying GrubEx, and two weeks is preferred. Eradicate the Pests Use GrubEx only once a year, in the spring through early summer, before insect eggs hatch.

GrubEX is a product with long-term benefits. However, it needs time to become effective and should be reapplied each year for best results. GrubEX, on average, takes 60 to 90 days to become fully effective. With regular and deep watering, including rainfall, this period will be closer to the lower end of the estimate.

Full Answer

Should I reseed my lawn after a grub infestation?

The main goal of your lawn care efforts should be to bring life into a yard. Sometimes this means starting over from scratch following a grub infestation. In cases like this, reseeding is the best treatment to add to your lawn care services once damage has occurred. It's a simple process.

How long after applying grubex can I apply weed and feed?

However, you must wait at least one week to apply a combination weed-and-feed control product after applying GrubEx, and two weeks is preferred. Use GrubEx only once a year, in the spring through early summer, before insect eggs hatch.

When is the best time of year to get rid of grubs?

If you notice an uptick in grubs on years that you don’t apply grub control, it’s probably a good idea to add it as a regular part of your yearly routine. While early summer is the ideal time to apply grub control, what happens if you miss your window or if you want to get an early head start on things?

How long does it take for Grub control to work?

Most grub control products will work for about four months, so if you’re applying it before that, you won’t see the results you’re looking for. Also, keep in mind that grubs don’t just lay their eggs for a week or two.

image

How soon after treating for grubs can you plant grass seed?

Before you can seed, you should wait until the grubs pupate into beetles and fly out of the ground. That will be when soil temps get consistently around 70 degrees.

Do I need to reseed after grub damage?

Reseeding a lawn after grub damage is necessary whenever you have a grub infestation. Caused by the larval form of various species of beetles hatching underground and eating grass roots, Tomlinson Bomberger explains that the infestation can be identified by patches of dead or dying grass in an otherwise healthy lawn.

Can you over seed after grub control?

Can I put grub-killer and grass seed down at the same time? If not, which one should I do first? A: There's nothing in grub-killers or grub-preventers that'll hinder grass seed. So yes, you can do both at the same time.

Will grub Control hurt new grass seed?

Grub treatments are targeted at infestation. They do not damage grass seeds.

How do I get my lawn back after grubs?

It is best to repair your grub-damaged lawn in the fall or early spring to restore it to its green glory.Remove dead grass with a rake. ... Aerate your lawn. ... Choose a grass seed that matches your current lawn. ... Irrigate the entire lawn to germinate the grass seed and strengthen existing grass.More items...•

Do grubs come back every year?

In November, the grubs tunnel deep in the soil for the Winter. The grubs come back up to the surface in early May and eat a little longer. In early to mid-June, the grubs build an in-ground “cocoon” and transform into beetles that emerge from the soil and start the process over again.

Can I apply insecticide and grass seed at the same time?

If a pesticide or chemical bug killer is applied to eliminate the pests, do not reseed immediately afterward. Keep pesticide applications and reseeding separated by a few months, too. If the grass is seeded in the fall, wait until the following spring to treat the lawn with bug killer.

How quickly does GrubEx work?

GrubEx begins working 60 to 90 days after being applied to the soil. Unlike Merit, which works almost immediately, it's important to distribute GrubEx from mid-April to early June. Doing so after this reduces the chance GrubEx controls grubs in your lawn. Disclaimer: GrubEx will not kill every grub.

Does insecticide hurt grass seed?

In general, most insecticides will not harm new grass, given that their chemistry is designed to target insects and not plants (herbicides would be another matter).

Can I use GrubEx on new lawn?

Using lime and grub killer on your lawn allows you to control your pest population while providing a balanced soil pH for strong grass roots. But applying these chemicals to a newly planted lawn may harm the growing seedlings unless you time the application correctly.

What does your grass look like when you have grubs?

When your yard is under attack by grubs, grass will thin and turn brown. This leads to visible larger brown patch areas in your yard. It's common to notice these odd-shaped brown patches in late summer or early fall. During this period, grubs amp up their eating, and the damaged and dead grass becomes more visible.

How many times can you use GrubEx?

The grubs are highly destructive to lawns. They feed on the roots of the grass in summer, resulting in dead patches of turf. Grub killers may be applied up to three times per year, depending on the pesticide and the manufacturer's instructions.

How to reseed lawn after grub damage?

If reseeding a lawn after grub damage, an even 1/2-inch layer of topsoil on the cleared areas will help the grass seed find purchase. Moisten the topsoil before and after applying the new seed or moisten and apply seeds shortly before rainfall. Cover the seeded areas with a layer of hay to shield them from the sun and prevent drying out.

What insecticides kill grubs?

MSN explains that there are two basic types of insecticides that target grubs: granule and spray. Granule grub killer is best applied while the lawn is dry but if heavy rainfall or watering is expected within the next few days. Spray grub killer is best applied while the lawn is already wet and further rain or watering is expected shortly.

How many grubs per square foot?

If replacing with new sod, check for grubs in the new sod to avoid reinfesting your lawn. The same metric of five or more grubs per square foot indicates an infestation, while fewer than five grubs is generally acceptable. Cut deep enough into the existing lawn so that the new sod lays even with the existing sod. Water the new sod several times a day until signs of growth indicate that the patch has taken.

When to inspect lawn for grubs?

Inspecting your lawn in the spring and catching a grub infestation early is the best way to avoid extensive damage to your lawn and to prevent a later infestation of fully grown beetles. Regardless of when you discover the problem, you can quickly address it in a variety of ways and at a variety of price points.

Can grubs eat grass roots?

Grub damage to grass roots is a common but fixable problem. Reseeding a lawn after grub damage is necessary whenever you have a grub infestation. Caused by the larval form of various species of beetles hatching underground and eating grass roots, Tomlinson Bomberger explains that the infestation can be identified by patches ...

Is a spray insecticide better than a granule?

It is important to consider your climate, the season, the plants in the area of application and the urgency when selecting the best grub killer for your unique situation. If you are in the middle of a rainy season, for example, a spray insecticide would be a better choice than a granule insecticide.

Is it safe to use natural pesticides on lawns?

As explained by Good Nature Organic Lawn Care, natural remedies, like beneficial nematodes, are safer to use. However, they do not take effect as quickly nor can they address intense infestations like the chemical treatments can do. While natural pesticides are often marketed as healthier, they can be just as dangerous as synthetics if not handled appropriately, explains Pest Control FAQ. Consider your situation, your needs and what pesticides you have available to you.

What does grub damage look like?

Grubs focus their feeding around the roots of your grass. If you begin to find that your grass is drying up and dying in patches, as if it's been burned, you have grubs. You may also begin to find animals and birds come around more often in order to root around in your lawn. This is because they're hunting for the pesky insects to complete their meal.

What is the best way to treat a grub infestation?

Sometimes this means starting over from scratch following a grub infestation. In cases like this, reseeding is the best treatment to add to your lawn care services once damage has occurred. It's a simple process.

What to do if you have grubs in your yard?

Of course there are many things you can do once grubs have infested your lawn. However, it's important to prevent the damage before it occurs, then tackle the grub infestation with as little harm to your yard as possible.

What to do if you get a grub infestation?

If you get a grub infestation, there are a few treatments to get rid of these pests. If they attack in the spring, it's a good idea to wait until summer to treat the next cycle. Beneficial nematodes are what we'd recommend for a grub problem.

How to get rid of dead grass?

Remove the dead grass. Rake the dead patches into a garbage bag or wheelbarrow and dispose of it. If you have a compost pile, you can add this without fearing disease. These bits of dead organic matter are not infected with disease; they're just no longer alive.

How to get roots to grow in a garden?

Add fertilizer . The best kind to use is high-phosphorus fertilizer, such as bone meal, as it will encourage deep, healthy roots. Just rake it into the soil that has been loosened.

What does a grub look like?

Grubs can make a smooth green lawn look like a patch-work quilt after they are finished munching away the roots of the grass. You are left with the dried-up dead plants that look like someone burned your lawn. If you take the time to reseed the areas killed off, new growth will quickly fill in the spot, even though it might be a slightly different ...

How to get seeds to settle in soil?

Rough up the surface of the soil with a garden rake. You only need to loosen the top 1/4 to 1/2 inch of soil for the seed to settle into the surface.

How to get rid of scratches on grass?

You can pick this up from your local garden center. Sprinkle on a layer of grass seed so that there are about five to seven seeds per inch. The seed should fall into the scratches made by the rake.

How to get rid of brown stuff in yard?

This brown stuff will only detract from the clean look of your yard. Use a leaf rake to pull it back and then lift it away into a wheelbarrow or trash bag to dispose into your compost. This dead matter is not diseased and may safely be added to your compost pile.

How to get dead plants out of lawn?

You are left with the dried-up dead plants that look like someone burned your lawn. Rough up the surface of the soil with a garden rake. You only need to loosen the top 1/4 to 1/2 inch of soil for the seed to settle into the surface. If you push the rake back and forth in quick motions, it will dig into the soil and loosen it nicely.

Can grubs be added to compost?

This dead matter is not diseased and may safely be added to your compost pile. Grubs can make a smooth green lawn look like a patch-work quilt after they are finished munching away the roots of the grass. You are left with the dried-up dead plants that look like someone burned your lawn.

What insects produce white grubs?

Many insects produce white grubs as their larvae, particularly beetles and chafers. Beetle types include Japanese, Asiatic and June species, and chafers include European and masked types. GrubEx controls beetles and chafers plus numerous pests other than grubs, such as caterpillars and weevils. Caterpillar larvae include cutworms, armyworms and sod webworms. Weevils, such as billbugs, also produce white grubs, but they characteristically have no legs compared to other white grubs. GrubEx kills all these turfgrass pests because of its active ingredient, chlorantraniliprole, which poses no threat to earthworms or beneficial pollinators such as bees, wasps and ants.

What are the signs of underground pests in my lawn?

A telltale clue of the presence of underground pests is when you notice larger varmints digging in your lawn, such as birds, moles and skunks.

What is straight fertilizer?

Some fertilizers also contain herbicides that kill weeds. Commonly called “weed-and-feed” products, they offer a time-saving advantage by allowing you to make one application that controls weeds while also fertilizing your lawn. Other fertilizers are called “straight” fertilizers because they contain only nutrients for your lawn and no herbicides. ...

Why is my turf grass turning brown?

If you see yellowing or brown patches of grass and thinning areas, particularly during periods of drought, you may apply fertilizer to “green up” the damaged areas.

What pests attack turfgrass?

Typically, these subterranean pests are the grub larvae of moths and beetles. GrubEx pesticide kills these larvae, but coordinating its application around applying certain fertilizers is the key to effective pest control.

How long does grubex last?

However, you must water your lawn thoroughly to a depth of 1 inch after applying GrubEx to activate the chemical pesticide. GrubEx is effective for four months after application. After your lawn is dry, it’s safe for people and pets.

How long after applying grubex to lawn?

After applying GrubEx to your lawn, you do not have to wait to apply a straight fertilizer. However, you must wait at least one week to apply a combination weed-and-feed control product after applying GrubEx, and two weeks is preferred.

Does milky spore work against Japanese beetles?

Like that fact that milky spore takes at least a few years to get established (even where it actually works!) for one. And, unless I missed it, that milky spore only works against japanese beetles, and none of the other beetles that create new grubs. And that certain types of nematodes only work against certain species of other beetles, and not all of them. And there is some misinformation too - no synthetic grub control that I am aware of is recommended to be applied in early spring, as Ms. Niedermeier (sp?) suggests, so her arguments against those products make no sense to me.

Does Neem oil kill grubs?

Neem oil does not kill grubs. Milky spore only works on Japanese beetle grubs, not masked chafer grubs, so you'd need to know what kind of grubs you have before you use that.

When do grubs come back to the lawn?

When the soil warms up again in the spring, the large, mature grubs move back into the upper soil levels, where they transform into adult beetles that emerge in early summer and start the whole process over again. The key to controlling grubs is to kill them before they hatch and begin to cause damage to your lawn.

How to control grubs in lawn?

The key to controlling grubs is to kill them before they hatch and begin to cause damage to your lawn. In spring or early summer, apply a preventative grub control product, such as Scotts® GrubEx® 1 to your lawn, following label directions. This is especially important if you’ve had problems with grubs in the past. One application of Scotts® GrubEx® 1 can kill and prevent grubs for up to 4 months.

When to apply Scotts grubex?

• Applying a preventative grub control product in the spring or early summer will provide much better grub control than waiting until after the damage has occurred.#N#• Use a spreader to apply Scotts® GrubEx® 1. Be sure to follow application directions.#N#• To activate the product, water immediately after applying.#N#• A drought-stressed, underfed lawn will show grub damage faster, and with fewer grubs per 
square foot, than a properly-fed, well-maintained lawn.#N#• A properly maintained lawn can tolerate more grubs per square foot than a stressed lawn.#N#• Repair dead patches caused by grubs with Scotts® EZ Seed®.

When do grubs hatch in the lawn?

Beetles, like Japanese and chafer beetles, emerge in early summer, feed on plants in the garden, and lay their eggs in the soil in the lawn. Later in the summer, the grubs hatch and immediately begin to feed.

What is a grub in the lawn?

Grubs are the larvae of Japanese beetles, June beetles, chafers, and others. These white, C-shaped grubs feast on organic matter in the soil, including grass roots.

How do grubs affect lawns?

Having grubs in your lawn is problematic on three scores: 1 The grubs, themselves do damage, eating grassroots, thereby damaging the grass. If you spot large dead patches of grass in your lawn, grubs could be the cause. 2 If they are Japanese beetle grubs, once they mature into adult beetles, they may eat the leaves on several of the plants that you are landscaping with, including rose bushes and Japanese maple trees. 3 Likewise, adult June bugs eat the leaves of landscape plants, such as oak trees. They also damage grass blades. 4 Moles eat grubs, so having grubs in your lawn is an open invitation to moles to come on in and set up shop. Thus grub control is a central pillar in mole control, too. Another pest that eats grubs (and that you may, therefore, be attracting to your yard if you allow grubs to flourish in your lawn) is the skunk.

What is a grub?

The Grub Problem. A grub is what the larva of various insects is called, especially beetles. So just as butterflies and moths have larval forms known as "caterpillars," the Japanese beetle, for example, has a grub as a larval form (because they curl up, grubs appear to have C-shaped bodies).

How many grubs are in a square foot of sod?

You shouldn't worry if only a few are present here or there. But you should start worrying if you find 7 to 15 grubs per square foot.

What is a grub in a lawn?

Their grub is 1 1/4-inches long, white, with a reddish-brown head. Having grubs in your lawn is problematic on three scores: The grubs, themselves do damage, eating grassroots, thereby damaging the grass. If you spot large dead patches of grass in your lawn, grubs could be the cause.

What pests eat grubs?

Another pest that eats grubs (and that you may, therefore, be attracting to your yard if you allow grubs to flourish in your lawn) is the skunk.

How do June bugs get their name?

It gets its name from the fact that it crawls out of the ground around the month of June in many areas. June bugs (also called "June beetles") are a bit bigger than Japanese beetles and are reddish-brown. Their grub is 1 1/4-inches long, white, with a reddish-brown head.

What do June bugs eat?

Likewise, adult June bugs eat the leaves of landscape plants, such as oak trees. They also damage grass blades.

When to treat grubs in the fall?

For this reason, late summer and early autumn are ideal for treating active grubs, before they burrow deeper when temperatures drop. Beneficial nematodes, a type of microscopic worm, are the secret weapon that starts killing grubs within 48 hours after reaching them.

How to prevent grubs in lawn?

Water grass deeply but infrequently to help prevent grubs. Image Credit: Danil Bukharov/iStock/GettyImages. Water the lawn deeply and infrequently to encourage deep root growth and a thick lawn. Grubs thrive in areas with thin grass and moist soil, so keeping the lawn as lush as possible helps prevent grubs.

How long do nematodes stay in the refrigerator?

Store the nematodes in the refrigerator for up to two weeks before application. Two applications, applied one or two weeks apart, are ideal. A hose-end lawn sprayer with an adjustable mix rate is also required. Mix the nematodes in water according to package directions, which may vary by brand.

What to do if grubs kill your lawn?

If grubs have killed off most of your lawn, reseeding large sections is the best option .

How to get rid of bald spots on lawn?

Sprinkle grass seeds over the area; 10 to 15 seeds per square inch is a good target quantity for a completely bald area; less will suffice if surrounding grass is still fairly healthy. Tamp the seeds down gently with your foot, then sprinkle no more than 1/4 inch topsoil over the seeds.

Why is my grass not turning green?

Grass that won't turn green, even when watered, may have root damage. Image Credit: pgaborphotos/iStock/GettyImages. Besides patches of grass turning brown and never re-greening even with plenty of water, a few telltale signs point to grubs as the cause of your lawn's failing health.

What to do if a skunk is digging in my yard?

Raccoons, skunks, or other small animals digging all over the yard for no obvious reason also could mean grubs are present. Lift up a handful of the affected grass. If it isn't loose enough to come completely free from the surrounding lawn, use a pocket knife or garden tool to cut an arc or triangular flap.

How long does grub control last?

While you want to apply grub control early, there’s definitely a thing as too early. Most grub control products will work for about four months, so if you’re applying it before that, you won’t see the results you’re looking for.

When is the best time to apply grub control?

While early summer is the ideal time to apply grub control, what happens if you miss your window or if you want to get an early head start on things?

How long do grubs lay eggs?

Also, keep in mind that grubs don’t just lay their eggs for a week or two. They lay eggs for about one to two months, which means the earliest you can apply grub control is two months before they start laying eggs.

What happens if you don't get grubs?

This means that if you don’t get the grubs the first time, the product will dissipate, and the grubs will keep on living their lives.

What is a grub in the Lion King?

Because let’s be clear about one thing, while Timon and Pumbaa from the Lion King might use the term grubs to define all the various beetles and insects they eat, to the rest of us grubs refer to a specific type of beetle or insect in your yard.

What is the best product for grubs?

Active ingredients that you should look for in any grub prevention product include imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, or clothianidin. But keep in mind that prevention products only work in the early to mid-summer. That’s because they don’t actually kill grubs, they just kill eggs, so you don’t get grubs in the first place!

When do grubs hatch?

Mature grubs, now beetles, emerge in the early summer to feed and mate. By mid to late summer, they’re laying eggs in your lawn, and those eggs hatch in just a few weeks. Those grubs start to much on your lawn straight away, but the feeding frenzy really kicks off in the fall.

image
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9