Treatment FAQ

when to apply grub worm treatment ot lawns in south tx

by Hilton Leuschke Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago

In south Texas, apply insecticides for white grubs in early- to mid-June. In central and north Texas, the optimal treatment time is early- to mid July. Where grub damage is already evident in lawns and larger grubs are present, use products containing trichlorfon or carbaryl.

Full Answer

How do I get rid of grubs in my lawn in Texas?

To kill grubs in the spring or fall, use carbaryl or trichlorfon. Always wear rubber gloves and rubber boots when applying insecticides to turfgrass. Make sure to irrigate the lawn with at least 0.5 inches of water* and allow the grass to dry before allowing anyone or pets into the treated area.

How early can you apply Grub control?

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.

When should I apply insecticides to my lawn in Texas?

Ideally, both products should be applied within six weeks of egg-laying. In south Texas, apply insecticides for white grubs in early- to mid-June. In central and north Texas, the optimal treatment time is early- to mid July. Where grub damage is already evident in lawns and larger grubs are present, use products containing trichlorfon or carbaryl.

How long should I use insecticide to get rid of grubs?

If you confirmed grub damage the previous fall or spring, meaning you found lots of grubs, then you may want to use a preventive insecticide for one or two years to build a more dense turf that will be tolerant of grubs.

What time of year do you put down grub killer?

It is often best to put down grub preventers from April through mid-July when grubs are ready to hatch. If you want to stop grub damage right away, the best time to apply a grub killer to your lawn is when you first see signs of damage.

When should I treat my yard for grub worms?

The best time for treating grub worms is in late summer or early fall while the grub worms are still small and close to the surface. Grub worms are less susceptible to treatment in the spring, as they are too large and no longer feeding. For this reason, insecticides are less effective.

What month do I apply GrubEx?

It's important to follow the instructions on the GrubEx packaging very closely because precision in both timing and application are essential. Early May, June and July is the best time to apply this product. Remember the beetles lay eggs in early summer. The small grubs hatch in the middle of the summer.

When should I apply GrubEx to my lawn?

Apply during spring or early summer to kill grubs as they develop. Using Scotts® GrubEx®1 Season Long Grub Killer annually can also help control Japanese beetle and Armyworm infestations. Easily apply with a Scotts® broadcast, drop, handheld, or Wizz® spreader and stop grubs before they damage your lawn.

Is it too late to treat for grubs?

By the time damage is apparent it is much too late for preventive white grub products such as Merit and Grub-X. These must be applied before mid-August. Insecticides must be watered in to be effective.

Should I apply GrubEx before rain?

Can I apply GrubEx before the rain? You can apply GrubEx just before it rains but you won't need to water it in as you normally would when you apply the granules. Waiting for rain works best for lawns that are too big to water. You only need to ensure that you apply GrubEx any time between May and July.

How late can you put GrubEX down?

Available preventive products. Apply between April 1 and May 30 (no later than July 15) for best results. Apply between June 1 and July 15 for best results.

Can I put down fertilizer and GrubEX at the same time?

According to the Scotts website, only straight fertilizer, with no other ingredients such as pre-emergent herbicides or other pesticides, may be applied at the same time as GrubEx. The site gives no recommendation for mixing straight fertilizer and GrubEx, so it may be wisest to apply one product at a time.

Can I apply GrubEX twice a year?

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.

Can I treat for grubs in the spring?

The best time to apply grub control is between early spring and late summer when there's increased grub worm activity in your lawn. For grub preventers, apply between June and July just before they hatch while for grub killers, apply the treatment from spring when you see signs of grass damage.

Can I put GrubEX on a wet lawn?

Yes, you can apply GrubEX to a wet lawn. GrubEX is meant to get wet immediately after being broadcast. This step is critical in the application of GrubEX if it's going to be effective. However, applying GrubEX to a wet lawn does not mean you can skip the water application step.

What is the most effective grub killer?

BEST OVERALL: BioAdvanced Granules 700745S 24 Hour Grub Killer.BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Scotts GrubEX1.BEST PREVENTATIVE: St. ... BEST ECO-FRIENDLY: Bug Sales 50 Million Live Beneficial Nematodes.BEST READY-TO-SPRAY: Bayer Crop Science 700280B Complete Insect Killer.BEST FAST-ACTING: Ortho BugClear Lawn Insect Killer.More items...•

How to prevent grubs from destroying my lawn?

Proper fertilization is important to prevent and allow the lawn to recover from grub damage. Mow lawns immediately before applying an insecticide for grubs to remove weed flowers and protect bees. Make a regular practice of mowing your yard with the mower on the highest setting (3.5-4 inches).

When do grubs appear in lawns?

Grub damage may appear in home lawns from mid-September to November or from March to early May. However, for low-maintenance lawns, even if the turf is not killed from grub feeding, the thinned and weakened turf may be prone to weeds and drought stress. Healthy turf with a few grubs may not need an insecticide.

What insecticides kill grubs?

There are two chemicals, carbaryl and trichlorfon, that are considered curative treatments. They are short-lived compounds that kill all life stages of grubs. These two insecticides are the only options if high numbers of grubs are found in the fall and in spring before early May. Our research indicates they will kill 20-80% of grubs when applied in September or 20-55% when applied in late October. They are not as effective as the preventive compounds in reducing grub numbers.

When to apply chlorantraniliprole?

The preventive compound chlorantraniliprole should ideally be applied in April or May to control grubs that would be damaging turf in the fall as it will take longer for the material to move to where the grubs will be feeding in July. To kill grubs in the spring or fall, use carbaryl or trichlorfon.

How long does a turf outbreak last?

The outbreak phase where turf damage is common may last five to 10 years. If you see a dead patch, use a shovel to dig up a few Frisbee-size samples of turf around the bare spot to a depth of 2 inches and look for 0.75-inch long, C-shaped white grubs.

Does chlorantraniloprole help grubs?

Products containing imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin or chlorantraniloprole will not control grubs in the spring. They are preventive products that work very well on newly hatched grubs present in July, but do not work well for large grubs found from September to May.

When will grub control be available in stores?

Below is a short list of products now being sold for grub control as of May 22, 2020, in stores checked in the Mid-Michigan area. An online search indicates there are other products that will be available at other stores. Check the active ingredients.

When to treat for grubs in Central Texas

The best time of year to use grub control is as soon as you notice the lawn being eaten by a grub problem. A systemic insecticide will work its way through the grass blades and down towards the roots, protecting your grass from larval beetles and larvae that are feeding on the roots of your yard.

How To Treat For Grubs In Central Texas Naturally?

In short, the temporary solution is not to have your lawns treated with chemicals. Your best long-term strategy is to change the landscape by adding diversity to where you have grass around your house. Add some native plants as well and provide some relief from the monoculture.

When to apply grub spray?

Apply products in early morning or late evening as chemicals are broken down by UV light. Always water your product in well with the equivalent of ½” to 1” of rainfall. Heavy thatch will reduce the effectiveness of insecticides by preventing them from getting down into the soil profile where grubs are active.

When to treat for June bugs in Texas?

Both chemical and biological methods of control are most effective when applied before they have reached ½” long. Late summer (July and early August), is the opportune time of the year to be treating for June bugs in Central Texas.

How to test for grubs in lawn?

If you can tug on your grass and it peels up like a carpet then you have a severe grub infestation. You can sample for grubs by digging at least 4-6 inches down into the soil around areas suspected for grubs.

What are grubs in Texas?

What Are Grubs? Grubs are a common nuisance in Texas lawns. There are actually 100 different types of scarab beetles in Texas that have a similar lifecycle and designated as white grubs, grub worms, June bugs, or May beetles. These bugs are harmless to pets and humans other than being a nuisance. The adult beetle does no direct damage ...

When do grubs hatch?

Once mated, females go back into the ground and lay up to 30 eggs. The eggs hatch in about two weeks. Grubs go through three larval stages before they become adults.

When do grubs hibernate?

Two stages happen in the fall six weeks apart and then they hibernate during the cold winter months and spend most of the spring in the last stage before hatching out as adults in early summer. Spring is the wrong time of the year to treat for grubs, and chemicals have little to no effectiveness when applied in spring.

Can beetles harm plants?

These bugs are harmless to pets and humans other than being a nuisance. The adult beetle does no direct damage to any plant, but its larval form can do significant damage to root systems of warm season turf grasses, vegetables, and ornamental plants. Plants damaged by grubs will have weak growth and low plant vigor.

When is turf damaged by white grubs?

Depending on location within the state, damage may appear any time between the months of June and October. Turfgrass damaged by white grubs has a reduced root system and is easily pulled from the soil.

When does turfgrass recover from white grub?

Turfgrass usually recovers from white grub damage by fall or the following spring. At least one turfgrass disease, Take-all Patch, can sometimes be mistaken for white grub damage. Take-all Patch occurs most frequently in spring and early summer and can be distinguished by the rotted appearance of the roots.

How long does a grub live in Texas?

Life Cycle. Most turfgrass-feeding white grubs in Texas, such as the June beetle and southern masked chafer, require 1 year to complete their life cycle (a 2-year cycle is suspected in a portion of the grub populations in north Texas). The May beetle, Phyllophaga congrua, requires 2 years to develop. For simplicity, the following discussion will be ...

What is the name of the worm that injures turf?

A few species, however, commonly damage turfgrass and other cultivated plants. White grubs , sometimes referred to as grub worms, injure turf by feeding on roots and other underground plant parts. Damaged areas within lawns lose vigor and turn brown (Figure 1).

What are white grubs in Texas?

White Grubs in Texas Turfgrass. By: Michael Merchant, Stephen Biles and Dale Mott. White grubs are the larval stage of insects commonly known as May or June beetles ( or Junebugs). Texas has almost 100 species of these beetles, most of which do not cause significant economic damage to crops or horticultural plantings.

How many eggs do white grubs lay?

After mating, female beetles dig 2 to 5 inches into the soil to lay eggs. Each female can lay up to 30 to 40 eggs, which hatch in approximately two weeks. Larva.

How long does a white grub live?

The pupal stage does not consume food and does not move through the soil. This life stage occurs during the spring and lasts approximately 3 weeks.

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.

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®.

How do I know if I have grubs in my yard?

Signs of Grub Problems. There are several easy-to-spot signs that you may have grubs in your lawn: • Raccoons, skunks, armadillos, or birds are digging up your yard. These animals all love to dine 
. on large, mature grubs. • You can pull back the dead patches on your lawn like pieces of loose carpet. This happens 
.

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.

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.

Why does my lawn feel spongy?

because grubs eat the roots holding the turf firmly in place on the soil. • Before the dead patches even appear, your lawn feels spongy when stepped on, as it it were 
. freshly laid sod. To check if you have a grub problem, peel back a square foot of green turf in each of several areas of your lawn.

When is turf damaged by white grubs?

Depending on location within the state, damage may appear any time between the months of June and October. Turfgrass damaged by white grubs has a reduced root system and is easily pulled from the soil.

How long does a grub live in Texas?

Life Cycle. Most turfgrass-feeding white grubs in Texas, such as the June beetle and southern masked chafer, require 1 year to complete their life cycle (a 2-year cycle is suspected in a portion of the grub populations in north Texas). The May beetle, Phyllophaga congrua, requires 2 years to develop.

What insecticides kill white grubs?

2-inch- long) larvae. Once white grubs reach the third-instar life stage, they are more difficult to control with the new products. The insecticides imidacloprid and halofenozide are used most today for white grub control.

What is the most important white grub in Texas?

The most important turfgrass- infesting white grubs in Texas are the June beetle, Phyllophaga crinita.

What are white grubs?

White grubs are the larval stage of insects commonly known as May or June beetles (or Junebugs ). Texas has almost 100 species of these bee- tles, most of which do not cause significant economic damage to crops or horticultural plantings. A few species, however, commonly damage turfgrass and other culti- vated plants.

When are grubs most damaging?

Grubs are most damaging when they reach a length of 1⁄. 2- to 1-inch. At least one turfgrass disease, Take-all Patch, can sometimes be mistaken for white grub damage. Take-all Patch occurs most fre- quently in spring and early sum- mer and can be distinguished by the rotted appearance of the roots.

How many eggs can a female grub lay?

Each female can lay up to 30 to 40 eggs, which hatch in approximate- ly two weeks. Larva. White grub larvae are creamy white and C-shaped, with three pairs of legs (Figure 3). After hatching, the white grub passes through three larval life-stages, or instars.

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