lawn grubs like this one can cause major damage to your lawn http://www.flickr.com/photos/robandstephanielevy/535553831/

Last week we covered how to detect a grub problem in your yard.  Today’s article will focus on how to prevent grubs and effective ways to treat them if you do develop a problem.  If you have detected a grub problem, you should immediately start thinking about how you plan to treat the problem because grubs can cause extensive damage in a short period of time.

Early to mid summer is generally considered to be a good time to treat grubs because they are still relatively young and are spending more time near the surface of your grass.  One of the most common treatments for grubs is milky spore.  This is a natural substance that helps prevent Japanese beetles, the adult form of some grub species.  In the case of extreme grub problems, lawn care experts may suggest a chemical treatment.  It’s a good idea to consult your lawn care professional before applying any grub-treating product to ensure the health of your lawn.

While there are plenty of ways to treat a grub problem, the ideal solution is to prevent them from ever becoming a problem in your lawn.  The summer is a prime time for these pests to make their debut and really wreak havoc.  Though it is not the most aesthetically pleasing option, allowing your lawn to go dormant will help prevent grubs because these pests are attracted to a moister environment.  You can find more information on this topic in our post on lawn dormancy.

Another simple way to prevent grubs is by welcoming other harmless critters that feed on these lawn destroyers.  Certain birds such as robins, cardinals and starlings eat grubs and their adult, beetle counterpart.  A simple bird feeder to attract these birds to your yard may go a long way toward helping you fight grubs.  Frogs, snakes and lizards are also known to eat these pests, so next time you think about killing that harmless black snake, consider what help it may bring to your lawn.