Do You Have Grubs? 3 Simple Ways to Check for Grubs in Your Lawn
While most of us know that grubs—common in Georgia—can cause significant damage to turfgrass, determining whether lawn damage is due to a grub infestation or another cause can be trickier.
Patchy brown spots spreading across your lawn can be caused by a few different things. So, how do you tell if your backyard is crawling with beetle larvae so that you can act before it gets out of hand? In this guide, we'll walk you through how to spot grubs in your yard using simple methods that will save your grass from damage.
Step 1: Look for Warning Signs
Before you start digging around in your yard, it's helpful to know what signs to look for. Grubs tend to cause a few distinct things that are visible enough to spot:
Brown or Wilting Patches
Grubs feed on organic matter like grass roots, and an infestation can decimate your lawn's root system, preventing the grass from getting the nutrients it needs to stay healthy and thrive. This causes patchy brown or yellow spots, similar to a Drought-affected lawn, except these patches do not recover even after watering.
Loose Sod
One of the most obvious signs that you have grubs in your lawn is when the turf is spongy or can be easily lifted from the soil. If you can pull up sections of your lawn like a carpet, it's likely the grass roots have been damaged or eaten away by grubs.
Increased Animal Activity
A grub infested lawn is an open buffet for anything that dines on the beetle larvae. If you notice a lot of birds, racoons, moles and other small critters rummaging around your yard, it could be because they are trying to get to the grubs beneath the surface.
Step 2: Perform a Simple DIY Test
If you're seeing some of the signs above, it's time to do a deeper check. Fortunately, you can do a simple DIY test with soap and water. It is an easy and non-invasive way to check for grubs.
The Soap Flush Method
Step 1: Mix 2 ounces of liquid dish soap with one gallon of water until soap suds appear.
Step 2: Slowly pour the soapy water over a small section of your lawn (about 1 square yard). Make sure to apply it evenly to grass that isn't completely damaged, as insects aren't as active in those areas.
Step 3: Wait 5-15 minutes.
Step 4: Watch closely for grubs to surface. They should emerge, along with other insects, because the soap is an irritant and disrupts their environment.
Step 3: Inspect Soil in Suspected Areas
If the soap flush test didn't work or you want to get a closer look, digging is the most direct method to check for grubs.
Choose Your Area
Pick a section (or sections) of your lawn that has suspicious damage. Cut a square foot section of turf about 2-4 inches deep (roughly the depth where grubs are usually found). Pull or roll back the turf to expose the soil below.
Look Closely
Grubs are C-shaped, with a white or off-white color and brownish heads. If you find ten or more grubs per square foot of soil, this indicates an infestation and quick action is needed to control the population and protect your lawn.
