White grubs are the larvae of beetles such as Japanese beetles. They live in the soil and feed on grass roots. A heavy grub population can kill large sections of a lawn in a few weeks, especially in late summer and early fall.

Signs you may have grubs

• Irregular brown patches that do not green up after watering
• Turf that lifts up like loose carpet because the roots are gone
• Skunks, raccoons or birds digging in the lawn looking for grubs
• Spongy feeling turf when you walk on it

How to check

Cut a small square of turf at the edge of a brown area and peel it back. Look for C-shaped white grubs in the top few inches of soil. Several grubs in a small area usually means it is time to act.

Preventive vs. curative treatment

A preventive treatment is applied before the eggs hatch in summer and stops grubs before they can do damage. A curative treatment is used when active grubs are already feeding. Prevention is almost always cheaper than repairing a damaged lawn.

Repairing grub damage

Once the grubs are under control, damaged areas can be repaired with aeration and overseeding. Learn more about our grub control service.