Grub Damage: Early Warning Signs and Control Methods for Georgia Lawns

Root‑eating white grubs can wreck a yard in weeks. These beetle larvae chew through turf roots, leaving the grass unable to take up water just when summer heat arrives. If you wait until brown patches appear, you’re already playing catch‑up.

Why Georgia lawns are at risk

• June beetles, Japanese beetles, and masked chafers thrive in our warm, humid climate.

• Females lay eggs in May–July; the larvae feed near the surface from July into early

  
  

How to confirm an infestation

1. Choose a spot where the turf looks thin or where birds and armadillos are digging.

2. Cut three sides of a one‑foot square, peel it back, and count grubs in the top 2–3 inches of soil.

3. Action threshold: more than 10 grubs per square foot in a stressed lawn (or 15–20 in a vigorous lawn) calls for treatment.

   
   

Control options

Preventive (April–July)

• Apply a systemic product containing imidacloprid, clothianidin, or chlorantraniliprole while grubs are small.

• Water lightly afterward so the active ingredient reaches the root zone.

Curative (late summer – early fall)

• For visible damage, use fast‑acting actives such as carbaryl or trichlorfon.

• Follow label rates—extra product won’t improve control and may harm beneficial

Cultural habits that reduce grub pressure

• Keep mowing height within the recommended range; a dense canopy shades soil and discourages egg‑laying beetles.

• Irrigate deeply but infrequently; saturated soil attracts some beetle species.

• Skip heavy spring nitrogen—lush, tender growth invites trouble.

Bottom line

Small grubs are easy to stop; big ones are not. Checking a few suspect spots every July can save you a costly renovation later.

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