Of all the pests that can plague the Massachusetts lawn, grubs are the ones most likely to gross people out. Thick, white, and squirmy, grubs are the immature larval form of the scarab beetle. Scarab beetles do play an important role in the environment – they help break down organic material and get rid of a lot of waste materials – but when they’re in your lawn, they cause damage to your grass that’s unsightly and distressing.
Here are four signs your lawn may have grubs:
Grub Sign #1: Large Areas of Dead Brown Grass
When you see your grass start to wilt, and eventually die off in large brown patches, it’s a good sign there may be grubs in your lawn. Grubs kill grass by eating the roots. Roots are packed with nutrients and water, which helps the grubs super charge their growth. Unfortunately, their healthy lunch is bad news for your lawn.
Grub Sign #2: Animals Are Digging in Your Yard
You may think grubs are gross, but skunks think they’re delicious. So do some other wildlife animals, which may scrape or even dig holes in your yard to uncover and eat the grubs. On one hand, you may be happy about this – no more grubs. On the other hand, now your lawn is full of holes. You’d probably be much happier having your local lawn service remove the grubs before the skunks discover them!
Grub Sign #3: The Lawn is Soft & Spongy Underfoot
If it feels like your lawn is sinking underneath your feet when you walk around the yard, grubs may be the cause. Because grubs consume large masses of grass roots, they create voids in the soil that compress when you step on them. Of course, grubs aren’t the only cause of a soft and spongy lawn. If you’ve had a lot of rain, for example, the ground can sometimes feel spongy. The presence of a giant sinkhole can also cause the ground to feel soft underfoot. For peace of mind, it’s a good idea to have the situation checked out.
Grub Sign #4: You Actually See A Grub
If you’re planting some flowers or doing some other digging in your yard, you may actually discover a grub yourself. Don’t freak out – a grub is not going to harm you. In fact, in many cultures, grubs are eaten as a delicacy. They’re better cooked than raw, should you feel inclined to try for yourself. A more popular way to get grubs out of your yard is to have your lawn service company remove them. That way you can have a cheeseburger for dinner instead and everyone is happy.
