GRUBS -- PART 2
 The Japanese beetle invasion has probably been taking place in your yard for a month or so. It seems some areas have been hit harder than others. The question we are most frequently asked is why do I still have beetles when I treated my lawn last year for grubs? There is a lot more to these little beetles than you think. So here's a little information that will hopefully help you to understand them.

Did you know 100 beetles will lay 5000 grub eggs? Did you also know the female cycle of the Japanese beetle is to eat, mate and lay eggs. What a life! The females continue to do this process each time only laying about 1-5 eggs in an area. They keep moving around until they have laid at least 40-60 eggs. About 95% of a population is laid by mid August. Maturing at different points the grubs burrow in the soil in search of organic matter & fresh roots. By early fall the grubs are ready to dig in the soil to hibernate for winter. As we get further into fall the grubs dig deeper into the soil to avoid the cold soil temperatures.

If you miss a grub application in the spring you can do a summer application as they are burrowing down in the soil. The following are products which you can use.

  1. The Bayer Advanced Lawn 24 hour control (containing Dylox) can be used if you still physically see the grubs within the top 1inch of the soil.
  2. The Bayer Advanced Season Long Control (containing Merit) can be applied anytime between mid-May and mid-August. It is not recommended to use the season long after mid-August for grubs.
  3. The other control we have is using the Milky Spore (which is a bacterium). Tthis process takes 3-5 years in cold climates to get going and must be applied when the grubs are actively feeding. It is harmless to pets and children. Once applied it spreads and it can last up to 15-20 years. You can apply milky spore with other chemical controls to jump start the process, the chemicals will not affect the bacterium.
Due to the varying maturing stages and migrating of beetles from one lawn to another, the use of grub controls may be necessary every year. So, round up your neighbors and come visit one of our three locations and talk to our knowledgeable sales staff for the product that is best for your lawn.

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