As we head into the fall, the typical seasonal activities come to mind: back to school, football, and, of course, grub activity. This September in Chester and Montgomery Counties, we've seen a significant increase in the amount of grub activity. According to Penn State County Extension, the excessive rain we had this summer not only exacerbated
weeds and crabgrass, it also permitted a high number of beetle eggs to hatch, which has caused an increase in grub feeding now.
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| Grub damaged lawn will pull back very easily |
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The best defense against grubs include cultural practices, like
core aeration, to keep your thatch layer below 1/2". Grubs like to burrow underneath a thick thatch, keeping your thatch layer to a minimum is a big deterrent. In addition, while it's too late now, this season really emphasizes the point of applying the proper grub preventative early in the summer to prevent grubs from feeding once they hatch.
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| Rough Bluegrass is often mistaken for grub activity |
If you suspect
grub activity, pull at the brown turf, it will come up easily since the grubs eat the roots. If you see grubs, there's your problem. Remember, it takes 6-8 grubs in a one foot section to cause significant damage. One grub here and there is not a concern. From Flourtown to Trappe, it is common to misdiagnose grub activity. Rough Bluegrass (
Poa trivialis) will brown out after a hot summer and pull up easily, however, you will not see any grubs feeding. When in doubt, contact a lawn care professional, and allow yourself to kick back and enjoy some football.
