The Dirty Truth About Lawn Grubs

As spring arrives and lawns begin to green up, some homeowners notice patches of yellowing or thinning grass that don't respond to watering or fertilizing. The culprit is often grubs—small, white, C-shaped larvae of beetles such as Japanese beetles, June beetles, or European chafers. These pests live just below the soil surface and feast on grassroots, disrupting the plant's ability to absorb water and nutrients. Early signs of infestation can include spongy turf that lifts easily and irregular dead patches.

Grubs are typically about ½ to 1 inch long with a soft white body and a darker brown head. They curl into a “C” shape when disturbed and are often found in clusters beneath the lawn's surface. An infestation becomes problematic when more than 5–10 grubs are found per square foot of soil. Birds, raccoons, or skunks digging up the lawn can also be a clue, as they're looking for an easy meal. If left untreated, the damage can be extensive, requiring reseeding or even complete lawn renovation.

The lifecycle of grubs begins when adult beetles lay eggs in summer, which hatch within a few weeks. The young larvae begin feeding on roots through the fall, then overwinter deep in the soil. As spring temperatures rise, they return to the root zone and resume feeding before pupating and emerging as adult beetles in early summer. Understanding this cycle is key to managing them—spring is a critical time to inspect for and treat grub infestations before they do serious harm.

We offer Grubproofing in the Spring and Summer as a Seasonal Service.