When it comes to caring for your lawn, can we please use SCIENCE and RELIABLE RESOURCES… and not what you found on Google or happen to see on a store shelf?
Now please do not get us wrong — we really like and use Google frequently.
But you ALWAYS should consider where the info is coming from. Ask yourself: “Are they trying to sell me something or get some type of data from me?”
When it comes to lawn grass, there actually is a lot of great info out there on the internet.
The problem is there is more bad than good.
There are four science-based, regionally-relevant sources that Red Hen Turf Farm would recommend sticking to:
- Purdue University Extension – www.turf.purdue.edu/homeowner.html
- Michigan State University Extension – https://www.canr.msu.edu/home_gardening/lawns/index
- Ohio State University Extension www.ohioline.osu.edu/findafactsheet … and of course
- Red Hen Turf Farm’s website www.redhenturf.com and our blog
We get our info from the first three sources.
With that out of our system, let us talk about one of this number one questions asked: What do I do about Grubs?
First, let’s talk about whether you NEED to apply any products in the first place. Almost every yard has grubs. Most grubs do very little harm.
REPEAT: Almost every yard has grubs. Most grubs do very little harm.
However, most expert entomologists (aka “bug scientists”) believe that until you reach 5-10 grub larvae per cubic foot, there are not enough of them in one location to do damage to your lawn.
Until you are seeing 5-10 grubs per cubic foot, there likely is no need to even consider using chemical insecticides to kill them.
But, let’s assume you are concerned that you have enough grubs to do some turfgrass damage.
When it comes to choosing a product to apply, it may seem there is an endless number of choices that are for sale. From experience, we really believe many homeowners waste way too much money and time applying the wrong product.
Basically, there are two main factors to look at when it comes to choosing a product to kill grubs: (1) the time of the year you are applying it, and (2) what type of grub you want killed.
By the way — Yes! There are different beetles that include a grub / larvae stage of their life cycles, and No! grubs are not a main food source for moles … Read more from our trust experts at Purdue by CLICKING HERE.
Timing on managing grubs is important to consider, and the type of chemical you’re using is more or less effective at different times of the year.
Purdue’s excellent article “TURFGRASS INSECTS MANAGING WHITE GRUBS IN TURFGRASS” by Douglas S. Richmond, Turfgrass Entomology Extension Specialist does into great detail about this – HERE’s THE LINK. With this article in mind, let’s consider the time of year that it currently is — late April 2024 – and it’s a bit too early to start preventative treatment for grubs.
Typically, in our part of the country (NW Indiana):
- May thru July treatment is considered more preventative.
- July through August is considered “early curative”
- Mid-August through Mid-November is considered “late curative”
If you put down a product that includes Merit or Dylox (and … yes … Red Hen carries these sorts of options), you will water it into the soil and follow other label directions for control of many types of grubs. You notice I said “many”.
There is also product on the market that is called Milky Spore. Now, Milky Spore is a great product, but only for Japanese’s beetle larvae. There are 7 types of annual and multi-annual white grubs that are common in the Midwest.
If you believe the only beetle to lay eggs in your yard is going to be the Japanese’s beetle, then go and buy it…but not from Red Hen since we do not carry this product.
Since we aim to save our customers time and money, we believe that Milky Spore goes against both of those goals.
There are more great products out there that can be applied this time of year. But we all need to read the label to save time and money.
Let’s use science when making choices, and always consider whether the source of your information is reliable.
Until next time, Jeremy, Cindy and Lisa … The Red Hen Customer Service Team
Article Last Updated: 4/23/24