What Lawn Damage Do Grubs Cause?

Grubs are a common nuisance that can wreak havoc on lawns in Kansas and Missouri, causing significant damage if left unchecked, and infestations can lead to several noticeable signs. A spongy feel and the ease with which the grass lifts like a carpet indicate severe root damage. Irregular brown patches result from grubs feeding on the roots, disrupting nutrient absorption. Increased animal activity, such as raccoons and birds digging for grubs, further signals their presence. If you suspect a grub problem, contact a professional lawn care company for effective treatment and prevention advice. These experts can address current issues and help prevent future infestations, ensuring your lawn remains healthy and robust.

Your lawn will feel spongy when you walk on it, and lift up like a carpet if you have a grub infestation.

One of the most noticeable signs of a grub infestation is when your lawn feels spongy when you walk on it and lifts up like a carpet. Grubs feed on the roots of your grass, weakening its tether to the soil and making it feel spongy. If it easily lifts up, it's a clear indication that its roots are no longer anchoring it down. This is because grubs have been feeding on the roots, causing them to become weak and unable to support the weight of the grass. If you notice this happening to your lawn, it's likely that you have a grub infestation.

Irregular patches of brown grass on your lawn are a sign of a grub infestation.

Irregular patches of brown grass are a telltale sign of grub infestation. Grubs, the larvae of beetles, feed voraciously on grass roots, disrupting the grass’s ability to absorb essential nutrients and water. This root damage leads to the dying off of grass, manifesting as brown, patchy areas across your lawn. Unlike other lawn issues like drought, which cause uniform browning, grub damage results in irregularly shaped patches that can vary in size. Spotting these patches early allows for prompt intervention, crucial in preventing the infestation from spreading further across your lawn.

An increased animal presence on your lawn is a sign of a grub infestation.

An increased presence of animals like raccoons, skunks, and birds on your lawn can be a strong indicator of a grub infestation. These animals naturally seek out grubs as a food source, and their activity can become quite pronounced when a grub population is present. Raccoons and skunks, in particular, will dig up patches of your lawn at night, leaving noticeable holes as they search for these larvae. Birds might be observed pecking at the soil more vigorously than usual. This animal activity is often one of the first visible signs of a grub problem before the grass itself shows extreme stress.

If you notice these animals frequenting your lawn more than usual, especially if you see dug-up areas or disrupted sod, it’s a good idea to inspect more closely for grubs. While these animals help naturally control the grub population, their digging can exacerbate lawn damage.

What should you do if you have a grub infestation?

Detecting a grub infestation calls for immediate action to prevent further lawn damage. The best approach is to contact a professional lawn care company. Experts can assess the extent of the infestation and apply specific treatments to target and eliminate the grubs. These treatments are designed to be effective and prevent additional damage to your grass.

In addition to treating the current infestation, professionals can provide advice on taking preventive measures. This might include applying preventative grub control treatments that are designed to target newly hatched grubs when they are still vulnerable. With these treatments, grubs won't have the chance to feed on the roots of your grass and cause extensive damage.

Give us a call today to schedule our grub control service.

At Lawn and Landscape Solutions, we understand the damage that grubs can cause to your lawn, and we're here to help. We can apply curative treatments via our grub control service to effectively eliminate grubs from your lawn, stopping them from causing further damage. You can also take advantage of our preventative treatments, which are offered as part of our lawn care program for a more comprehensive care plan for your lawn.

This service is offered to homeowners in Overland Park, Leawood, Mission Hills, and surrounding areas in Kansas and Missouri. Don't let grubs destroy your lawn! Give us a call today at (913) 238-9318 to schedule!