White grubs are the larvae of numerous types of beetles such as June and masked chafers. Gardeners can predict future grub problems when they see these beetles flying around their lawns in late summer. They are attracted to irrigated lawns for laying their eggs. Once eggs have hatched, grubs eat away at root systems. Sometimes damage is so severe that gardeners can lift up their grass as if it were carpet. Choose from several products to prevent and treat grub damage.
Grub control products, which kill grubs when they hatch, are not effective when used in the spring, because the grubs have grown too large to be affected by these products. Grub preventative products contain active ingredients such as midacloprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin or halofenazide, according Michigan State University. Use preventative grub products in summer to kill grubs as soon as they hatch.
Treat your grub problems with an insecticide that contains either carbaryl or trichlorfon, recommends Michigan State University. Use grub control treatment products in the spring or fall to kill grubs damaging the lawn. When using these products, run your irrigation system immediately after applying insecticide. Wait one week to re-seed any damaged areas caused by grubs.
Grub control products also combine insecticide with fertilizer. Use a grub control and fertilizer product that contains 25 percent imidacloprid and 75 percent fertilizer. Apply June 1 through July 15 for optimal control on the yard. As with other grub control products, water the lawn after applying this product or nitrogen in the product will burn the grass.