Grubs are the top searched lawn term on Google

Do you ever wonder how Google can track what millions of people are searching for? Me too and I'll leave that to the Google people to explain. What I do know is that now is the time of year when home owners are trying to take a slight break from the weekly lawn maintenance. While they sit back and think it is time to take a break, they look around and see bare or stressed spots in their lawn. What's a homeowner to do? A common thread among home owners is self diagnose of their lawns, sadly, this results in wasted attempts at curing the issue. Resist the urge to run right out to the big box store and buy chemicals, grass seed or think the hourly employee who works in that general department has the answer! 

Over 92% of all Americans have the Internet at their finger tips and the majority of searches in the lawn care terminolgy right now is for information on grubs. Let's talk grubs.

This time of year if you have bare brown spots or areas of your lawn that look stressed, take a peak at them in the late evening before bed. When you check them do you see skunks or raccoons digging at your lawn? If you are up close do you see droppings? Can you pull up sections of your lawn like you are rolling back a corner of a carpet? If the answer is yes, you have grubs.

How are grubs affecting my lawn, aren't they going to die in the winter? No is the short answer. The annoying beetles that were buzzing around your yard and all your neighbor's yards in late June and early July were the beetle's that were laying eggs in your lawn. Each beetle can lay up to 10,000 eggs! If you didn't have a grub prevention application put on your lawn, you developed grubs when they hatched in August. Now in September those bugs are living under ground and feasting on your grass root (technically known as root pruning). Even worse is that the animals are digging your lawn creating further damage that you'll need to repair. If grubs are not killed in the fall, the grubs will refeed in the spring on the new grass that should be growing. 

What can I do solve my grub problem? Don't spend any money on re-seeding your lawn, core areation or drill seeding until you have insured that you don't have grubs. It would be like putting gas in the tank when the gas tank has a hole in it. Consult with a State of Connecticut licensed 3A ornamental and truf specialist who is certified by the DEP.

How do I know if my landscaper has this certification? Simply ask. The state requires anyone putting down material (like chemicals or pesticides) to have this certification. Anyone with a license displays the number on their vehicle and is knwoledgable and interested to discuss the problem with you.

Remember, the most important thing you can do for your grass is not to keep seeding and relacing it, the most important thing you can do is to prevent it from being eaten. Treat your lawn now. 

Stacy Skoldberg is managing partner of GreenSprays a lawn care company dedicated to organic and natural solutions. Stacy can be reached at 203-916-3666, stacy@greensprays.com or @greenspraysllc.