Here are a few sure-fire signs that will help you identify grub damage:
1. Yellowing grass. As grubs consume the roots of turfgrass, the grass turns spongy and yellow. If you tug at it, it will roll back like a carpet.
2. The presence of other pest species. Skunks, raccoons, and other digging pests love to eat grubs and will destroy your lawn searching for them. This damage can be as expensive and difficult to fix as grub damage itself.
3. Increasing numbers of moths or beetles. If you’ve noticed many moths or beetles flying around at grass level, it could signify that you have a serious grub problem.
4. The appearance of drought. If your yard looks drought-stricken, despite regular watering, the problem could be grubs. Grub damage often looks like drought, but additional watering won’t fix it.
5. Brown, patchy grass. Before the grass begins to yellow and pull up, it will turn brown and patchy. This damage will appear in random spots around the lawn.
6. The presence of white grubs. Use a spade to cut a square foot section of turf, about 2-4 inches deep. Pull back the square and inspect the soil below. If you see grubs, you’ve got an infestation–even if you haven’t noticed damage in your lawn.
It can be tough to identify what grub damage looks like, especially since it often resembles other types of damage, like drought.
However, keeping an eye out for these six signs can help you stop grub damage in its tracks.
