Grub Worms in Orlando

Grub Worms in Orlando

Grub worms can be a serious lawn pest for Central Florida residents and commercial properties. These destructive pests can do incredible damage to your turf if left untreated. Eating the roots of your grass, the most recognizable sign of infestation are brown patches in your lawn.

Grubs are a root-feeding headache for homeowners and lawn maintenance managers.

Preventative products and years of experience eliminating grubs, have given Miller Enviro-Pest customers an advantage against these vicious pests.

Grubs are white with a red head and a dark rear-end. They are C-shaped and usually about the size of the tip of your thumb. Grubs are the larval stage of beetles, including the Japanese beetle, European chafer, masked chafer, Oriental beetle, green June beetle and the Asiatic garden beetle. Most active between June and mid-August, grubs have a one year life cycle.

The beetles lay their eggs 1 to 2 inches deep in the soil and the eggs hatch in 2 to 4 weeks. The young grubs begin feeding on grass roots immediately. They grow to full size within 3 to 4 weeks. This is their most damaging time to the turf. The grubs move deep in the soil for hibernation just before winter arrives. They come back to the root zone and start eating again in the spring. From there, they transform into pupae and a few weeks later emerge as adult beetles.

How to Tell if Your Grass Has Grub Worms

Their most visible damage can be seen in the late summer months when the turf is most stressed. The turf rolls back like carpet. This is because there are no roots left to anchor the turf. For this reason, there is no way for the turf to extract water. The turf will yellow and die quickly.

Plants affected by grub feeding may suddenly wilt. Grubs can kill small plants and gnaw cavities in root vegetables.

Not only can these pests damage the lawn, but their presence also invites unwelcome wildlife that feed on lawn grubs ƛ digging up patches of grass in search for them. Skunks, raccoons, armadillos, opossums, moles, ibis and other birds will be attracted to heavy infestations.

To check a lawn before damage is visible, cut a square foot block out of the lawn. It needs to be at least 4" deep. Remember that it takes 4 to 7 per square foot to cause damage. If only 1 or 2 can be found, there is no need for panic or treatment.

How to Get Rid of Grubs

If you have discovered grubs in your turf and live in the Orlando Florida area, Miller Enviro-Care knows how to time treatment applications accurately. The best time for treating grub worms is in late summer or early fall while the grub worms are still small and close to the surface.

Miller Enviro-Care will help you avoid poor treatment planning which can mean your lawn still stands a chance of a grub infestation and possible turf loss. Additionally, Miller Enviro-Care uses a preventative grub control product which will eliminate any timing issues and other associated problems. Such preventative protection is much cheaper than replacing the turf.

During the treatment, our pest control expert will give you any specific instructions regarding the watering of your lawn; however, in most cases you'll want to keep your lawn lightly watered to help offset the root damage caused by grub worms.

Additionally, you can help ward off grubs by attracting worm-eating birds like robins and other song birds to your lawn. They are typically fond of eating grubs for breakfast.

Miller Enviro-Care has over 30 years of combined experience in Pest Prevention, Termite Protection, Irrigation Systems, Sod Supply and Lawn Care Solutions. Based in Oviedo, we are in business to protect the health, food, property and quality of our environment for customers throughout the Orlando area including, but not limited to Winter Springs, Casselberry, Altamonte Springs, Longwood, Maitland, Lake Mary, Sanford, Apopka and Winter Park.