What is grub control?
Grub control is the treatment of white grub larvae that feed on grass roots in turf, causing brown patches and lawn damage in summer months.
White grubs are the larval stage of June beetles and Japanese beetles that live in soil and feed directly on grass roots. In Austin lawns, grub activity peaks in summer when the larvae are largest and most destructive, creating brown, dead patches that pull up easily because the root system has been consumed. Detecting grubs early matters because root damage compounds quickly once an infestation establishes.
Grub control involves either preventive treatments applied in late spring before beetle adults lay eggs, or curative treatments once grubs are present in the soil. Landscapers use several methods:
- Chemical insecticides (typically grub-specific products) applied to soil, which kill grubs on contact or through ingestion
- Beneficial nematodes, microscopic organisms that naturally prey on grubs in the soil
- Milky spore, a bacterium that targets grub populations over multiple seasons
The right timing and method depend on how severe the infestation is and whether the goal is prevention or damage control. Because Austin's warm climate extends the grub season, ongoing monitoring through late summer helps catch problems before they kill large sections of turf. Local landscapers can assess your lawn for grub damage and recommend a treatment plan suited to your property's conditions.