Lawn grubs or dry patches is a common conversation we are having with customers lately. With lawn grubs coming into season and warm dry weather we many people are worried about their lawns.
Why do people confuse lawn grubs or dry patches?
One common problem we have seen recently is customers who think they have lawn grub, when really they just have dry patches. People confuse lawn grubs or dry patches because the symptoms can look similar. Often the first sign of lawn grubs is brown or bare patches in the lawn, and when it’s lawn grub season it’s easy to assume you have a grub problem. If you do end up with brown or bare patches it is important to investigate further, as you don’t want to spray chemicals when you don’t have to. And more importantly, if the patches are from drying out you need to get the water into them fast.
Investigating lawn grubs
Other warning signs of lawn grubs include white moths flying around at sundown, white egg sacs on your home as well as increased lawn grub predator activity such as birds or orange/black wasps. To see if you really do have grubs a simple test is to get a bucket of water and drop of dish washing liquid and pour it on the affect area. If there are lawn grubs they will be visible as they will come to the surface.
Preventing lawn grubs
You can prevent lawn grubs attacking by using a product called Acelepryn. Acelepryn targets a wide range of insect pests such as African Black Beetle, Argentinian Scarab, Bullbugs and several species of Caterpillars including Cutworm, Sod Webworm and Lawn Armyworm.
It is also unique in that it can be used as a preventative measure, up to 6 months protection from every application. This means you can get year round protection from just 2 applications. This is a great solution for people with regular lawn grub invasions. Acelepryn is available to purchase from our head office at Acacia Ridge or from our online store to be directly delivered to your house.
A cheaper alternative
The more thorough method for you can use a chemical like Grub Killa which you can purchase at your Local Bunnings Store. With the active ingredient Bifenthrin this product is toxic to most insects but less toxic to birds and of minimal toxicity to mammals. This makes it safer than many other pest control products. Or you can purchase Grub Guard from out office at Acacia Ridge.
Treating tips when spraying for lawn grubs
#1. Always spray in the late afternoon/evenings (Kill bugs at night, and weeds in the morning)
#2. Spray a second time 7-10 days later to break the lifecycle
#3. Don’t spray if rain is likely as you will only need to reapply
#4. Always read the label and follow label rates before application
#5. After treatment give any brown patches a hit with fertiliser and water to bring it back to life
Why do we get dry patches and how do we treat them
One reason why people quickly assume they have lawn grubs is because they are regularly watering their lawn. Dry patches though can appear even in well irrigated lawns. They don’t even consider lawn grubs or dry patches, they immediately treat for lawn grubs and don’t water.
Hard surfaces such as driveways or houses can hold the heat and dry out areas nearby. Also an area receiving more sunlight than other areas can lead to it drying out quicker. And even soil composition can lead to some areas needing more water than other areas.
If you start to see an area drying out quicker than other areas you need to adjust your watering schedule. For some people this is just starting a watering schedule! It is important to understand that you may need to leave the sprinkler run longer in your problem areas to ensure your whole lawn stays healthy. It is also a good idea to use soil wetting agent to assist problem areas better cope with their environment.
To get more information on lawn grubs or dry patches or to order a new lawn call our team on (07) 3114 8281. You can also to pop in and order in person at our sales office on 1/243 Bradman Street, Acacia Ridge. The office opens Monday to Friday 7am to 5pm and Saturday 7am to 12pm.
For more great turf, tips keep an eye on our website and all our social media channels.
