Sustainable control of grubs in the lawn

If you see yellow spots in your lawn, you may be dealing with grubs. These are white larvae of beetles that live in the soil and feed on the roots of your grass. The longer the grubs stay in your lawn, the greater the damage will be. That is why it is important to combat them effectively and sustainably.

Pests in the lawn

There are some pests that you can suffer from in your lawn. You have snow fungus, red thread, leatherjackets and grubs. White grubs are the most common pest.

Damage to lawn by grubs

Having grubs in your lawn can cause significant damage to your turf. The grubs live in the soil and feed on the roots of your grass. This weakens the turf and can cause yellow spots. The longer the grubs stay in your lawn, the more damage they can cause and it can even lead to bald spots.

Types of grubs

There are different types of grubs that can be found in your lawn. Recognizing the different species is important to apply the correct control technique. The most common types of grubs in the Netherlands are the grub of the May beetle, the June beetle and the rose beetle. The grub of the yew beetle can also cause damage, but it is relatively small and has no legs.

Fighting grubs

Controlling grubs must be done in the right way to be effective and not to harm the environment. The use of chemical pesticides is not sustainable and can be harmful to nature. Fortunately, there are also sustainable ways to combat grubs. An effective and sustainable method is the use of nematodes or nematodes.

Nematodes are microscopic creatures that live in the soil. They feed on grubs and introduce a bacterial poison into the larvae. The poison will cause the grubs to die and your lawn will regenerate on its own. Nematodes are a safe and sustainable way to combat grubs. It is important to apply the nematodes at the right time and in the right way.

When do you use nematodes

The best time to use nematodes is in spring or autumn. The soil temperature must be at least 12 degrees Celsius. It is important to keep the soil moist by watering regularly. Nematodes work best in moist soil. In addition, it is important to mix the nematodes correctly and distribute them over the lawn. You can do this with a watering can or a pressure sprayer.

Prevention for your lawn against grubs

It is also possible to take preventive measures to avoid grubs. A healthy and well-maintained turf is less attractive for beetles to lay their eggs in. That is why it is important to fertilize and scarify your lawn properly. You can also use natural enemies of grubs, such as chickens and hedgehogs.

This way you know how to combat and prevent grubs in a sustainable way and how to maintain a beautiful lawn.