Many insects benefit your garden. Bees are excellent pollinators, while adult ladybugs eat damaging aphids and mites, and nocturnal ground beetles keep slug and snail populations in check. Grubs, however, are one creepy-crawly you don’t want. These pests feed on the roots of plants and turf grass, and they also attract skunks, raccoons, and rodents that will dig into the soil. Therefore, good grub control is a must for maintaining any garden. The best way to prevent grubs from damaging your lawn is to keep them out in the first place.

Grub Control for Your Garden

Incorporate Insects That Battle Grubs 

Introducing and nurturing natural predators of grubs into your garden is a smart step. Tiphiid wasps and nematode worms are your best bet. You can attract the wasps by planting fragrant herbs and flowers, like yarrow and spearmint. Nematodes are small worms that can be purchased from many garden stores. Simply mix the worms with water and apply them to the soil.

Use a Natural Insecticide

If grubs have already infiltrated, the bacterial insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis serotype kurstaki provides one safe solution. This substance is based on a bacteria that naturally occurs in soil and interferes with grubs’ ability to feed. You can apply it as a spray on a plant’s leaves or by drenching its roots.

Aerate Your Lawn 

Using aerators shoes can also help, as the spikes on the bottom pierce grubs under the surface. Water your lawn beforehand in order to drive the grubs to the top where they are more easily reached. 

Get Your Hands Dirty: 

The last-ditch solution is to pull grubs manually. Check for them regularly in the soil when weeding or planting. Whenever you spy a grub, get your gardening gloves on and remove it.

Facing a grub control conundrum? Nature Plus Lawn & Irrigation can help. Headquartered in Cincinnati, OH, this lawn care and irrigation company serves Butler, Hamilton, Warren, and Clermont Counties. They have built up a reputation for expert advice and top-quality service—as their online testimonials show. To discuss your needs, give them a call directly at (513) 755-9434.