lawn care technician with granular spreader in lawn 2

Grub Control Basics: How to Spot Grub Damage & Ways Your Lawn Can Recover

Have you heard of lawn grubs? Likely, you haven’t unless they’ve wreaked havoc on your lawn.

And you’re definitely better off not coming face to face with these pests. They are not only gross, but they are also pretty sneaky.

What makes them so sly? You can’t really tell when they attack your lawn because they do their worst under the surface of the lawn where you can’t see them.

In fact, your grass can look just fine, while grubs are eating away at the roots beneath. And this grub damage in lawns can not only make your grass look bad down the road, but it also cuts off the pathways of vital water and nutrients to your lawn. And that doesn’t help; your lawn needs those things to survive and thrive.

Pretty mean, right?

Grub (CC)

Since grubs can devastate your lawn in Memphis, TN and North MS, let’s talk about how to identify lawn grubs, lawn grub treatment, and professional grub control so you can better understand how to prevent and control these pests and get your nice, green lawn back.

Lawn Grub Control in Memphis, TN and North MS

Lawn grub treatment begins with answering some basic but important questions about these voracious and hungry pests.

First, understand that grubs are actually the larval stage of adult beetles like Japanese beetles and June bugs. They are usually white and C-shaped.

Here, we’ll talk about common signs of grub damage in lawns.

Adult Beetles

Identifying lawn grubs starts with the appearance of adult beetles like Japanese beetles crawling around your roses or other plants.

Why does this signify lawn grubs? Because these beetles are likely laying eggs nearby in your grass. Those eggs hatch white grubs that then feed on your lawn all summer and through fall.

Japanese Beetle (Popillia_japonica) CC

As temperatures get cooler before the winter months, grubs burrow deeper into your soil. In spring, they resume their feeding of your lawn roots until they emerge as adult beetles in late spring.

A Weak Lawn

If your grass is underperforming, that could be a sign of grub damage in lawns.

For instance, if you notice in May that your grass has brown or yellow spots, dead patches, or discoloration, you might have a grub problem.

A Disconnected Lawn

How to identify lawn grubs can also come into play when you might notice your lawn is squishy as you walk on it.

And if you try to pull up your lawn, you might see that it’s a bit disconnected from the soil, which means the roots have been eating them and severing their ties to the grass plants above.

Animals Digging In Your Lawn

Another sign of grub damage in lawns is wild animals like raccoons, moles, skunks, and others digging up your lawn.

crow tearing up a lawn to feed on grubs (CC)

Grubs happen to be pretty juicy protein nuggets for these animals, so they excavate your lawn with their paws and claws to reach these snacks.

How Can I Control Grubs?

So now that you understand how grubs work and what grub damage in lawns looks like, the next step is getting rid of them before they do more destruction to your grass.

In Memphis, TN and North MS, nearly everyone has some grubs unfortunately. We’re sorry to be the ones to tell you. But the good news is there are some options you have to handle these pests – no matter what level of infestation you have.

First, know that timing of grub control is essential in stopping these pests. Identifying them early can ensure less damage and better control. As a result, prevention is the best strategy. In fact, grub control as a part of a complete, proactive lawn care program is the best way to handle these pests.


At Lawn & Pest Solutions, we use an integrated pest management approach, meaning we’ll inspect your lawn for pest problems and then recommend applications on an as-needed basis or during times when we see the highest insect pressure from grubs.

We also provide other lawn care services like fertilization and weed control that can enhance your lawn’s health and bring it back from grub damage in lawns. While we’re on your property taking care of your grass, our trained technicians can monitor for grubs to ensure they aren’t lingering in your lawn.

Want to Kick Grubs to the Curb? Let Lawn & Pest Solutions Help

In your Memphis, TN or North MS lawn, the last thing you want to see is a lawn that has bare spots, yellow areas, sections that pull up easily, and animals digging around causing additional embarrassing blemishes.

Grubs can bring the worst kinds of damage, and if you let them get out of control, they just keep going, showing no signs of letting up.

The last thing you need is to spend countless hours trusting usually unreliable DIY grub control methods, repairing your lawn damage, and never finding any lasting relief or improvement.

Eliminating grubs permanently means trusting professional grub control services in Memphis, TN and North MS to stay ahead of the problem and deliver effective solutions that save you money, time, and headaches. Get back to the lawn you love and let us help you tackle your grub problem.

Ready to learn why Lawn & Pest Solutions could be your choice for professional grub control services in Memphis, TN and North MS? We’re excited to learn more about you and help you have the best lawn on the block. Get started today with a free quote. Together, we can prepare a customized plan that is perfect for you and your lawn. 

Image Source | Grub, Crow Feeding on Lawn Grubs, Japanese Beetle