Grub season is here in Missouri, and it’s time to start looking out for the most common signs that these pests are on your lawn. Grubs can do extensive damage to your lawn if left alone. That’s why you should reach out to a lawn care professional at the first sign of grubs, If your lawn lifts up like a carpet or feels soft and spongey when you walk on it, there is a good chance that grubs are infesting your lawn. If you look in your soil and see ten or more grubs gathered in one area, that's another indicator that grubs could be infesting your lawn. You should also keep an eye on wildlife activity on your property. If you notice birds or other animals digging through your lawn, they might be feasting on grubs!

Your grass lifts up like a carpet.

Lawn pulling up like carpet due to grub infestation in Independence, MO.

One way to tell if your lawn is infested with grubs is if you pull on your grass and it lifts up like a carpet. Healthy grass usually establishes deep roots that are firmly planted in your soil, making it much more difficult to pull and remove your grass. But grubs feed on the roots of your grass, and as grub damage progresses, it eventually severs that connection to your soil, making it much easier for you to lift grass up.

Your lawn feels spongy when you walk on it.

Another way you can tell if your lawn is suffering from a grub infestation is by simply walking onto your lawn. Turf suffering from a grub infestation will have a spongy or bouncy feel to it as you walk on it. As grubs continue to eat the roots of your grass, they’ll damage the root structure and weaken your turf overall. Instead of firm grass, your grass will become softer since it is not well-anchored to the soil.

You see ten or more grubs in one spot when looking in your soil.

Grubs found in soil in Lee's Summit, MO.

Some of the damage that grubs do will resemble other lawn care issues, so a surefire way to see if you have a grub infestation is to look for them in your soil. You'll need to take a small shovel and dig up small sections of your yard where you believe there is grub activity. If you dig and find ten or more grubs in a single spot, that's a sign that your lawn has a grub infestation. At that point, you'll want to reach out to lawn care professionals to help get rid of the grubs for you.

Animals are digging into your lawn to look for grubs.

Another indication your lawn is suffering from a grub infestation is if you notice a bunch of animals like skunks, raccoons, and birds on your lawn. These animals migrate towards areas where they can find food. If you are noticing an increased animal presence on your lawn, there is a good chance that they are there to feast on the grubs on your lawn. It’s best to reach out to a lawn care company at this point. That way, they can get rid of the grubs with a grub control treatment, which can then reduce the number of unwanted visitors on your lawn.

A lawn care company can help your lawn recover from grub damage with services like aeration, fertilization, and overseeding.

Call us to schedule our grub control service!

If left to their own devices, grubs can end up causing serious damage to your lawn. If you notice any of the above signs of grub damage on your lawn, do not hesitate to reach out to us! We offer our grub control service to commercial, HOA, and residential property owners in the Raymore, MO area, including nearby areas such as Lee's Summit and Blue Springs. Call us today at 816-615-0014 to schedule our grub control service!