Lawn grubs — the larvae of beetles such as the European chafer, which is well established in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley — feed on grass roots. A small population may go unnoticed, but a larger one can weaken turf quickly.
What to look for
- Irregular brown or spongy patches that don’t green up with watering
- Turf that lifts up like a loose carpet because the roots have been eaten
- Crows, raccoons or skunks digging and tearing up sections of lawn, often from fall through spring
- C-shaped, creamy-white larvae with brown heads in the top few centimetres of soil
How to check
Cut a small square of sod on three sides at the edge of a damaged area and fold it back. If you find several grubs in that small patch, it’s worth treating.
Treatment options
Timing matters. Treatments such as beneficial nematodes target young grubs and are usually applied in mid-to-late summer, when the larvae are small and near the surface. Many BC municipalities also have rules about lawn pesticides, so it’s important to choose an approach that fits your local bylaws.
Longer-term, a thick, healthy lawn is your best defence: mowing a little higher, feeding properly and aerating compacted soil all help grass recover and resist damage.
Want us to handle it?
Next Generation Landscaping offers Grub Treatment across Mission, Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley. Request a quote or call 778-918-4212.
