Lawn Care: Using Grass Clippings and Dealing with White Grubs

Grass Clippings
The best thing to do is to let grass clippings stay on the lawn. As plants grow, they us up nitrogen present in the soil, and letting the grass clippings decompose naturally allows this to return to the soil without having to add it from another source. Add clippings to your compost heap as well; layer clippings with food scraps and leaves, and make sure to check the level of moisture on the heap or in the bin. Add some extra water to the heap if it is extremely dry. Clippings should decompose well, but be sure to only add them if they are free from chemicals such as pesticides that are sometimes applied to lawns. In our area, pesticide use is prohibited by bylaw; inquire in your area about what products are acceptable for local use.


White Grubs
Unfortunately, our area is plagued by persistent problems with white grubs. The grubs live under the turf, and feed on the roots of the grass, leaving entire patches of dead turf (or turf that is severely dicoloured and unhealthy). Another problem is that a variety of creatures may be attracted to the lawn to feed on the grubs—this can lead to quite a bit of damage in its own right. If the grub problem is aggressive, call the city to see if free or subsidized treatments are available. It is better to try prevention—many things can help reduce the likelihood of white grubs proliferating in your lawn.

The timing for applying insecticides will depend on the variety of beetle that is causing the problem; some will lay their eggs in the spring and have one instar (larval stage) that feeds over the late spring and summer. Others may have another instar in the early fall, which can do even more damage, just as you were thinking the problems were going to be over until the next year.

A healthy lawn will be more resistant to problems. Nematodes are also often used as a biological control—make sure to keep the lawn moist for this to be effective. If you choose to use insecticides, check first to make sure that your problem is indeed serious enough to warrant the application of this product. Many people treat without actually needing to, since a certain number of grubs should be expected in any lawn. Aerate and water well when applying the insecticide, to make sure the product gets down far enough, to where the grubs are actually located.

If in doubt about how serious your grub problem is, contact a lawn care expert in your area for advice and/or a home visit.