Protect your Columbia lawn from destructive grub damage with professional prevention and treatment.
Call for FREE EstimateJapanese beetle grubs are among the most destructive lawn pests in Howard County. Infestations of just 8-10 grubs per square foot can kill grass rapidly. Without treatment, severe infestations can destroy entire lawns, requiring expensive renovation. Prevention is far easier and cheaper than repair!
Grubs are the larval stage of various beetle species, with Japanese beetles being most problematic in Columbia. These C-shaped, cream-colored larvae live in soil and feed voraciously on grass roots.
They're most active from late summer through fall, then again in spring before pupating into adult beetles. During peak feeding, they can sever roots faster than grass can replace them.
At Greenlawn Inc, we've battled grubs in Howard County lawns since 1986. Our 39 years of experience has taught us that grub damage is both predictable and preventable with proper timing.
Understanding when grubs are active helps explain treatment timing and prevention strategies:
Adult Japanese beetles emerge, feed on plants, and lay eggs in turf. Females prefer moist, irrigated lawns.
Eggs hatch into tiny grubs that begin feeding. Critical window for preventative treatmentâgrubs are small and vulnerable.
Grubs grow rapidly, feeding aggressively. Lawn damage becomes visibleâbrown patches, spongy turf, animals digging.
Grubs move deeper to overwinter below frost line. They're dormant and untreatable during this period.
Grubs return to surface and resume feeding briefly before pupating. Secondary treatment window, less effective than summer.
Adult beetles emerge and the cycle repeats. Prevention must restart to protect your lawn.
Grub damage often appears suddenly in late summer or early fall. Here's what to watch for:
Irregular brown patches that expand rapidly and feel spongy when walked on. Turf often rolls up like carpetâa definitive sign.
Crows, starlings pecking at lawn, or skunks and raccoons digging holes at night. They're hunting grubs as a protein source.
Grass comes up with little resistance and no soil attached. The "tug test" reveals severed roots from grub feeding.
Brown patches don't improve despite watering because there are no roots to absorb moisture. Drought stress vs. grub damage indicator.
Effective grub control requires the right product applied at the right time:
Timing: Late July - mid-August
Target: Newly hatched grubs before they grow
We apply long-lasting insecticides when grubs are small and most vulnerable. Products create a protective barrier that kills grubs as they hatch. Prevention costs less than curative treatment and avoids lawn damage entirely.
Timing: September-October when damage is visible
Target: Larger, actively feeding grubs
Addresses existing infestations after damage has occurred. Kills grubs causing current damage and prevents further destruction, but doesn't restore dead grassârequires overseeding or sodding in spring.
Timing: April - early May
Target: Overwintered grubs resuming feeding
Reduces populations that overwintered in your lawn. Less effective than summer prevention because grubs are larger, feed for shorter period, and are deeper in soil. Mainly for severe carryover populations.
Many Columbia homeowners attempt DIY grub control with disappointing results. Here's why professional treatment is more effective:
Precise Timing: Grub control timing is critical. Apply two weeks too early or too late and effectiveness drops dramatically. We monitor local conditions to time applications perfectly.
Professional Products: Our MDA licensing allows us to use professional-grade formulations that are more effective and longer-lasting than consumer products available at garden centers.
Guaranteed Results: We stand behind our treatments. If grubs return despite proper treatment, we retreat at no charge. DIY products offer no such guarantee.
For most Columbia residential properties
Pricing varies based on lawn size and treatment type. Preventative treatment typically costs slightly more because products last longer (full season vs. 4-6 weeks).
This investment prevents damage that could cost $500-$2,000+ to repair through reseeding or sodding. Many of our complete lawn care programs include grub control as part of the package for better value.
What affects pricing: Property size (most Columbia lawns 3,000-8,000 sq ft), treatment type, program inclusion, and whether spring and summer treatment are needed.
Complete lawn recovery requires more than just grub control. Explore our related services: