Grubs are coming!
White grubs can be a very destructive turf insect in northern Illinois. Grubs are white with a "C" shaped body. Grubs are the larval stage of beetles and feed on lawn roots. Damage by grubs will occur as browning of the turf caused by theirs feeding on the roots. Browning begins to occur in mid-August. Eight to twelve grubs per square foot will cause browning that requires control. Raccoons and skunks will pull up chunks of turf in search of grubs.

Insecticide application for grub control should be done in early July or early August, depending on conditions and the insecticide used. The insecticide imidicloprid sold as Merit and Grubex will last three to four months; so technically it could be applied in May for grub control in late July and August; but applying Merit or Grubex before July is not recommended. In July you can easily determine if an application is necessary. Grubs tend to lay eggs in July in moist, irrigated soil. So, if there is a dry period during the grub egg laying; damage tends to be reduced. If you choose to apply an insecticide; water it into the soil immediately after application.

Get Your "Bug" Book!
Managing Insects Pests in the Home, Yard and Garden is an excellent 30-page booklet available from the University of Illinois for $3.00. This publication provides basic management suggestions, both non-chemical and chemical, for the control of insects in vegetables, flowers, trees and shrubs, lawns and in your home. Included also is a section on management of pet pests. Just send a $3.00 check payable to University of Illinois to J7, University of Illinois, 5106 South Western Avenue, Chicago, IL., 60609.

Early Summer 1997
Watering Lawns Properly | 1997 Perennial Plant of the Year - Salvia 'May Night' | Shrub of the Month - Butterfly Bush | Garden Myths | Basics of Fertilizing Houseplants | Cybergarden Sites | Bug Bites | Lawn Care Calendar | Hort Shorts | Hort Tips | Food Safety: The Summertime Rules | Healthy Cooking: All Vegetables Are Not Created Equal | Locally Grown: The Best Is Yet to Come | Health Update: First Aid Kit To Go | Health & Household Tips | Did You Know?

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