How do I know if I have grubs?

Look for irregular brown patches that feel spongy or peel up like loose carpet. Increased digging by skunks, raccoons, or birds is another classic sign. Pull up a section of turf: grubs are white, C-shaped, about the size of your thumbnail.

Is grub control safe for kids and pets?

Yes. Once the product has been watered in and the lawn is dry, it is safe for children and pets. Our techs will advise you on the specific re-entry interval for the product used.

When should I apply grub control?

Preventative products work best in late June or early July, before eggs hatch. Curative treatments can be applied in late summer or early fall if active grubs are present.

Do I need emergency grub treatment?

If you are actively seeing sod peel up or wildlife digging, fast treatment can save the remaining turf. We can typically dispatch a licensed applicator within one to two business days.

How many grubs are too many?

Eight to ten grubs per square foot is the industry damage threshold. Below that, healthy turf usually outgrows the damage. Above that, treatment is needed to prevent dead patches.

How long until grubs die after treatment?

Preventatives stop new grubs as they hatch and work over weeks. Curative treatments kill active grubs within 1 to 4 days depending on the product.

Will treatment kill earthworms or beneficial insects?

Modern preventatives like chlorantraniliprole are selective and low-impact for earthworms. Organic options such as Beauveria bassiana target beetle larvae without affecting bees or worms.

Do I need to water after grub treatment?

Yes. Most products require half an inch of irrigation or rainfall within 24 hours to move the active into the root zone. Our techs will tell you exactly when and how much.

Can I treat grubs myself with a store-bought product?

DIY granules work when timing is perfect, but timing is where most homeowners fail. A licensed applicator knows the beetle pressure in your ZIP code and treats at the right window.

Will grubs come back next year?

Possibly. Adult beetles fly in from neighboring yards. Annual preventative treatments are the most reliable way to keep damage from returning.

Can I reseed over grub-damaged areas?

Yes, once grubs are controlled. Wait two weeks after a curative application, rake out dead turf, and overseed or lay patch sod.

What kills grubs instantly?

Curative products with trichlorfon or carbaryl knock down active grubs within one to four days. Preventatives like chlorantraniliprole take longer but last the full season.

Is grub damage reversible?

Yes, if treated early. Roots regrow once grubs are controlled, and thin patches fill in with overseeding or patch sod by the next season.

Does milky spore actually work?

Milky spore targets Japanese beetle grubs and can build up in soil over several years. It is slower than a synthetic preventative and ineffective against chafer species.

Do coffee grounds or dish soap kill grubs?

No. Those home remedies do not penetrate the root zone at the rate or volume needed. They can also damage turf if overapplied.

Why do skunks keep digging up my lawn?

Skunks dig for grubs. Consistent nighttime digging almost always indicates an active grub population feeding just under the turf.

How often should I apply grub control?

Once a year for preventative protection in areas with known beetle pressure. Curative treatments are as-needed when damage is visible.

Will grub control harm my vegetable garden?

No when applied to turf only. Our techs buffer beds and vegetable plots and never broadcast product into edibles.

Grub Control

Professional Grub Control Nationwide

Grubs are the larvae of Japanese beetles, June beetles, and chafers. They feed on grass roots from June through October and cause brown patches that peel up like loose carpet. Our licensed applicators apply season-appropriate grub control: preventative treatments in early summer to stop hatching, and curative treatments for active infestations.

Starting at $9530 to 45 minutes

Tap to call, same-day service(866) 621-2605

Live agent right now

Talk to a grub control pro now

Transparent pricing from licensed, insured pros. From $95.

Tap to call(866) 621-2605

Average call wait 14s. Open 7 days a week.

4.9 / 5 rating
Licensed & insured

Every pro, vetted

The safety standards national chains skip

Licensed
Active business license in every state we serve.
Insured
$2M general liability coverage on every job.
Background-checked
Every pro passes a nationwide background screen.
EPA-trained
Applicators certified for safe, pet-friendly products.

Licensed & insured
Every visit backed by $2M liability coverage and a state license.
Satisfaction guaranteed
Tell us within 72 hours if anything is off. We come back free or refund.
Same-week availability
Most cities dispatch a pro within 24 to 72 hours of your call.
No contracts
Pause, change, or cancel any time. You are never locked in.

What is and is not included

Exactly what you get with grub control

No surprises on the invoice. Here is a plain-English breakdown of every visit so you know what to expect before you call.

Included in every visit

Full-lawn grub inspection and soil check
Calibrated granular or liquid application
EPA-registered, label-compliant products
Single-visit season-long protection
Written re-entry and pet-safety instructions
Follow-up check-in within two weeks

Not included (ask about add-ons)

Broad pest control (mosquitoes, fleas, fire ants)
Wildlife deterrent or trapping
Reseeding of dead patches (quote separately if needed)
Soil amendment or pH correction
Moss or fungal disease treatment

Problem signs

How to tell if your lawn needs grub control

If you see two or more of these on your lawn, it is time to schedule grub control.

Sod lifts up in sheets with no root resistance
Skunks, raccoons, or birds dig holes at night
Brown patches spread in irregular shapes despite watering
Grass pulls up by the handful with zero root mass attached
Japanese beetles feed on nearby roses or linden trees in June
Soft, spongy feeling underfoot on otherwise firm lawns

Root causes

What causes brown patches that peel back like carpet

Short answer: adult beetles laying eggs in mid to late summer. The full list below is what our grub control program is built to fix.

1Adult beetles laying eggs in mid to late summer
2Warm, moist soils that favor egg survival
3Lack of preventative treatment before hatch
4Over-irrigation during egg-laying periods
5Untreated neighboring properties creating reinfection

How it works

Your grub control in three simple steps

1
Inspection & quote
We check for signs of active grubs (wilting patches, peeling sod, increased skunk or bird activity) and quote based on lawn size.
2
Targeted application
Granular or liquid treatment is applied evenly across the lawn using calibrated equipment for safe, effective coverage.
3
Watering & follow-up
We water the product in (or advise you when to) and recommend reseeding any dead patches once grubs are controlled.

When to book

When to schedule each lawn service

Timing drives results. Cool-season and warm-season lawns need different windows. Use this reference, then let a local pro confirm for your ZIP code.

Service	Cool-season window	Warm-season window
Lawn care (mowing)	April–October, weekly to bi-weekly	March–November, weekly
Lawn aeration	Late August – early October	Late May – early July
Grub control (preventative)	Mid June – mid July	Mid June – mid July
Fertilization kickoff	Late March – mid April	Mid April – late May
Weed control (pre-emergent)	Mid March – mid April	Late February – late March
Sod installation	April–June, late August – October	March–May, September–early November

Transparent pricing

What does grub control cost?

Most grub control quotes in the United States fall into these three bands. Your final price is based on lot size, access, and the add-ons you choose.

Preventative

$95 to $180

Single-visit season-long protection timed before egg hatch.

Curative

$140 to $260

Fast-acting treatment for active damage, plus a 3-week follow-up.

Large or commercial

$260 to $600

Over 10,000 sq ft or HOA common areas with multiple entry points.

What drives the price

Lot size. Price scales with treated square footage.
Product class. Preventatives run less than curative treatments with faster-acting actives.
Infestation severity. Active damage may require a follow-up application.
Bio vs synthetic. Organic options like Beauveria bassiana usually price higher.

Fit check

Is grub control right for your lawn?

A quick honest read on where this service delivers the biggest return, and where you might want something else first.

Best for

Lawns with a history of grub damage or beetle pressure
Homes near mature trees, especially linden and birch
Cool-season lawns in the Midwest and Northeast where chafer pressure is high
Homeowners seeing nighttime digging or peeling sod

Not the right fit if

Lawns with fungal disease symptoms that mimic grub damage (get a pro diagnosis first)
Properties that need broad pest control for mosquitoes or fire ants (separate service)
Organic-only customers who prefer milky spore (ask about our bio options)

Modern home with a large uniform green lawn, free of brown patches

Grub Control

Real result

Recent grub control from our network

“Had skunks tearing up the back yard every night. One treatment and the digging stopped within a week.”

Omar B. · Atlanta, GA

Verified reviews

Real grub control reviews from across the country

4.9 stars across 2,473 verified LawnFixed customers.

Omar B.
Atlanta, GA · Jun 2025
“Had skunks tearing up the back yard every night. One treatment and the digging stopped within a week.”
Katie N.
Nashville, TN · Jul 2025
“Brown patches were spreading fast. The tech diagnosed grubs on the spot and saved my lawn.”
Rajiv P.
Chicago, IL · Jun 2025
“Pet-safe reassurance was important to us. Got clear instructions and our dogs were back on the lawn by the afternoon.”
Megan W.
Orlando, FL · May 2025
“No more spongy patches. Grubs gone, grass filled back in without any reseeding.”

Why it matters

Not all lawn services are built the same

A quick comparison of what most homeowners get when they go DIY, hire a handyman, or book with us.

Feature	DIY	Local handyman	LawnFixed
Licensed applicator on every visit
General liability insurance
Background-checked technicians
Commercial-grade, EPA-registered products
Written satisfaction guarantee
Same-week dispatch
Photo-verified service receipt
No-contract, cancel anytime

Seasonal timing matters

Beat the grub hatch window

Preventative treatments work best before eggs hatch in late June. Miss it and you are playing defense against active feeding.

Priority dispatch within 24 to 48 hours

Tap to call, avg wait 14s(866) 621-2605Live agents 7 days a week · No pressure quotes

Service area

Find grub control in your city

We connect homeowners with licensed local pros in nearly 600 cities across 49 states. Here are a few popular metros. Tap a city to see pricing and book.

The LawnFixed Promise

Not 100% happy? We make it right.

If anything falls short of your expectations, tell us within 3 days and we will send your pro back to fix it for free, or refund your money. Ninety-nine percent of our services delight customers. For the other one percent, we make it right.

3-day satisfaction guarantee

Licensed, insured, background-checked pros
Transparent upfront pricing with no surprise fees
Photo receipts and live job tracking
3-day satisfaction guarantee on every job

Read before you book

Grub Control guides from our lawn care editors

Plain-English guides that pair with this service, written by licensed landscapers.

5 signs of grub damage

Spot damage early and know when to treat.

Read the guide

Fall lawn care guide

The season grub damage peaks and how to recover.

Read the guide

Watering your lawn correctly

Proper watering helps turf recover after grub treatment.

Read the guide

Pair with

Services that work well with grub control

Bundling the right services is how most lawns go from maintained to thriving.

Fertilization and recovery program

Feeding accelerates root regrowth after grub damage is controlled.

Learn more →

Core aeration

Aerating compacted soil helps the lawn rebound after a grub infestation.

Learn more →

Know the terms

Grub Control glossary

Plain-English definitions for the jargon you will hear from any lawn pro. Bookmark this for your next quote.

Grub: The C-shaped larval stage of scarab beetles. They feed on grass roots from June through October.
Japanese beetle: A metallic-green beetle whose larvae are the most common lawn grub in the United States.
Chafer: A beetle whose larvae feed aggressively on cool-season turfgrass roots, especially in the Midwest and Northeast.
Preventative grub control: A treatment applied before eggs hatch, usually late June through early July, to stop grubs before they feed.
Curative grub control: A fast-acting treatment used when live grubs are actively feeding and damage is visible.
Threshold: A grub count above which damage is likely. For most turf, 8 to 10 grubs per square foot is the action threshold.
Imidacloprid: A systemic neonicotinoid widely used for preventative grub control.
Beauveria bassiana: A naturally occurring fungus used as an organic grub control alternative.

FAQ

Common questions about grub control

Preventative grub control typically runs $95 to $200 for a standard residential lawn. Curative treatments for active infestations may cost more depending on damage.

Ready for professional grub control?

Same-day quotes by phone. Licensed, insured, and background-checked in all 49 states.

Tap to call(866) 621-2605 Prefer to type? Request a written quote.

Professional Grub Control Nationwide

Talk to a grub control pro now

The safety standards national chains skip

Licensed

Insured

Background-checked

EPA-trained

Licensed & insured

Satisfaction guaranteed

Same-week availability

No contracts

Exactly what you get with grub control

Included in every visit

Not included (ask about add-ons)

How to tell if your lawn needs grub control

What causes brown patches that peel back like carpet

Your grub control in three simple steps

Inspection & quote

Targeted application

Watering & follow-up

When to schedule each lawn service

What does grub control cost?

What drives the price

Is grub control right for your lawn?

Best for

Not the right fit if

Recent grub control from our network

Real grub control reviews from across the country

Not all lawn services are built the same

Beat the grub hatch window

Find grub control in your city

California

Texas

Florida

New York

Georgia

North Carolina

Illinois

Arizona

Pennsylvania

Colorado

Washington

Ohio

Not 100% happy? We make it right.

Grub Control guides from our lawn care editors

5 signs of grub damage

Fall lawn care guide

Watering your lawn correctly

Services that work well with grub control

Fertilization and recovery program

Core aeration

Grub Control glossary

Common questions about grub control

More grub control questions

Ready for professional grub control?