If you own a property in New Mexico or Texas, you should be aware of some common indicators that may suggest a grub infestation on your lawn. Grubs are the larvae of beetles, such as Japanese beetles or June bugs, and they are very common throughout this area. Telltale signs of a grub infestation include a lawn that feels spongey or lifts up like a carpet, as well as irregular brown patches on a lawn. Increased presence of animals like birds and raccoons on your lawn may also indicate grub activity as these critters feed on grubs. If you suspect a grub infestation, it’s best to contact a professional for curative treatment immediately to protect the health and beauty of your lawn.

If your lawn feels spongey underfoot or can be lifted like a carpet, it could be infested with grubs.

You may notice that your lawn feels strangely spongey when you walk on it, almost as if it's giving way beneath your feet. This sponginess is one of the hallmark indicators of a grub infestation. Grubs feed on the roots of your grass which weakens the grass's tether to the soil, causing it to feel spongey. Additionally, if you try to lift a patch of grass, you may find that it comes up easily, almost like a carpet. This happens because the grubs have eaten away the roots, leaving your lawn with little to anchor it down.

Irregular brown patches appearing randomly throughout your lawn could indicate a grub infestation.

Another telltale sign of a grub infestation is the presence of irregular patches of brown grass on your lawn. As grubs feed on the roots of your grass, they hinder the turf's ability to absorb nutrients and resources from the soil. This lack of nourishment causes the grass to weaken and eventually die, resulting in unsightly brown patches. These patches may appear randomly scattered across your lawn and can vary in size. If you notice an increasing number of brown areas, it's essential to investigate the possibility of grubs being the culprit.

If you notice an uptick in the amount of animal activity on your lawn, they could be feeding on grubs.

An increase in animal activity on your lawn could also be an indicator of a grub infestation. Animals such as raccoons, skunks, and birds are known to be grub predators. They dig into the soil in search of these tasty larvae to feed on. If you observe more of these animals than usual frequenting your lawn, it may be a sign that they have detected a grub population beneath the surface. What’s more, these animals can cause additional damage to your lawn as they dig up the grass in search of grubs, exacerbating the issue.

If you dig up a small area of soil—about a square foot—and see more than five or six grubs, there’s a good chance you have an infestation.

What should you do if grubs have infested your lawn?

If you suspect a grub infestation in your lawn, it's essential to take action promptly. Delaying treatment can lead to more significant damage to your turf and make it more challenging to restore your lawn's health. The first step is to contact lawn care professionals who can assess the extent of the infestation and recommend appropriate action.

A curative grub control treatment should be scheduled as soon as possible. This treatment involves applying specialized pesticides that target the grubs, effectively eliminating them from your lawn. Early detection and timely treatment can help prevent further damage and allow your grass to recover and regrow its roots.

In addition to curative treatment, it's also essential to consider preventative measures for the future. Implementing preventative grub control can protect your lawn from potential infestations in the following year, ensuring that your turf remains healthy and resilient.

Call us today to schedule a curative or preventative grub control treatment!

At Extreme Landscaping, we offer our top-notch grub control service to property owners in Las Cruces, Mesilla, Sunland Park, and neighboring areas in New Mexico. We also offer this service in and around the El Paso, TX, area.

Our experienced professionals can provide a curative treatment to tackle an existing problem, as well as regular preventative treatments to safeguard your lawn from future infestations. Give us a call today at (575) 652-3605 to schedule our reliable grub control service and protect your lawn from these pests!