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Grub question

16 years ago

I am currently raking out a section of lawn that is dead grass. It just rakes in piles. About a 30x30 foot area. While I'm raking I notice grubs.

My question is , do I throw down grub ex now before I reseed or after I reseed? In other words, will grub ex hurt a newly seeded area?

Thanks.

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Comments (3)

paulinct
16 years ago
Hi,

I am no expert, and I know that this doesn't answer all of your questions, but I would think that you don't have to worry about grubs in an area where there are no longer any grass roots for them to feed on, and probably haven't been since last fall. I think the larger danger is that your new grass that you are about to sow might not make it through the summer if you don't keep it watered. That is not to say that I think you shouldn't try. If it does make it into the summer, you'll be able to put down grub control at the usual time, but even then I would probably be more concerned about the areas of grass that are still looking good now

All that said, I hope someone more knowledgeable than me chimes in!

Paul
paulinct
16 years ago
P.S. I should have mentioned that the worst grub damage happens in the fall, and is recognized the following spring. I think this is what happened here. So putting the grub control down now is like closing the barn doors after the horses have left, or whatever that expression is....

Again, I think you'll get more specific advice from other more knowledgeable folk here, this is just my $.02

Good luck!
Paul
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User
16 years ago
Agreed. The horses are gone, the barn door being closed now has no effect. Or, at least the horses are big enough to knock 'em open again at will.

Those grubs are about to turn into beetles and they're hard to kill right now. Grub control works best on newly-hatched grubs, which means about the time you see the beetles.

I don't know if it impacts a new seeding, but I don't think it does--except in the sense that it'll kill all the beneficial insects that would actually help you along.

So, if you have to seed, do it. Expect lots of weeds and all that, plus having to baby it through summer. Add the grub control when you see the first Japanese beetles, probably in late May or early June.

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