[mudshovel]

I need help in the proper and best way to treat grub damage in SE Pennsylvania. They have pretty much taken over the property. I'm guessing you would thatch, aerate, possibly correct the pH, and put a grub killer and preventer down, and then overseed. Do you need to re-apply the grub killer, how many times in the season, and what's the best way to prevent them? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[uniscaper]

One great product that can last for up to 25 years is Milky Spore it is made by St. Gabriel Labs. Let me try to explain how it works. I am not an expert so I'll do my best.
There are 2 different types of the product.

One is a one time application of a powder. It is pretty labor intensive. Here is how to apply it. It takes 1 teaspoon applied on a 4 foot grid. So, every 4 feet you would apply 1 teaspoon. They also have an applicator that all you do is tap it on the ground and it drops the right amount. Sounds like alot of work but, it only needs to be done once.

The other way is with a granular and put on with a spreader and has to be applied at least once a year for 3 to 5 years.

Now the way it works is like this. The grubs ingest the Milky Spore and it populates inside of there bodies by the millions and virtually makes them explode (gross I know). That creates more Milky Spore and makes it more available for the other grubs and this just continues this cycle until your population of grubs is gone. And since there is so much residual in your soil new grubs cannot exist.

This is a totally organic way to get rid of the grubs.

The one down side is that you have to allow the grubs to exist and destroy themselves.

If you apply a chemical grub killer in conjunction with this it will still work but will take much longer since this system needs them to be effective. Weird I know.

[mudshovel]

Pretty cool...and its organic!!! Thanks

[TrickyDick]

I'm not an expert either but my understanding is that the commercially available species of milky spore only effects a few specific beetle species and is mostly used to control Japanese beetles. And it can take a few years to work. If you know what grubs you're dealing with and can take some time to fix the problem it may be a good choice.

[sandim]

Another thing you may look into are "Beneficial Nematodes". Best prices we've found are from buglogical.com
100% natural. Like anything natural immediate results will not take place, but it will help significantly. Most importantly, be sure to advise your client if their neighbors also have bad grub problems, it will be that much harder for them to get rid of it and they should try to talk to their neighbors about getting on a grub control program as well.
Take a soil sample and send it to your local extension center or soil lab, that way you'll know what else is going on. A

[GLAN]

You may need to check if in PA you need to have an applicators license to apply pesticides........chemical or organic/biological.

Where I am.........an applicators license is absolutely necessary.



If it's your own lawn......you can do as you please......If organic....what has already been posted.

If you want a season long control........Apply in May........a product called "Merit"