how to get rid of grub worms in the garden

how to get rid of grub worms in the garden

1) Beneficial Insects 

Certain bugs that eat other bugs are called beneficial insects. Certain bugs that eat GRUB WORMS are called larval predators. They include:

aphids

cabbage loopers

caterpillars

grub worms

pod borers

and many other types of bugs.

Farmers used to routinely buy and distribute ladybugs to eat aphids. You can do the same thing in your garden. Buy a pack of ladybugs and let the ladybugs eat the aphids in your garden.

In return for a meal, the ladybugs will help you by eating insect-based pests. However, beware that in winter, ladybugs will hunker down and sleep. When they’re sleeping, they’re as vulnerable as any other bug. Keep this in mind if you see an infestation in winter. It may be harder to get rid of than what you see right now.

 predatory ladybug

How to use larval predators in your garden:

Buy packs of insects that eat grubs and set them loose in your garden.

You can also build worm hotels (as described above) and attract predators to your garden naturally by offering them a place to sleep and food.

2) Insecticides

You can also buy, buy, buy…a variety of chemical products to get rid of grub worms in your garden. An insecticide is a chemical that kills insects. (Well, actually it’s used against more than just grubs but we’ll keep it simple.)

You can buy over-the-counter remedies or go the organic route and use garlic or mustard seeds to deter bugs. (Both of these natural alternatives contain chemical components that deter beetles and GRUB WORMS.

these chemicals are dangerous to people and animals. Always follow the label instructions and take precautions when using them. Also, remember that these products are just as effective (if not more so) when used preventively before the grubs become a major problem.

3) Fungal Solutions

An effective biological agent used to get rid of grubs is mycorrhizae. Mycorrhizae enhance the health of your garden’s soil by eating nutrients and other sources of organic waste. The fungus then makes some of that nutrition available to the plant. The mycorrhizae also eat grubs and other insect larvae.

You can buy mycorrhizae in a drop or spray form and use it to get rid of grub worms in your garden soil. The fungus will work quietly below ground, eating what it needs to and making nutrients available to the plants. The benefits of mycorrhizae last for years, ensuring that your garden has very few grub worms or other pests.

What are mycorrhizae?

You may be wondering what mycorrhizae really is. It’s a beneficial, symbiotic fungus that connects the roots of plants and the soil. The roots can exchange carbon for nutrients with the help of mycorrhiza. Additionally, the plant receives many additional benefits including improved growth and production of toxins by the mycorrhiza. In return, the fungus gets N2O, zinc, and other minerals from the plant. Check this video to learn more about mycorrhizae:

myco = fungus

rhizae = roots

Also, if you want to naturally repel grubs in your garden, use methods that attract predators such as birds and spiders. Also, use flowers that produce odors to scare off grubs, like dandelions and other flowers with a strong scent.

4) BUY GRUB CONTROL PRODUCTS

You can buy GRUB WORMS controls in garden centers and stores. These products usually contain insecticides. Personally, I avoid these products because I’d rather kill grubs naturally by using these techniques. However, if you’re really desperate and you need to kill grubs immediately, these products are an option.

5) CONTROL GRUB INSECTS DIRECTLY

You can also control GRUB WORMS by using environmentally friendly borax or salt solutions to kill them. Both of these substances will destroy grub larvae while leaving beneficial soil organisms alive and well.

How do I bait GRUB WORMS?

Baiting GRUB WORMS is an excellent technique for getting rid of pests. You just have to use something sweet that attracts the grubs and adds a poisonous component that kills the larvae. Here are some baits you can use 

• Honey

• Sugar

• Maple syrup

• Fruit juice

• Jelly or jam

• Honey yogurt

Pour the bait into the holes to get the adults out of the ground. When the grubs eat these substances, they die. This method is safe for children and pets because the GRUB WORMS are underground when they’re eating, and the material dissolves before they hatch.

6) PLANT BARRY (BERRY) TREES

If you have apple orchards, this should work very well for you. Barry trees (also called berry trees) attract many different types of birds including birds that eat GRUB WORMS like blackbirds and crows. Putting these trees near your garden can help keep the grubs and other bird pests away.

7) CREATE BIRD BUZZ ZONES

If you don’t have an orchard, you can create a Bird Buzz Zone by putting these items in your garden — wooden bird perches, hanging baskets, bird swings, birdbaths, fallen logs for birds to perch on, hanging baskets with flowers that attract birds, bird books, and posters that attract birds.

These items will attract different types of birds that eat GRUB WORMS. Once the birds are in your garden, they’ll keep other bird species away because they’ll be busy feeding on grubs and other food sources. These zones will also benefit your garden by keeping it healthy and encouraging growth.

HOW TO GET RID OF GRUB WORMS IN GARDEN SOIL

You’ll know it’s time to check your garden soil for grubs when you see plant shoots wilting and dead. You may also see crawling insects in your soil. To check your soil for GRUB WORMS larvae, do the following:

1) Take a clod of earth from the garden area you want to check

2) Divide the clod into several pieces 

3) inspect the soil in each piece for grubs

You can also add organic material such as fallen leaves, coffee grounds, orTiger Grub Control to your soil to eliminate grubs and other pests.

HOW TO GET RID OF GRUB WORMS IN GARDEN CROPS

If you have vegetables such as beans, beets, and carrots that have grubs in them, you can refrigerate them for five days to kill the GRUB WORMS before you eat them. You can also pick the grubs and put them in a bag with wood ashes or shredded paper before they hatch. When the grubs eat the material, they die of dehydration.

HOW TO GET RID OF GRUB WORMS IN DOGS

If your dog brings GRUB WORMS into your house, you can put ash, cinnamon, or gum turpentine in his/her brush to make it unpleasant for the dog. You can also put ash or wood ashes in your dog s bed to keep GRUB WORMS away.

OTHER WAYS TO GET RID OF GRUBS

If you have an herb garden, you can use it to naturally ward off grubs in your soil. Adding tansy, rue, hyssop, or pennyroyal to your soil will repel grubs and other pests. You can also plant these herbs in your garden to keep grubs away: 

Basil

Caraway

Culinary Fennel

Dill

Lavender

Marigold

Mint

Rosemary

Thyme

Other ways to get rid of grubs include:

1) Pouring boiling water over the area where the dog dug

2) Spraying a pesticide such as Sevin on the area where the dog dug 

Find Out If You Have Grubs in Your Soil

You can buy a grub larvae checker to see if you have grubs or larva in your soil. These devices look like a stick with forks on them. You insert the device into the dirt and check for gaps in the soil where the grubs are eating. The device comes with indicators that show you how deep the grubs are eating. When you find the gaps in the soil, you know that you have grub problems.

TRAPPING GRUBS

You can trap grubs by using fishing hooks, branches, and fishing lines. To make your trap, hook one end of the branch to the ground and stretch the fishing line across the branch. Place the bait on the fishing line where it will be caught when the grub eats through the ground to get to it. Examples of bait include:

Beer – put a couple of drops of beer on a small piece of cardboard and use that as bait.

You can also just dig a small hole in the ground and put a couple of drops of beer in the hole. The grub will swim to the beer and get trapped in the ground.

Bait – put a drop of bait (whatever the grub likes to eat) on a fishing hook and place it on the ground. The grub will eat at the hook and get stuck.

Candy – put a drop of candy on a fishing hook and place it on the ground. The grub will eat at the hook and get stuck.

Note that these traps should be set in areas where the dog doesn\’t play or where the traps won\’t be harmful to animals such as pets or wildlife. Also, check your state laws regarding trapping animals as some states have restrictions on trapping certain species such as deer.

HOW LONG DO GRUBS LIVE?

As an adult, a dog grub can live for up to two years underground.  When they are eating and growing, however, they can live for one year or less.

HOW TO GET RID OF GRUBS EATING YOUR SOIL

Once you see the tell-tale signs of grub holes in your soil (see our other post on how to identify bird worm and rootworm), it\’s a good idea to act quickly to stop the problem from getting worse. Depending on what kind of soil you have (sand, clay, etc.) you have a few different options for how to get rid of grubs.

FUME GRUBS OUT OF THE SOIL

You can buy a material called volatile methylcarbide (VMC) that will fume out the grubs. This process usually kills both the grubs and the adult insects. To use this material, drill holes in the soil about every 20-30 feet and pour the VMC into the holes. Make sure you are wearing protective gear (mask, gloves, eye protection) when handling and pouring this material as it is an irritant and also harmful if swallowed. Leave the material to gas out the grubs overnight and then pour the material out into a different area. Note that this material is also harmful to animals such as pets and wildlife so make sure you protect them from exposure.

INTONITE ROCK AND FUMIGATION

Another option to get rid of grubs in the soil is intonated rock and fumigation. In this process, you will add intonate rocks to your yard along with poison. Seal up all your animals and people in safe areas and then heat the rocks with gas to fumigate your soil. Like the material above, wear protective gear when handling and pouring the rocks as they are also irritant. Leave the rocks in your soil for 24 hours and then remove them from your yard. To find out where you can buy intonate rock in your state, click here.

OTHER WAYS TO GET  RID OF GRUBS IN THE SOIL

Another option is to transplant your plants (or part of them) into another area of your yard. This can be a lot of work but it\’s one of the better ways to remove root weevils. Another option is to top dress your soil with several inches of material like topsoil, compost, or even dirt from another area of your yard. The grubs will hide in the soil bottom and not eat, eventually dying from lack of food. You can also add materials on top of your soil that will slice open insect bodies when the grubs move around in the soil. Examples of material you can add include gravel, crushed rock, wood chips, and even book pages.

Also, make sure you check your plants for signs of damage. If the plants are already infested with grubs, it\’s best to not bring them into your house as the grubs in the plant may continue to eat and breed.