When is the best time to treat grub larvae in turf?

• A. Early spring
• B. Late summer to early fall when grubs are active near the soil surface
• C. Winter when grubs are dormant
• D. Mid-winter

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that grub larvae are easiest to kill when they are actively feeding and located near the soil surface. In turf, late summer to early fall is when young grubs are still small and feeding in the upper root zone, making them most exposed to treatments and allowing the control to disrupt their life cycle before they move deeper for winter. Winter and mid-winter during dormancy put grubs deeper in the soil and inactive, so most products are far less effective. Early spring is outside the peak feeding window, so while some grubs may still be present, the opportunity to control them efficiently has passed. So the best time to treat grub larvae is late summer to early fall when they’re near the surface and actively feeding.