QuestionRecently a 3x3 patch of 2-year old sod has gone brown in my lawn in NE NJ. I read about grubs and believe this is the problem. The patch has completely detached. Should I remove the affected part, treat, and then reseed, or will the sod rejuvinate after treatment? If removal is called for, can I reseed at the same time as treatment? Thanks.
AnswerThe Sod will not rejuvenate, unfortunately, if it is severely damaged. I do not believe treatment would be needed -- any 'treatment' you give it will kill everything in the soil, including natural defenses that build up over time against Grubs. Old habits die hard, but we know that Grubs have trouble surviving in old, established Lawns that are NEGLECTED because there are so many things out there to wipe them out. It's hard to be a Grub.
Now the really bad news: The part of your Sod that is NOT Brown may have a Grub problem that you just don't know about yet. Lift a patch of the Sod near the Brown area, but that patch should still be Green. See anything? How easy is it to lift that patch of Grass?
New construction and heavily treated Lawns are the places you find with Grub 'problems'. You don't sound like the kind of person who can buy this, but with modern Science and Biochemistry, we know that managing these root-loving Beetle larvae is a piece of cake when you don't mess with the local flora and fauna: Nematodes, Fungi, predatory Bacteria and other things that are a menace to the Grub population. The more you mess with it, the longer it will take to set up the IPM.
Re-seeding is a terrific idea, and right now is prime time Grass growing season. Toss down some rich Humus or compost and plant your Seeds on top, cover, and mulch with a Hay or other covering until the Grass sprouts. Make sure you water enough.
Feed your local Birds in the morning -- lure them with seed, and they'll find the fine dining under your Grass. Birds LOVE Grubs. Some Milky Spore Disease wouldn't hurt either. You can pick it up at Home Depot and Lowes. Good luck and thanks for writing.
