Question
I have a new lawn that I've tried very hard to establish.Most of the lawn came in o.k but I have a lot of brown areas, including a large area of dead brown grass. I was very surprised the other day when large section lifted up clean from the top soil. I raked a small area to prepare for re-seeding, only to discover many, many grubs.It is now the end of Sept. and time is limited. I live in northern CT, temps are dropping fast. If I treat for my grub problem now can I still re-seed this fall.  Please Help!!

Answer
You can perform a curative treatment and preventiative treatments.

Curative treatments are most effective in late summer. Grubs are small and vulnerable in mid- to late August, but towards end of September with cooler soil temperatures, some grubs already may be moving down in the root zone and they are larger and more immune.

Therefore, applying a curative treatment now may not give desired control. If you choose to make one now (and the appearance of grubs near the soil surface gives reason to suggest you still should), use products which are based on the active ingredients: carbaryl (Sevin) or trichlorfon (Dylox). They work against grubs currently in the soil.

You should still make a preventiative treatment next spring.

You can apply preventiative treatments from mid may through mid june. Use products which are based on the active ingredients imidacloprid (Merit) such as that found in Bayer Advanced All Season Long Grub Control and Grub-Ex (Scott's). You can also look for "halofenozide" (Mach2) which is found in Grub-be-gon bags.

You can re-seed this fall, but it is getting cold (grass seeds germinate slowly in cool soil). You can overseed the area next spring if you are not happy with the result. Remember to water frequently and keep the soil consistently damp until seeds have sprouted (germinated).


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