Lawn Grub Control in Indianapolis, IN
White grubs are one of the most damaging lawn pests in central Indiana. They live in the soil and feed on grass roots, and the damage often isn’t obvious until patches of lawn turn brown and die. Hometown Turf applies grub control as part of our seasonal lawn program for homes across Indianapolis and nearby communities, so your lawn is protected before the damage starts. Call (317) 617-5993 or request a free quote.
What Are Lawn Grubs?
Grubs are the C-shaped, cream-colored larvae of beetles. In Indiana, the best-known is the Japanese beetle, which feeds on plants as an adult and lays eggs in lawns in summer. The young grubs hatch in the soil and feed on roots, and they can do serious damage before you see a problem on the surface. Grubs are also a favorite food for skunks, raccoons, moles and birds, so animals digging up your lawn can be another warning sign.
Signs of Grub Damage
- Irregular brown patches that don’t green up with watering.
- Turf that lifts up like loose carpet because the roots have been eaten away.
- A spongy feel when you walk across affected areas.
- Animals digging in the lawn, often at night.
- Lots of Japanese beetles on your plants in summer, which means eggs may be going into your lawn.
How Our Grub Control Works
We apply grub control with the early summer treatment in our seasonal lawn program. The timing is deliberate. It targets grubs as they become active in the soil and helps eliminate them before they feed heavily on roots. The same application also helps control surface insects that damage grass, such as chinch bugs, sod webworms and billbugs.
Prevention is far easier than repair. Once grubs have killed a section of turf, the lawn has to fill back in or be reseeded. Protecting the roots in early summer keeps your lawn thick going into late summer and fall.
Why Timing Matters in Central Indiana
Grub activity follows the soil temperature. After overwintering deep in the ground, grubs move up toward the roots as the soil warms in spring, and a new generation hatches from eggs laid in summer. Late summer is when that new generation feeds heavily, and it’s also when Indianapolis lawns are already stressed by heat and dry spells. That’s why the damage often shows up in August and September, when brown patches are easy to mistake for drought. Applying control in early summer, before the new generation does its damage, is the most reliable way to keep roots intact.
Lawns that are watered and fed regularly and stay green through summer can attract egg-laying beetles, so even well-kept lawns in neighborhoods from Carmel to Greenwood benefit from protection.
Grubs, Beetles and Your Trees and Shrubs
Adult Japanese beetles also chew the leaves of many ornamental trees and shrubs. Our tree and shrub care program includes late-spring insect and disease treatments aimed at pests including the Japanese beetle, so pairing the two programs protects both your lawn and your landscape.
Helping Your Lawn Recover
- Water during dry spells so stressed turf can recover.
- Keep the lawn fed. Healthy grass with deep roots tolerates insects better.
- Consider fall aeration to help roots grow back into damaged areas.
Grub Control Near You
We protect lawns throughout Indianapolis and communities within about 20 miles, including Carmel, Fishers, Westfield, Greenwood, Avon, Plainfield, Brownsburg and Zionsville. Check our service area or view all services.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is grub control applied?
We apply grub control with the early summer treatment in our seasonal lawn program, timed to target grubs as they become active in the soil.
How do I know if I have grubs?
Look for brown patches that don’t respond to water, turf that peels back like carpet, or animals digging in the lawn. Pulling back a section of damaged turf will often reveal the white, C-shaped grubs.
Does grub control help with other lawn insects?
Yes. Our grub control also helps with surface insects that damage grass roots, such as chinch bugs, sod webworms and billbugs.
Can grub-damaged lawns recover?
Often, yes. With water, feeding and time, grass can fill back in. Badly damaged areas may need help, and fall aeration can support root regrowth.
Is grub control included in your lawn program?
Grub control is applied with the early summer treatment in our seasonal program. We’ll confirm what’s included in your quote.
Get Your Free Quote
Call (317) 617-5993, email hello@hometownturfindy.com, or request a free quote online. Hometown Turf: locally and family owned in Indianapolis.