How To Tell The Difference Between Grub Damage And Fungus Damage To A Lawn
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Grub damage versus fungus problems can look similar, but there are a few ways to determine if the unsightly dead patches of grass are caused by the presence of grubs or fungal disease.
Grubs are the larvae of beetles and have a white, worm-like appearance. The grubs feed on the roots of turfgrass and can live in the larval stage for between 1 and 3 years. Grubs live in soil that doesn't have nematodes, which are worms that survive from eating grubs. Using artificial fertilizers and overfertilizing a lawn can kill off the nematodes, which allow grubs free rein of the lawn.
When once-healthy grass has brown spots and areas of dead grass, those are signs of grub infestations or some type of lawn disease. Diagnosing the problem is important to begin grub control treatment with one of the best grub killers or administer one of the best lawn fungicides for turf diseases.
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1. Grub damage often looks like dark or brown spots of grass, while fungal damage may look like white, gray, or black powder on the grass with discolored roots and stems.The symptoms of grub damage and fungal infections can be similar, but there are a few important characteristics of each to determine the problem. Signs of grub damage include brown grass, bare spots in the lawn, or crescent-shaped or circular patterns of brown patches. Dead spots caused by lawn grub damage are typically seen in sunny areas of the lawn where the soil is warm. White grubs like to eat the roots of the grass, which will create a soft and spongy texture to the lawn. Since many animals, such as raccoons, birds, and skunks, like to snack on grubs, an increase of these animals in the yard area can be another sign of a grub infestation.
The signs of fungal damage on a lawn appear as white, gray, or black powdery patches of grass. Another sign is orange, red, purple, black, or gray spots on the stem and roots of the grass.
Fungal spores can damage a lawn when the conditions are right. These can include overwatering, compact soil, poor soil drainage, overuse of fertilizer, drought conditions, and improper mowing.
2. Grub-damaged grass is easy to lift up from the ground, whereas fungus-infected grass resists being lifted.When lawn grubs eat away at grass roots, the grass blades will turn brown, die, and leave irregular patches across the lawn. As a result, the grass will lift easily from the ground when pulled. To test to see if you have grub damage, pull at a patch of brown grass and see if it comes out of the ground with no effort. A fungal infestation doesn't attack the root system, so the grass will provide some resistance when it's tugged out of the soil.
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+ 3. A grass patch with a fungal infection may look wet and slimy.Grass that has a diagnosis of turfgrass disease may appear wet or slimy. Since fungi flourish in damp and moist areas, the infected grass may take on a greasy look. These wet areas may also smell like mold or rotting organic matter.
4. Grub damage often occurs in warm, sunny areas of the yard, and there may be increased animal traffic. The ground will also be soft and springy.Lawn grubs like to be in areas of the lawn that are exposed to the most sunlight. The warm temperatures will heat up the soil and spur the grubs to eat and grow. The grub activity will also attract animals such as birds, skunks, and raccoons to the areas of the lawn where they can dig and scratch at the dead grass to snack on the grubs. Grub-damaged areas of the lawn will feel soft and spongy when they're walked on, since the area will stay damp as a result of the absent root system. Grubs can infest lawns for a variety of reasons, such as when the ground is too wet from overwatering; when a lawn has been aerated too much, which creates convenient holes for beetles to lay their eggs; and when the grass is cut too short, which results in a shortened and weakened root system.
5. Fungal infections can be caused by drought or overwatering, as well as poor soil drainage and nutrition.Fungal problems can happen for a variety of reasons, including overwatering the grass, using the wrong type of fertilizer, overfertilizing, having compacted soil, or mowing improperly. The presence of high levels of humidity, unusually hot temperatures, or even drought conditions can also contribute to fungal problems. A dollar spot, or small tan-colored crusted patches the size of a silver dollar, is one of the early signs of a fungal infection. The identification of summer patch disease, dollar spot, snow mold, red thread, brown patch symptoms, and other fungal diseases will require the expertise of a lawn care professional. Finding the root of a lawn problem can help homeowners treat the issue as quickly as possible.
6. Grubs and their eggs thrive in wet soil and moist grass.Since beetles lay their eggs in the rainy season of early summer, the larvae will live just below the ground. They thrive in wet soil and moist grass and prefer areas that are warmed by the sun. They won't typically reside in areas of the lawn that are perpetually shaded.
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+ 7. A professional or DIY lawn care program can treat and prevent both grubs and fungus.Some homeowners prefer to DIY their lawn care program to deal with grub or fungus issues, but for severe infections, it's best to consult a professional. Some DIY solutions involve adhering to a proper watering schedule to reduce irrigation stress, restoring the lawn's pH balance, having the correct nitrogen levels, using the correct type and amount of fertilizer, mowing to a correct height, and even using milky spore disease to battle grubs. Milky spore disease is a bacterium that can control Japanese beetle grubs. It's applied to the lawn and soil surface as a dust. The infected grubs will eventually die off while the bacterium disperses into the soil. Hiring one of the best lawn care services or using one of the best DIY lawn care systems can help keep lawns free from disease. While lawn care costs can be high, they're well worth it to keep a lawn healthy and thriving.
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Bob Vila has partnered with Sunday to get your lawn exactly what it needs to thrive.
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Sources: Evergreen Seeds
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The Best Lawn Care Services Of 2023
Top 5 Lawn Care Companies of 2023 TruGreenFor more than 48 years, TruGreen has provided full-service lawn care across the continental United States. Based in Memphis, Tenn., the company offers EPA-certified products and provides continuing education for its certified specialists. Its technicians also advise homeowners about the best techniques for watering and mowing between treatments to encourage a healthy lawn.
TruGreen Key DetailsGet a free quote from TruGreen by visiting the company website or calling 1-866-817-2287.
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TruGreen is in the midst of a class-action lawsuit that alleges the company made unlawful robocalls to consumers without express permission. While researching TruGreen prices, our team experienced a high volume of calls after our initial contact with the company. The company did not respond when contacted for a response.
Despite this problem, we still recommend TruGreen due to its wide range of plan options, flexible service schedule, reputable guarantees and excellent customer service. Customers wishing to avoid follow-up sales calls can use the company's online chat tool to get a quote.
SundayFounded in 2019, Sunday offers custom-built, do-it-yourself (DIY) lawn care packages. This subscription service is ideal for new homeowners learning to maintain a lawn. It's also great for smaller properties, as Sunday doesn't recommend its packages for yards bigger than 13,500 square feet. Because Sunday is a DIY service, it does not provide professional treatments such as aeration or landscaping.
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Pros and Cons of Sunday+ Has more affordable pricing than other lawn care services
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LawnbrightLawnbright is another DIY lawn care subscription service that offers a stress-free approach to figuring out your lawn's needs. After completing a soil test sent to your home, the company provides a custom lawn care program that includes the best-suited products for you, so you don't have to worry about researching options. This is a more streamlined process compared to competitors but is less customizable.
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*BBB information is accurate as of April 2023.
Lawn LoveLawn Love's user-friendly smartphone app matches you with trusted local lawn care services based on your individual needs. To streamline the process, Lawn Love analyzes your property via satellite technology and pulls from regional data to determine your home's ideal lawn treatment plan.
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Lawn DoctorLawn Doctor offers many popular treatment options, such as lawn fertilization and grub control. Its services are backed by an excellent guarantee that states if you're not satisfied with the results of an application, the company will either re-apply the treatment for free or refund the total cost of your last application. Lawn Doctor also has a high BBB rating of A+.*
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Lawn Doctor Key Details*Not available in Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont or Wyoming.
Pros and Cons of Lawn Doctor+ Includes Lawn Doctor Guarantee for complete customer satisfaction
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– Only operates in 40 states
– Some branches have negative reviews due to complaints of unprofessional employees and confusion over plans
Do Lawn Care Companies Have Guarantees?Many lawn care companies include a guarantee with their services. Guarantees ensure your lawn stays healthy and the treatment you receive matches your lawn care needs. If the guarantee doesn't offer money back for inefficient services, it typically provides reservice for free. Often, guarantees require you to follow proper instructions, maintain watering and ensure your account is up to date.
Find detailed information about the guarantees for our top lawn maintenance services below.
When shopping for lawn care service providers, consider whether you want do-it-yourself or professional lawn care. DIY lawn care is more affordable, but a professional lawn care provider could be a better option, depending on your landscaping needs. Below is a breakdown of both services.
Your lawn requires special attention, which is why selecting the best lawn care service is vital. If you're searching for full-service, comprehensive lawn care, we recommend TruGreen. The company provides a wide variety of service options to match your unique lawn care needs.
If you'd prefer to choose custom lawn care bundles and handle applications yourself, you should consider Sunday. If you want a company to determine your lawn needs and send you the products, look into Lawnbright.
We recommend obtaining at least three quotes from lawn care services to accurately compare service options and pricing. Use our tool below to get a head start on receiving quotes.
Our team created a comprehensive rating system to rank lawn care companies. We researched companies by secret shopping online and over the phone to compare plans, pricing, payment options and law treatment types. We then scored lawn care companies in these categories: plan options, service schedule, customer service, guarantees, reputation, longevity and state availability.
