Sweet June turned sultry quickly, and our every thought, our every word, our every action hung suspended in the thick, dank air.  The sheer weight of the humidity has left our soul and spirit mired and stale.  Sweet June is in a hurry to grow up, her innocence sullied, my patience thinned.

The few times I do venture outdoors, which is often in the evening, I am greeted by the large, lumbering June bug.  They are unsettling, to say the least, and their presence is a tell-tale sign that grub season has begun.

Grubs are the larvae, children, if you will, of a variety of beetles.  They feed on the lawn’s root system and are terribly destructive.  Weakened, wilting, brown grass in irregular shapes are a sign of their existence and ferocious appetites.  In these areas, the grass can easily be pulled back due to root damage, and the grub highly visible – white, c-shaped and reaching lengths up to 2″.  Blech.

More eggs are deposited in warmer soil areas, like around sidewalks, driveways and near outside lights.  The beetle prefers to lay her eggs in moist soil as opposed to dry, which June has given us plenty of.

Preventative measures can be taken to inhibit the larvae from hatching and/or maturing.  This is referred to as preventative grub control and is your best and most effective defense.  Once damage is noticed, granular insecticides can be applied to prevent and treat the grubs; however, most damaged areas will not bounce back.  Raking and reseeding will most likely be needed.

Before grubs become a problem, contact Sweeney’s to schedule your grub control today!  After all, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and a healthy lawn.

Plant of the Week

Gaillardia ‘Arizona Red Shades’

Masses of crimson blossoms bloom July – October, even under hot and dry conditions.  Prefers full sun and dry soil.  Grows in a mound 8-12″ high and 12-18″ wide.  Works well as a border or container plant.

“Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it.”

-Russel Baker

Best wishes,

Kim Sweeney