No, really? Eww! What we’re talking about here is the grubs that eat the roots of your lawn; creating dry, brown patches that pull-up easily. Grubs are a fave food of raccoons, and the raccoons will roll-up your lawn like sod looking for them! Not only that, but raccoons are smarty-pantses and will return to a grubby lawn year after year after year, especially in Contra Costa County.

Lawn grubs are the larvae of other insects, usually beetles. They’re white and c-shaped and opaque and hungry for your lawn. The best preventative way to avoid grubs is to water and fertilize adequately, but not overly; AND dethatch your lawn at least once per year. Grubs love moisture and spongy lawns; dethatching removes the spongy yumminess for them.Once you have lawn grubs, though, it’s a different story. There are many products and loads of advice out there, but we’ve found that an application of an Imidaclopro or Spinosad product in May or June can do a great job. We also apply in September or October if no applications were made in May or June. Be sure to mow your lawn before application, and water in well afterwards.We’ve also been told that beneficial nematodes work well if you don’t like pesticides, but we don’t have experience with them. (http://www.arbicoorganics.com/category/beneficial-nematodes/89).

While prevention is the key, if the raccoons are actively de-sodding your lawn, there are a few things you can try immediately to avoid further damage:

1)         Roll out and pat down any sod rolls. They may re-root.
2)         Put plastic or wire netting down on the lawn.
3)         Apply chili powder or garlic to the lawn (unless you have kids or pets).
4)         Use a motion-activated sprinkler. http://www.havahart.com/store/animal-repellents/spray-away
5)         Tune a radio to a talk station loud enough and leave it on at night.

And just in case you were hoping this blog was really about eating grubs –, here you go: WARNING-this video may be graphic and nightmarish for some…just saying…supervision is advised. I think I’ll go throw-up now. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ve8iC7G_TMs