Grubs Eating My Marigolds

Mandi from Erie

A: Mandi,

There are not really any home remedies for controlling grubs, other than waiting until it rains and stomping around on the lawn wearing aerating sandals (they surface when soil is moist). A grub is the larvae stage of many different types of beetles, so it helps to know what type of grub your dealing with. The most common is probably the grub of the Japanese beetle, which typically feeds on plant roots. Coincidentally, marigolds are said to repel adult Japanese beetles. There are two organic methods commonly used to control them in the larvae (grub) stage. The first is to apply Nematodes in the spring or early summer as a mulch or top dressing. The second is to apply Milky Spore disease (Bacillus popilliae) to grassy areas around the garden. This is often sold under the names Doom or Grub Attack in garden centers. These bacteria are both biological controls that work against grubs in different ways, but the end result is the same.

Good Luck!
Ellen