Turf Insect Control: How to Get Rid of Turf Insects

This page is a general turf insect control guide. Using the suggested products and methods, you can control any turf insect species. The turf insect category pages give additional information on the different species. Follow these guides and use the recommended products, and we guarantee 100% control of all turf insects. 

Turf pests like white grubs, chinch bugs, and sod webworms can be highly damaging to your lawn.  You may initially believe your turf quality has decreased because of a lack of nutrients, water, harsh weather conditions, or even lawn disease or fungus. In reality, turf insects may be the culprit.

Turf insects are usually hard to detect because they hide underneath the soil. Signs that you may have turf insects on your lawn are patches of yellow or brown on the grass, eaten grass blades, and other concerning issues. By looking underneath your turfgrass, you may find them tucked away, eating at the roots of your lawn’s vegetation. 

Turf insects are not a human threat but can significantly injure your lawn if a large population is present. The damage can often be so severe that the turf can be peeled off the lawn easily like a rug. If it gets this bad, action must be taken to address the invasion.

Our turf insect control guide below was put together by experienced lawn care pest control experts. If you follow our step-by-step instructions exactly and apply the turf insect control products we recommend, you can rid your yard of these lawn eaters for good and save money doing it.

Identification

Before proceeding with treatment, you must be sure that the turf insect species are infesting your property. Misidentification can lead you to use the wrong pesticides, wasting your time and finances. Depending on the bug, this can be easy or require a little more effort. The more common insects that damage turf are grub worms, chinch bugs, sod webworms, armyworms, cutworms, and mole crickets.

• Turf pests can be classified into one of two groups: surface or sub-surface feeders. Surface feeders are those pests that prefer to eat the parts of the plant above the soil (grass blades, stems, leaves, etc) and will be seen moving along the grass surface. This group includes chinch bugs, sod webworms, and armyworms. 
• Subsurface feeders, like grubs and mole crickets, live underground in the soil and feed off of plant roots. They are not visible since they are in the turf's root zone. Digging up a 1-foot square about 2” deep around the affected area will help to discover these types of pests.

Refer to our library of common lawn pests here to learn more about what turf insects may be on your lawn and what application methods and products can best control the offending pest.

Inspection

Once you have identified the specific turf pest you are dealing with, you will need to perform an inspection to determine the severity of the problem and where the infestation is concentrated.

Where to Inspect

You may sometimes see a turf insect visibly crawling on your lawn. If not, you may have to dig in your yard and grab a magnifying lens to see what you have in the soil.

What to Look For

Probe areas of your lawn with damaged patches by pressing back on segments of turn to look for any movement or activity of intruding lawn pests. Another thing you can do during the inspection is pull on the grass blades themselves. If the plant or grass can be yanked out quickly without much effort, you may be dealing with a turf pest.

One easy way to ensure that you are dealing with turf insects after detecting damage to your lawn is to mix some soapy water and pour it over the suspected area. A hollowed-out coffee can drive the can about 3 inches into the ground where you have noticed damage and then pour the solution inside.

The pouring of this solution should cause whatever turf insect problem you have to come to the surface and out of hiding so they can be collected, observed, and properly identified.

For subsurface feeder Insects that live below the soil, you may need to dig or cut out a piece of your lawn at least three inches deep. When a lawn insect infestation is particularly severe, your turfgrass should pull away from the soil very easily, almost like rolling up a rug, which will show the damaging lawn pests underneath.

Treatment

Before handling pesticides, start by equipping yourself with the proper personal protective equipment (PPE). At a bare minimum, you should have some gloves, goggles, and a respirator mask before application.

Our top recommended options for eliminating turf insects are Dominion 2L and Valar Plus Bifenthrin Granules. These products work best because they have a broad spectrum label, meaning they can target various insects, including turf insects.

If you aren't sure which turf insect you have, chances are Dominion 2L and Valar Plus Bifenthrin Granules are labeled for it and will do the trick.

Step 1: Apply Valar Plus Bifenthrin Granules

Valar Plus Bifenthrin Granules is a granular insecticide labeled to kill many different common turf-damaging insects.

Determine how much Valar Plus Bifenthrin Granules you need to apply by first calculating the square footage of the area to be treated. To do this, measure the treatment area's length and width in feet, then multiply them together (length X width = square footage).

The labeled rate for a broadcast application is 1.15 to 4.6 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft, depending on the pest you treat. For residential lawn applications, use 2.3 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft.

Load your spreader with the proper amount of Valar Plus Bifenthrin Granules and evenly distribute it throughout your treatment area.

For even coverage, broadcast the granules in two pass-throughs, with the first pass going in parallel lines. The second pass should be broadcast at a perpendicular angle.

Step 2: Apply Dominion 2L

After applying the Valar Plus Bifenthrin Granules, you must water the product to reach the turf's root zone with Dominion 2L. Dominion 2L is a liquid systemic insecticide that will be absorbed into the turfgrass. Pests that will feed on the grass will be poisoned and die. 

Dominion 2L should be applied at a rate of 0.46 to 0.60 fl. oz. per 1,000 sq. ft.

We recommend using a 20 gallon hose-end sprayer to efficiently broadcast the insecticide over the turf. For treating isolated areas of turf, use a 1-gallon sprayer to spot treat.

To use the hose-end sprayer, remove the reservoir from the nozzle, make sure the sprayer's control valve and water pump are off, and then attach the hose-end sprayer nozzle to the hose. Add the proper amount of Dominion 2L, then fill the reservoir with enough water to treat the entire lawn. Spray 2 gallons of water for every 1,000 sq. ft. to thoroughly coat the area.

Reattach the reservoir to the nozzle and turn on the water to the hose. You are now ready to spray. To spray, push forward on the control valve. Evenly distribute the entire amount of product over the treatment area, keeping track of the product in the reservoir.

Prevention

Prevent turf insects from returning to your yard by following the listed preventative strategies listed below:

• The best way to prevent lawn grubs and other turf insects from returning after you’ve eliminated them with insecticides is to perform regular lawn maintenance. Keep your lawn healthy with routine mowing, watering, fertilization, and aeration to deter turf pests.
• All lawn-damaging pests are cyclical, and best practices for prevention involve knowing when these cycles are developing and making applications before their active period. When the damage becomes visible, the invaders have usually caused significant damage that will be seen as an after effect.
• Quarterly follow-up applications of Dominion 2L and Valar Plus Bifenthrin Granules may also be used as preventative applications.

Key Takeaways

What are Turf Insects?

• Turf insects are pests that damage lawn grasses and plants with their feeding habits.
• To control turf insects, identify the pest on your lawn, inspect to determine the severity of the issue, and then apply our recommended products. You should get the problem under control.

How to Get Rid of Turf Insects

• Our recommended go-to products for Turf insect control are a broadcast application of Dominion 2L Insecticide and Valar Plus Bifenthrin Granules.

Preventing Turf Insect Reinfestation

• Prevent future turf insect invasions with routine lawn maintenance such as raking and dethatching your lawn, watering regularly, and preventative treatments of Dominion 2L and Valar Plus Bifenthrin Granules.