Raccoons, skunks and moles will dig up lawns searching for grubs. While these animals can often make a mess of your lawn in their search, it is the grubs that are doing the actual damage as they munch on grass roots. The best way to control this situation is to treat your grub problem. Nematodes are beneficial worms that attack grubs during their larval stage. They can be purchased at most garden stores and best of all they’re a pesticide-free solution!
Parasitic nematodes are living organisms of microscopic scale that will kill the unwanted grubs. Because the nematodes are alive, they must be handled with care. Read the instructions on the package very carefully. As a general rule, keep them cool at all times until they are moistened just before application. Do not let them sit in water and do not expose them to light (UV). Water the grass before application and then spray the nematodes on the lawn with a sprayer on an overcast day, or in the evening when the temperature is at least 15˚C, and keep the soil moist. Nematodes need to be placed where the grubs are and should be applied across the whole lawn, rather than in spot applications. You will have more success if the nematodes are applied when the grubs are small. This is often in the spring and late summer, but double check the grub you are dealing with and its life cycle to be sure.
