GRUBS
If you have a patch in your yard where the lawn isn’t bouncing back this spring, pay attention to the following signs of a potential grub infestation:

• Dead Grass Test: Is the dead grass still attached at the roots, or can you easily peel it away, leaving bare dirt? When grass dies from most other causes, the roots remain intact and the grass resists being pulled up. Grubs, however, feed on grass roots, making it easy to pull the dead grass away.

• Shaggy-Looking Lawn?: Skunks often dig for grubs at night using their front claws, leaving a torn-up or messy look in infested areas. This year, we’ve also heard that sandhill cranes are being seen foraging in grub-infested spots.

• Dig Test: You can also simply turn over some soil with a shovel. If you spot white, curled-up grubs, you’ve got confirmation. The grubs you see now are large ones that were born last summer. Grubs lay their eggs in June/July and different products work best at different stages of their life cycle.

• Right now (and again in fall), you’ll want to use a 24-hour grub control product. These target adult grubs, which are tough to kill, so expect to eliminate about 50% of them. Still, it’s worth doing to minimize damage and allow you to reseed bad patches.

• The best grub control products are those that target newly hatched grubs. These are about 95% effective—a huge win. The best time to apply this treatment? Late June to early July—think around the 4th of July. If you treat your lawn every 4th of July, you likely won’t need 24-hour grub control again.

Important Note: The directions on grub control bags can be misleading because the same bag is sold across the U.S., and application timing varies by region. For Michigan, stick with the dates mentioned here.

 

ANTS
We’re already seeing more ant problems this season. Here’s what actually works:

• Outside: Use Bio Advanced Complete Insect Killer for treating your yard.

• Perimeter: Apply Bonide Revenge Ant Killer granules around the foundation of your home.

• Inside: Use indoor bait stations—ants carry the poison back to their colony, which helps eliminate the problem at its source.

 

PROTECTING EMERGING PLANTS
After a long winter, animals like deer, rabbits & groundhogs are hungry—and your fresh, emerging plants are a prime target:

• Start with granular repellents in your perennial or bulb beds to protect young shoots.

• As your plants grow, switch to spray repellents to coat the plant itself. Our best seller is Liquid Fence—you’ll know why once you smell it!

• For a more pleasant-smelling option near patios, try Deer Stopper.

• In areas where regular spraying isn’t realistic (e.g., up north or vacation properties), use All Season Deer Off Weatherproof Repellent Stations or Deer Ban Deer Repellent Capsules.

 

FERTILIZING TIME!
Everything’s budding and growing right now, which means…it’s time to fertilize:

• Lawns, trees, shrubs & perennials can all benefit from a boost.

• We recommend going organic with Espoma ‘Tone’ plant foods—they’re gentle, effective, and environmentally friendly.