The grass in your lawn is starting to turn brown and your shrubs and flowers are starting to wither. You investigate the issue and figure out the culprit: grubs. If no action is taken soon, grubs will feed on your plants and grass until the damage to your lawn is irreparable.
However, if you are in this situation and your grass is looking patchy, there is no need to stress out. Luckily, there are plenty of helpful insecticides for grubs that can eliminate these pests and help restore your lawn.
But which insecticide is most effective for eliminating this issue? What makes an insecticide high-quality? With so many formulas on the market, it can be hard to find one to solve your issue at hand.
Fear not – we have got a list of the 10 best grub killers to use on your lawn below. We have also provided some helpful tips on what to look for when purchasing a grub killer for yourself!
The 10 Most Effective Grub Killers for Lawns
Below is our list of our 10 favorite grub killers for lawns that will protect and restore it. We chose these grub killer formulas based on their high levels of effectiveness, quality, value, environmentalism, and positive customer ratings.
Take a look at our comprehensive list before making your final decision.
1. Scotts GrubEx1
The first grub killer on our list is Scotts GrubEx1.
Compared to the original GrubEx, Scotts GrubEx1 kills 25% more grub types. This grub killer for lawns requires just one application in spring or early summer and prevents grubs for four months (or your money back).
The Scotts GrubEx1 insecticide not only removes grubs and other insects like Japanese beetles, but it also works as a preventative solution. Scotts GrubEx1 stops turf damage before it happens by killing grubs early in the spring when they are young. Furthermore, it prevents insect-caused root damage so you can enjoy a stronger, healthier lawn.
Although this insecticide formula is strong enough to eliminate grubs and other pesky insects, it will not harm helpful organisms. Earthworms, beneficial bacteria in the soil, and other wildlife will not be affected by this grub killer.
To activate this grub killer, all you need to do is apply it to your dry lawn with a Scotts drop, handheld, broadcast, or Wizz spreader. Then, water the product to set it in.
Pros:
- Can eliminate grubs early on
- Provides control for up to 4 months
- Won’t affect beneficial wildlife
Cons:
- No applicator is included
2. Bayer Dylox 6.2 Granular White Grub Insecticide
The Bayer Dylox 6.2 Granular White Grub Insecticide is another effective grub killer that we suggest.
This insecticide formula both protects lawns and turf from grubs and other insects, such as:
- Chinch bugs
- Cutworms
- Armyworms
- Cranberry girdlers
- Billbug larvae
- And more!
Bayer Dylox 6.2 is powerful enough to remove second and third instar grubs, as well as these other insects, on contact. It can also prevent damage caused by insect predators like skunks and birds as well.
Bayer Dylox 6.2 pierces up to ½ inch thick of thatch and can be used on flowers, trees, shrubs, and other plants. Furthermore, this grub killer is suitable for both residential and recreational turf, such as golf courses.
Pros:
- Fast-acting
- Treats active infestations by grubs and other insects
- Can be used on both residential and recreational turf
Cons:
- Short-term protection
3. Bonide Annual Grub Killer
The Bonide Annual Grub Killer is next on our comprehensive list. Offering effective lawn solutions since 1926, Bonide formulas are created using the expertise and experience accumulated over the years.
This insecticide for lawns offers grub control all season long for almost all grub species. The Bonide Annual Grub Killer prevents grubs from feeding on your plants immediately and quickly kills.
What’s more, one bag of Bonide Annual Grub Killer will cover up to 15,000 square feet. This provides you with a larger supply that you can use over a long stretch of time.
Apply this insecticide from late May to mid-August and enjoy a healthy, green, and beautiful-looking lawn all season long.
Pros:
- Only one application required
- Season-long protection
- Quickly kills grubs and prevents them from feeding on your plants
Cons:
- Cannot cure lawn damage that has already been created by grubs
4. St. Gabriel Organics Milky Spore Grub Control Mix Pest Controller
Fourth on our list is St. Gabriel Organics Milky Spore Grub Control Mix Pest Controller.
This organic compound kills the larvae of Japanese beetles and protects your lawn from damage. This grub killer formula offers extensive protection and kills grubs for up to 15 to 20 years.
Birds, bees, fish, plants, and other beneficial animals cannot be harmed by this product. You and your family are also safe to hang out and play on your lawn after this grub killer is applied.
What’s more, just one bag offers 7,000 square feet of coverage, which is enough to last over many grub cycles.
For the best results, use a spreader to apply this product anytime between the spring and fall.
Pros:
- Only one application needed
- Offers 15 to 20 years of protection
- Does not harm bees
Cons:
- Only effective for Japanese beetle larvae
5. BioAdvanced Insect Killer for Soil & Turf Complete Pest Control
This fast-acting insecticide protects your lawn by exterminating some of the most common yard insects in just 24 hours. It eliminates pesky insects both on and beneath the surface of your lawn.
Some of the insects that this grub killer target includes:
- Crickets
- Cockroaches
- Spiders
- European crane fly larvae
- Stink bugs
- Boxelder bugs
- Wasps
- Japanese beetles
- And more!
This grub killer formula can be used on lawns, flowers, trees, shrubs, and more. It also can be applied to turf lawns!
One hour after application, this waterproof formula fully absorbs into the plant and offers up to 90 days of subsurface insect protection.
Note: This product is restricted in New York, Connecticut, Vermont, and Maryland.
Pros:
- Eliminates grubs and insects in just 24 hours
- Can be applied to many plants and surfaces, including turf lawns
- Kills bugs below and above your lawn’s surface
- Formula is waterproof
Cons:
- Restricted in certain states
6. Spectracide Triazicide Acre Plus Insect Killer For Lawns Granules
This grub killer works on contact and offers all-season protection against ants (not including harvester and pharaoh ants). It also protects your lawn and plants from grubs and other invasive bugs like:
- Crickets
- Chinch bugs
- Armyworms
- Cutworms
- Billbugs
- Fleas
- Ticks
- Crane flies
- Roaches
- Earwigs
- European crane flies
- And more!
This grub killer formula can be used when you first notice lawn damage or when insects appear. However, in order to control grubs, applying the formula between late July and October is most effective.
After treating the infected area and watering in the formula, it’s safe for children and pets to play on the lawn.
Pros:
- Provides season-long protection
- Kills on contact
- Treats for many different insects
Cons:
- Does not protect against harvester and pharaoh ants
7. BioAdvanced Bayer Season Long Grub Control
With just one application, this 2-in-1 formula eliminates grubs for season-long protection. In addition to grubs, this insecticide for lawns kills European crane fly larvae, mole crickets, billbugs, and more.
The BioAdvanced Bayer Season Long Grub Control prevents damage by creating a protective zone that exterminates grubs in your lawn’s soil.
This insecticide can be applied in spring when grubs are young and can also combat larger infestations later in the summer.
Not only will you protect your lawn against harmful insects, but the added turf revitalizer increases turf root mass and restores your lawn.
The result? Stronger, thicker, and healthier turf.
Note: This product is restricted in New York, Connecticut, Vermont, and Maryland.
Pros:
- Provides soil with important nutrients
- Repairs root systems on your lawn
- Season-long protection
Cons:
- Restricted in certain states
8. The Andersons Organic Grub Control
This formula is 100% organic and OMRI-Listed, meaning its ingredients are certified for organic use. Rather than using a chemical treatment, this grub control contains natural bacterium (bacillus thuringiensis galleriae) to treat the lawn.
This product is non-toxic to beneficial insects, fish, birds, and pollinators – as well as everyone in the family! Children and family pets can enjoy the yard immediately after the product is applied and watered in.
Just because this product protects important creatures doesn’t mean it won’t keep away the unwanted ones. This preventative and curative product is effective at removing grubs, beetles, moles, skunks, and other similar animals from your yard.
Note: This product is not for sale in New York and California.
Pros:
- 100% organic and OMRI-Listed
- Non-toxic to beneficial insects, fish, birds, and pollinators
- Removes grubs, beetles, moles, skunks, and other animals
Cons:
- Restricted in certain states
9. BioAdvanced Grub Killer Plus
The BioAdvanced Grub Killer Plus delivers near-immediate results and quickly stops grubs from damaging your lawn. This fast-acting formula kills grubs in just 24 hours as well as other insects, including:
- Ants
- Armyworms
- Chinch bugs
- Billbugs
- Crickets
- Cutworks
- Grasshoppers
- Earworms
- Millipedes
- Ticks
- And more!
This product should be applied to your lawn in spring and summer after you first spot an infestation. After applying the insecticide, you’ll be protected against grubs for the entire season and you can enjoy a healthy lawn.
Pros:
- Kills grubs and other insects in 24 hours
- Keeps raccoons away from your lawn
- Frequent application is not required
Cons:
- Not available in brick and mortar stores (only available for sale online)
10. Bonide Insect and Grub Control
Last but not least on our list is Bonide Insect and Grub Control. This fast-acting grub killer will not only protect your lawn against grubs but acts as great pest control against:
- Sod webworms
- Ticks
- Cutworms
- Billbugs
- Fleas
- Roaches
- Ants
- Crickets
- Chinch bugs
- And more!
Bonide Insect and Grub Control offers top to bottom protection. It eliminates grubs and 40 other insects both above and below your lawn’s surface.
Furthermore, this product’s dual-action defense kills insects in 24 hours while simultaneously delivering three months of soil and surface protection.
The product is easy to apply, too! Simply place the granules around your lawn with a fertilizer spreader and then lightly water the treated lawn.
Pros:
- Effective at eliminating grubs and 40 other insects
- Dual-action defense removes insects in 24 hours and provides three months of soil and surface protection
Cons:
- Not best for infestations that are severe
How to Find the Best Grub Killer for Lawns
When it comes to buying a grub killer for lawns, not every product will give you the results that you want. For example, some products work better when applied during certain times of the year and others have ingredients that are toxic to beneficial insects.
There are various factors to consider before you make your final decision. Here is what to look for when purchasing the best grub killer for your lawn.
What are the Active Ingredients in The Product?
Avoid products that only contain lambda-cyhalothrin, gamma-cyhalothrin, bifenthrin, deltamethrin, cyfluthrin, or permethrin for grub control. While these products are effective at removing insects that feed above ground and live at the soil surface, it does not work for root-feeding insects.
Grub killers that only contain these ingredients are not effective at killing grubs that live under the surface. This is because the active ingredient and organic material bind together, and prevents the formula from moving down to where the grubs are located.
Grub killers that contain the ingredients such as Trichlorfon, Dylox, Imidacloprid are more effective at killing grubs below ground.
However, not every active ingredient acts the same. Some ingredients prevent future grubs from thriving on your lawn, while others eliminate ones that currently are living there. We’ll explain this further below.
Is the Grub Killer Preventive or Curative?
As stated above, some grub killers are preventative, while other grub killers are curative. Some products even function as both!
Looking for a preventative product? Look for grub killer that contains imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin, or chlorantraniliprole.
Michigan State University’s Department of Entomology found that these preventative products eliminate young grubs that are born in July. However, they will not kill the fully-grown grubs later in the year.
Curative grub killers, on the other hand, contain carbaryl and trichlorfon and kill all grubs at all stages of life.
Both of these types of products are useful, depending on the situation. For example, if you are noticing large, fully-grown grubs that have already caused damage to your lawn, a preventative solution won’t help solve this issue.
However, preventative products are most effective. Preventative products containing the respective ingredients mentioned above remove 75-100% of the grubs when the formula is applied in June or July.
In the same study, it was found that curative formulas killed only 20-80% grubs when applied in September. This success rate is even less if you were to apply a grub killer later October or even in the year.
However, as said before, if you already have a grub problem, a preventative measure won’t help at the present time. In this case, your best bet is to use a curative measure but also consider using a preventative formula for the next spring.
Is the Formula Bee-Friendly?
The honeybee is responsible for pollinating a vast selection of crops and plays an important role in our food system. Yet, the species’ population is rapidly declining.
Therefore, doing our part to preserve the honeybee population is essential. This includes choosing grub killers that are not harmful to these insects.
Some grub killers contain chemicals that not only kill grubs but harm honey bees as well. Imidacloprid, a popular active ingredient in insecticides, has been thought to be a factor in the honeybee decline.
However, imidacloprid itself isn’t always the problem – in fact, it is typically safe to use. The issue stems from the amount of imidacloprid used.
If consumed in large quantities, this chemical can be moderately harmful to animals and insects. Opting for products that limit the imidacloprid in the formula – without sacrificing the integrity of the formula – is an ideal choice in regards to the environment.
Look for a product that uses Granular Imidacloprid, which lowers the chances of honeybees ingesting the chemical. Looking for a label that states it is safe for honeybees is also helpful.
A third helpful tip to protect nearby honey bees is to mow your lawn before applying the grub killer. This removes any weeds in the lawn and prevents bees from pollinating (and then being affected by) weeds that have been sprayed.
Does The Formula Harm Other Beneficial Bacteria and Insects?
You’ll also want to consider if the formula will kill other beneficial bacteria and insects. Doing this can disrupt the natural order of your lawn’s ecosystem and can cause more harm than grubs and other pests.
This is because the “good” bugs do a good job at keeping the lawn’s ecosystem balanced and feed on invasive insects that can cause harm to the plants. Accidentally removing these insects or bacteria can leave your plants defenseless and damage your lawn further.
Is The Grub Killer Kid-Friendly?
Small children and pets are probably the ones that are going to closely interact with your lawn the most. Furthermore, children are at higher risk of harm by insecticides, since they are still developing.
Therefore, if you have children or a dog that loves laying out in the backyard, you’ll want to make sure you’re using a safe formula.
What’s a good option if you have a family with young kids or a furry friend? A grub killer made with natural ingredients, rather than one with harsher chemicals. The Andersons Organic Grub Control is a great option for a home with kids.
Is the Problem You Are Experiencing Actually Grubs?
While this may seem like an obvious question, it is important to determine whether or not your problem is actually grubs. Dead patches in the grass can be the job of other insects, such as European chafer larvaes or Japanese beetles.
Luckily, most grub killers also are effective on other insects, as seen from our list of 10 insecticides.
Will The Insecticide Work on the Pests in Your Yard?
If you’ve determined that the problem is not grubs, you’ll need to figure out if the insecticide will work on the invasive insects in your yard.
While most grub killers for lawns target similar insects, not every formula is designed to kill an identical list of insects. For example, some insecticides may be effective at preventing and exterminating roaches, like the Bonide Insect and Grub Control.
Others do not have that capability and have a more limited scope of protection. An example of this is the St. Gabriel Organics Milky Spore Grub Control Mix Pest Controller, which focuses on eliminating Japanese beetle larvae.
Therefore, you can’t assume that any grub killer will fix your infestation problem. You’ll have to identify what insects are infecting your lawn and buy a product specifically tailored to handle that species.
Conclusion
While grubs can be detrimental to your lawn’s health and appearance, you don’t have to let them take over. There is still hope for your lawn when you take the correct steps.
By acting quickly and using an effective insecticide for lawns, you can eliminate grubs and restore your plants and grass. What’s more, you can even prevent future grub invasions!
However, you may still be wondering, “What is the best grub killer for my lawn?”
Truthfully, there is not just one insecticide on our list that is better than the others. It comes down to your personal preferences regarding, price, quantity, the insects you want to remove, and other similar factors.
Each of the 10 grub killers we have mentioned are effective at eliminating grubs from your lawn. No matter what product you choose, you’ll be able to restore your lawn to a healthier state. Furthermore, with preventative measures, you’ll be able to keep it that way for years to come.