CHAFER BEETLE TREATMENT for Vancouver and The Lower Mainland:
BUR-HAN Garden & Lawn Care is excited to announce that we have fully switched over from our previous product of Nematodes (microscopic roundworms) to a new superior product called Grub Gone. Previously, Nematodes were the only natural form of defence against the Chafer Beetle Grub. Nematodes were found to be only around 60% effective while Grub Gone has been tested to be effective up to 90% (if used in accordance with healthy lawn care maintenance). The benefit of Grub Gone is that it is effective against all stages of the chafer grub and chafer beetle and allows for Spring and Fall applications. This product is also completely safe for kids, pets, pollinators and aquatics.
The most important thing to note about the new Grub Gone application (or any organic form of Chafer Beetle Control) is that it is always recommended in ADDITION to a healthy lawn maintenance plan. Regular watering, fertilizing, aeration and mowing will ensure a healthy lawn with a strong root system and this will be your first form of defence against the beetle. It has been found through local testing, that while the product only has to be watered in within 72 hours after application, regular watering of the lawn increases the effectiveness of the product. The grub ranges through a variety of depths in the soil and will only be effected by the product if it comes into contact with it. It is through deep watering that the product will be worked into the zone of the soil that contain the chafer grubs. Application of this product does not guarantee 100% removal of all grubs. In highly infested zones, predation will still occur with damage being visible from animals searching for the grub. This damage will still be greatly reduced then if no application had been done at all. It is only through yearly applications that the population can be reduced. Some lawn repair may still be required in heavily infested zones.
Please find below some additional information on this new product as well as the European Chafer Beetle turf pest and how to deal with Chafer related lawn damage.
What is Grub Gone?!
Grub Gone is the first Bacillus thuringiensis galleriae (Btg) bio-insecticide to control turf grubs at a level that is equivalent to chemical standards but without the nasty side effects or off-target damage to beneficial insects, (such as bees and other pollinators). Unlike Nematodes, Grub Gone is effective against 1st, 2nd & 3rd instar pests and therefore can be used as a curative treatment as well as a preventative one.
Effectiveness:
This is an organic application, and as such will not be 100% guaranteed in completely killing all of the grubs in your lawn. Grub Gone will be most effective when used in conjunction with healthy lawn care practices. If your lawn has a high collar or a large amount of thatch, this may make it more difficult for the product to get down to where the grubs feed and could cause the product to be less effective.
Watering Instructions:
GrubGONE! only requires one watering within a 72 hour window after the application has been completed. It has been found through local testing, that while the product only has to be watered in within 72 hours after application, regular watering of the lawn increases the effectiveness of the product.
The Lifespan of a Chafer Beetle
The European Chafer Beetle originated in continental Europe but can now be found in temperate climates across North America. The life cycle of the Chafer Beetle lasts one year with new eggs hatching in July pending weather conditions. New grubs then begin to feed on grass roots & damage to turf may start to become visible in brown, dying patches of grass. August – September grubs feed on the roots of turf and October – December grubs will continue to grow as they feed. They will remain within 5cm of the ground surface and predators may cause turf damage at this time as they dig up the grubs for food.
January – March the grubs will still continue to grow as thy feed and damage will continue. April – June is when the grubs will have grown into beetles. These beetles will then fly into the trees to mate and feed.
Females begin to deposit their eggs (up to 50 per female) back into the soil. There will be minimal damage at this time as the first instar of grubs hatch and start to feed on grass roots and the cycle just begins again.
If you have a serious Chafer Beetle infestation most of the turf damage will typically be caused by birds and animals such as raccoons or skunks digging up the chafer beetle grubs. The more compromised the root system of the lawn from the Chafer Beetles feeding on the roots, the easier these damaged areas will lift off by animals looking for food. Damage by animals is most severe in the Fall & Spring as this is when the grubs are rapidly increasing in size and feeding nearer to the surface. Every chafer beetle grub that gets eaten is one less beetle to lay another 50+ eggs come summer. The reason it is so easy for animals to roll back or destroy parts of the turf is due to the root system being compromised by the beetles themselves feeding on the turf roots. While you may wish to put down mesh or fencing in order to keep the lawn in place, if the roots have been eaten from within – you will still run into troubles come spring.
Give our office a call if you are struggling to repair chafer damaged lawns as our team can offer suggestions & recommendations. We understand this is one of the most frustrating problems to deal with and our team is here to help provide you with the best recommendations we can in order to repair any existing damage to your lawn, as well as get it healthy and ready for whatever the next season might bring.
CONTACT US TODAY FOR A FREE ESTIMATE BASED ON THE SIZE OF YOUR LAWN!!
Grub Gone Package:
Our Grub Gone package includes the following:
- Spring Grub Gone Application *kills 3rd instar grubs and beetle
- Summer Grub Gone Application *kills 1st and 2nd instar grubs
Call us today for a free estimate based on the size of your lawn!
Chemical Control:
In British Columbia the use of insecticides (such as Merit or Acelepryn) are completely prohibited for residential use. These products are not environmentally friendly & can be unsafe for kids, pets, as well as toxic to aquatics & beneficial insects such as bees and other pollinators.
That is why here at BUR-HAN Garden & Lawn Care we are proud to be able to offer you only natural products as forms of defence to keep your kids, pets & the environment safe.
Chafer Beetle Infestation Control Service Areas:
North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Vancouver, Burnaby, Westminster & some parts of Coquitlam
For more information contact the BUR-HAN team today!