Lawn Pest Control
Targeted treatments for grubs, chinch bugs, armyworms, and other turf-destroying insects. We identify the problem, eliminate the pests, and help your lawn recover.
The Problem
Insects Are Eating Your Lawn From the Inside Out
If you've noticed brown patches that don't respond to watering, spongy turf that pulls up easily, or birds constantly pecking at your yard, there's a good chance insects are to blame. Lawn pests feed on grass roots and blades, and they can cause serious damage before you even realize they're there.
In east-central Indiana, the most common culprits are white grubs (Japanese beetle and June bug larvae), chinch bugs, armyworms, and sod webworms. Each one causes different kinds of damage, but they all have one thing in common: the sooner you treat, the less damage your lawn takes.
Identification Guide
Common Lawn Pests in East-Central Indiana
Knowing what you're dealing with is the first step toward getting your lawn back. Here are the pests we treat most often.
White Grubs
What they are: The C-shaped larvae of Japanese beetles, June bugs, and masked chafers. They live 1-3 inches below the surface and feed on grass roots.
Signs of damage: Large brown patches that feel spongy underfoot. Turf peels back like a carpet because the roots have been eaten away. Increased bird, skunk, or raccoon activity as they dig for grubs.
When they're active: Late July through October in Indiana, with the worst damage in August and September.
Chinch Bugs
What they are: Tiny black-and-white insects (about the size of a pencil tip) that pierce grass blades to suck out the sap, injecting a toxin that kills the plant.
Signs of damage: Irregular yellow-brown patches that expand outward, often starting in hot, sunny areas near driveways, sidewalks, or south-facing slopes. Damage looks like drought stress but doesn't improve with watering.
When they're active: June through September, peaking in the hottest weeks of summer.
Fall Armyworms
What they are: Green-brown caterpillars with an inverted "Y" on their head. They feed on grass blades in large numbers and can devastate an entire lawn in 2-3 days.
Signs of damage: Lawn looks like it's been scalped or mowed too short overnight. Brown, chewed-down turf that spreads rapidly. You may see the caterpillars themselves in early morning or evening.
When they're active: Late August through October. Outbreaks are unpredictable and increasingly common in Indiana.
Sod Webworms
What they are: The larvae of small tan moths that you see fluttering over your lawn at dusk. The caterpillars live in silk-lined tunnels in the thatch and come out at night to feed on grass blades.
Signs of damage: Small, irregular brown patches that gradually merge. Close inspection reveals grass blades chewed off at the base. You may see small green pellets (frass) in the thatch.
When they're active: Two generations per year in Indiana — June and again in August/September.
How We Work
Our Treatment Process
Every lawn is different. We don't just spray and pray — we diagnose the problem, choose the right treatment, and follow up to make sure it worked.
Inspection & Diagnosis
We walk your lawn, check for damage patterns, pull back turf to look for grubs, and identify exactly which pest is causing the problem. No guesswork.
Targeted Treatment
Based on the pest, the severity, and the time of year, we select the right product and application method. We use preventive treatments in spring and curative treatments when active infestations are found.
Follow-Up Check
We come back to verify the treatment worked and check for any new activity. If the pests are still active, we re-treat at no additional charge.
Recovery Plan
For lawns with significant damage, we'll recommend aeration, overseeding, or fertilization to help your turf fill back in. We can handle all of it for you.
Prevention vs. Cure
The Best Treatment Is the One You Never Notice
Preventive grub control is applied in late spring or early summer, before grubs hatch and start feeding. It's the most effective and least disruptive option. One application protects your lawn for the entire season.
If you're already seeing damage, curative treatments are available and can stop an active infestation within days. The key is acting quickly — the longer you wait, the more your lawn suffers and the harder the recovery.
- Preventive grub control: May through mid-July
- Curative grub treatment: August through October
- Surface insect control: As needed, June through September
- All products applied by licensed technicians
Common Questions
What Homeowners Ask Us
Yes. We use products that are specifically labeled for residential use and apply them according to label directions. We ask that you keep children and pets off the treated area until it dries (usually 1-2 hours), and then it's completely safe to use your lawn normally.
Try the "tug test." Grab a handful of brown grass and pull. If the turf peels up easily like a carpet, the roots have been eaten — that's grubs. Drought-stressed grass will resist pulling because the roots are still intact. You can also look for increased bird or animal activity, which indicates grubs are present.
The best time for preventive grub control is May through mid-July, before the eggs hatch. If you missed that window and you're seeing damage in August or September, curative treatments are still effective — they just work on active grubs rather than preventing them. Either way, the sooner you treat, the better.
It depends on the severity. Minor damage often recovers on its own once the pests are eliminated. For more serious damage, we recommend overseeding in the fall combined with aeration and fertilization. We can put together a complete recovery plan as part of your treatment.