Insect & Grub Control
Season-long protection from the insects that damage Southern lawns. Prevention before the damage shows up.
By the time you see the damage, it’s already done
Brown spots that won’t green back up. Grass that pulls up in clumps like a loose rug. Birds tearing up your yard looking for something to eat. Patches that started as a few yellow blades and spread overnight.
That’s grub damage. Or chinch bugs. Or armyworms. Or mole crickets. By the time the symptoms are visible, the insects have been feeding underground or in the thatch for weeks. The grass is already stressed, and recovery is slow.
Good insect control is preventative. The goal is to stop the population before it builds up, not chase damage after it shows up.
How we handle insects and grubs
Different insects need different treatments and different timing. Chinch bugs and armyworms live in the thatch and damage the grass above the soil. Grubs and mole crickets live in the soil and damage the roots from below. Treating for the wrong one wastes time and product.
- 01
Season-long grub prevention
Grubs are the larvae of beetles like Japanese beetles, June bugs, and masked chafers. They hatch in summer, feed on grass roots, and cause damage that often doesn't show up until fall when the lawn is too thin to recover before winter. The most effective treatment is preventative, timed for when grubs are young and most vulnerable. Depending on the product, that's anywhere from April through July in the Pee Dee. One well-timed treatment can protect the lawn for the whole season.
- 02
Surface insect treatment
Chinch bugs, armyworms, and sod webworms damage the grass from above. They hit hardest in mid to late summer when temperatures are high and the lawn is already stressed. Armyworms in particular can spread across a whole yard fast, so when they show up we usually treat the entire lawn rather than chasing individual spots.
- 03
Mole cricket control
Mole crickets are common in sandy Pee Dee soils. They tunnel through the soil and damage roots from below, often causing damage that looks like drought stress until you investigate further. Like grubs, the best treatment timing is when nymphs are small in June and July, with a follow-up if needed in early August.
- 04
Fire ant control
Fire ants are a Pee Dee constant. They build mounds after rain, spread fast across yards, and ruin every outdoor gathering. We treat the whole yard once a year to knock the population down, then handle any mounds that come back with bait or a spot spray during regular visits. It's the approach that actually keeps them under control through the season.
Every insect control program includes
No surprises and no upsells in the field. Here’s exactly what comes with an insect and grub control program from Pee Dee Turf LLC
- Preventative grub treatment timed for early larval development
- Mole cricket control timed for active nymph stages
- Surface insect treatment for chinch bugs, armyworms, and sod webworms
- Yearly fire ant treatment with mound spot-treatment as needed
- Spot treatments for active damage during regular visits
- Monitoring for emerging insect pressure
When we treat
Insect pressure follows the season, but the right timing depends on which insect we’re dealing with. Generally:
We treat based on what’s actually showing up, not a fixed calendar. Some insects, like armyworms, mean treating the whole yard at once. Others we can handle spot by spot. Either way, we treat when the pressure is there, not before.
- Fire ants
Spring
Yearly fire ant treatment before colonies expand for the season.
- Grub prevention
Late spring to early summer
Preventative grub treatment, timed by product and grass type.
- Mole crickets
Early to mid-summer
Mole cricket treatment while nymphs are young.
- Surface insects
Mid to late summer
Watch for chinch bugs in St. Augustine, armyworms across all grass types, and sod webworms. Treat as needed.
- Monitoring
Late summer
Continued monitoring for grub damage and mole cricket activity.
- Spot treatment
Fall
Spot treatments for active populations and fire ant mounds that pop up after late-season rain.
Why this matters for Pee Dee lawns
Pee Dee summers bring almost every major turf-damaging insect at some point. Fire ants are constant. Grubs are predictable. Mole crickets thrive in our sandy soils. Chinch bugs hit St. Augustine when conditions are right. Armyworms can appear out of nowhere after late summer storms and strip a lawn in days.
The timing that works for grub prevention in cooler climates doesn’t fit our growing season. Fire ant treatment that holds up all season takes the right product at the right time of year. No two summers look the same. The insect program adjusts to what’s actually showing up, not what showed up last year.
Seeing damage, dying patches, or fire ant mounds?
Request a free consultation. Lee will come out, look at what’s happening, identify the insect pressure, and put together a plan to handle it.
Have questions first? Check our FAQ page.