It may be grub damage.
As I worked in my landscape the other day, I planted a Lime Soda Hydrangea and discovered what appeared to be a grub worm that had died but had not decomposed yet. That got me to thinking about customers who have come to our garden centers this year and complained about how many Japanese Beetles they had in their gardens.
That switched on a light bulb in my head so I want to share this eGreenTip with you. One of the most forgotten steps in lawn care is grub control. Grubs are the larvae of Japanese Beetles, June Bug Beetles and other beetles. The eggs are laid in the ground and hatch in August or early September. Grubs are usually found in large numbers in sections of your lawn or in ornamental beds. They feed off the root system of grass and basically they chew off the roots. Later, brown patches will appear in your lawn. You can roll up the grass like carpet in areas that have been damaged because the grass has no root system left.
Grubs attract moles and skunks and provide a good high protein and easy food source for them.
The best product for late summer application to control grubs is Bayer Advanced Season Long Grub Control. Each bag covers 5,000 sq. ft. and lasts for a year. It is important to apply this product before the grubs hatch.
If you missed this application, you can apply Bayer Advanced 24 Hr. Grub Killer plus Dylox. Just like the name suggests, this product kills grubs in 24 hours. Each bag covers 5,000 sq. ft. Both products need to be watered in well at application to be most effective. Make sure to treat your entire lawn and landscape. Check with the Green People to keep your lawn and landscape Green and Growing!