Your lawn = raccoon grub hub

This year we've seen more damage from digging raccoons and skunks than previous years. As always, they are looking for the protein in your lawn which is the White Grub.

Sure every lawn has grubs. Under normal circumstances that means approximately four grubs per square foot. When that number doubles, you have the damage you see above, and treatment may be recommended.

Another reason for the ubiquitous digging this spring is a milder winter. The ground never had the chance to freeze, and in doing so, would have helped cull the grub population.

The problem now is timing. Grub treatments such as Grub Out, or Grub Terminator, the effectiveness is better realized when you apply the products in late June or early July. With nematodes you have the same issue; too early and the grubs are too big to control effectively. Also with nematodes you must consider other elements like weather. If it's too sunny, you've just sprayed your lawn with dead nematodes.

It can be quite frustrating as night after night critters rough-up your lawn like it owes them money.

In the spring , we feel, the best course is to apply Coyote Urine Pellets (raccoons), or Fox Urine Pellets (skunks.) These products will trick the diggers into believing a larger predictor is near, and (hopefully) avoid your grass. 

Yet, you must understand that these products come with conditions, so make sure you follow the instructions. Otherwise, you'll just have to wait for the appropriate window of application while you replace the divots and pray for the restaurant to run out of food.