White Grubs and Japanese Beetles, OH MY!

2005 has been my least Japanese Beetle Grub damaging year, since I moved into this home in 2002. Still, I have damage. There is a completely dead zone, that starts over on my neighbors yard, a few feet in, and continues into my yard a few feet in. The only comforting thing is, as the grubs moved and ate into my yard, they must have become exposed to Milky Spore, died and increased the soil's concentration of Milky Spore. Just another step towards a nicer yard next year.

Ok, so I have so bald spots to take care of. I could have bought a lawn patch repair product, like Scotts® PatchMaster® Sun & Shade Mix, but I thought I'd save a few bucks an do my own trick:

1. Get Good Grass Seed.
2. Rack up the area, with a leaf rack. Removed the loss material.
3. Liberally apply grass seed.
4. Water.
5. Cover with grass clippings, thick enough to see green, but thin enough for the new sprouts to poke through.

For some reason, the grass clippings seem like steroids for grass, plus the green grass clippings give the illusion of a complete lawn at a distance. ;)

Results after a few weeks: The grass has grown, and came in darker, guessing the grass clippings gave a good nitrogen boost. It looks weird, the some brown spot that looked like a long surf board is still there, just that where it starts on the neighbors property, it quickly ends once it crosses a fence line. It's ass if it was colored in with green grass right at the property line. Just weird, but I have a green lawn again. With each year of knowledge fighting the White Grub, and the Japanese Beetle, I believe 2006 will be a triumphant year!

Happy Winter Everyone!