Expert: Ronald B Persaud - 9/22/2009

Question
Hello:
I've just discovered that I have grubs, not familiar with lawn care, husband is gone. In researching the matter, i fournd the bayer advanced 24hr. grub killer to be highly reccommended. My questions is, since i'm going to the store for this product i may as well get a winterizer for my lawn while i'm there. Is it a good idea to feed after killing the grubs. By the way, i live up north and it is late September. Also the grubs have done significant damage, my lawn is brown, will it come back after treatment. I thought it was the drought weve had that was killing the lawn?   HELP...  

Answer
Correct identification of the grubs in question is essential for control. The reason is that the different grubs have different lifestyles. Check out the site below to see what I mean.
http://www.lawn-care-academy.com/lawn-grubs.html
I am not convinced that "winterizing" a lawn is of practical value.
The practice may have come about after experience with perennial plants. In order to survive from one year to another, these plants had to have the means of storing food to give them a jump start after the winter is over. They do this by 'packing away' nutrients in their roots during the fall. Such plants have a root system substantial enough to act as a storehouse (their larder, if you will). Look at the root systems of the most persistent weeds and you will see what I mean; nut sedge, (Cyperus rotundus) bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) etc.
Now look at the root system of the lawn grasses and ask yourself if they are capable of such food storage.
Brown plant tissue is usually dead tissue; it will not turn green again. However, although the top part of a plant is dead, near the ground and under the ground, there are parts that are capable of 'coming back'. If these are still alive the plant can regrow.