THE 5 BEST Grub Killers (Top Control & Kill Grubs Products 2023)

Being such small insects, grubs and grub larvae cause devastating, widespread damage to residential lawns. Without the proper control and preventive measures in your lawn care program, grub worms will damage and kill your grass to the point of needing full repair and renovation.

This means that you need to find grub killers with the active ingredient Trichlorfon, like in Dylox. It is the fastest-acting and most effective insecticide I’ve ever used to wipe out active grubs in the late summer and early fall.

In general, grub killers will not prevent grubs but kill active grubs quickly. You must find a product that kills grubs while not harming beneficial insects.

It’s important to know the difference between insecticides that will help prevent grub damage (proactively), and those that will kill grubs (reactive/curative products). The best grub killers we have listed are below. These are used in the summer when grubs are actively damaging your lawns.

Choose from our best grub control products post for springtime applications and season-long prevention.

I’ve been in lawn care for years and have tried them all, so you don’t have to – check out my list of the best lawn grub killers for 2023.

Best Grub Killers

1. Dylox 6.2 Granular Insecticide

Undoubtedly, the #1 product to quickly kill grubs in your lawn is Dylox 6.2 Granular Insecticide by Bayer. It contains 6.2% Trichlorfon, which targets white grubs (and larvae), June bugs, Japanese beetles, Sod webworms, Armyworms, and more.

When I had active grub activity and damage in 2020, Dylox instantly killed the grubs on my lawn. I set the dial to 16 on my Lesco spreader, and spread perfectly for me. The prills are small and very light, so the coverage was even and consistent.

There’s also some peace of mind with this product as there are no Dylox restrictions regarding turf species or sites for landscape and recreational-area uses. This chemical also does not stick around very long.

Once applied at 3 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft. and watered in according to the label, Dylox kills grubs and degrades quickly. Apply over the entire lawn – not just areas of damage.

I carry at least two bags of Dylox in my truck at all times when I’m on route servicing my customers. Acelepryn has served me well in preventing grubs, but having Dylox on-hand just ensures Lawn Phix customers are grub-free.

Pros:

• It kills quickly and degrades quickly
• No restrictions on sites and species
• The best and quickest of the lawn grub killers

Cons:

• Slightly more expensive than other options

30-pound bag:

• Coverage: 10,000 sq. ft.
• Timing: Summer, immediately when grubs are visible and causing damage
• Notes: Water in immediately with 1/2″ of irrigation or rainfall
• Class: Neonicotinoid plus Pyrethroid

Find Dylox 6.2 at Do My Own and Lawn Pro.

2. Sevin

Sevin is one of the best all-around grub killer for lawns options. These liquid grub killers have the main ingredient Zeta-Cypermethrin. Sevin is a fast-acting grub killer, an upgrade because previous ingredients (Carbaryl) were harmful to honey bees and earthworms. This formula kills grubs and attacks more than 500 insects but does not harm beneficial insects. Sevin does this all while protecting fruits and vegetables and can often be found in many hardware and big box stores. They offer many convenient types, too, such as liquid concentrate, granular, and hose-end spray options.

If you’re in a pinch, you can find Sevin at local box stores like Ace Hardware and Home Depot.

Pros:

• You will see results in minutes
• One gallon treats 8,000 square feet

Cons:

• This is not an organic grub killer

Find Sevin at Do My Own, Home Depot, and Amazon.

3. Bayer 24 Hour Grub Killer Plus

Bayer 24-hour grub killer plus has Trichlorfon as an active ingredient. You can find this in your local store, so there is no waiting on professional products to kill armyworms or your grub problem. You want to apply grub control when you see the grubs causing lawn damage in the summer. This is the best time for grub control and killing grubs.

Similar to Sevin, this is available in many large box stores.

Pros:

• Convenient to find in local hardware stores
• The granulated formula is 50 percent higher concentration with the same substantial coverage

Cons:

• There are several restrictions on using the product

10-pound bag:

• Coverage: 5,000 sq. ft.
• Timing: Summer, immediately when grubs are visible and causing damage
• Notes: Water thoroughly within 24 hours of application
• Class: Neonicotinoid plus Pyrethroid

Find Bayer Bio Advanced at Do My Own, Home Depot, and Amazon.

4. Arena

Arena can be used as both a grub killer and grub control. It can be used as a preventative application during the peak time when target species adults lay eggs. The application should be made 60 days before the peak adult flight. When it is used as a treatment application, it is used after the eggs hatch. It can also be used once you see the turf damage. Arena can be used on various pests, including black vine, white grubs, and cutworms.

Pros:

• You can apply when the population threshold is met

Cons:

• It does not work as fast as Dylox

Other grub killers can include the chemical Carbaryl. This chemical is found in insecticides such as Sevin.

Find Arena at Do My Own, DIY Pest Control, and Amazon.

5. Sumari

Sumari can be used as a grub killer or as a preventative measure. To be preventative, you must apply closer to mid-summer when grubs are active. Sumari is ideal for grub control, grub infestations, chinch bugs, and Japanese beetles. 

Pros:

• It has up to a 90-day residual
• No limit on the application area

Cons:

• Expensive option

Find Sumari at Do My Own and DIY Pest Control.

Grub Control on Amazon

Grub Killer vs. Grub Prevention

The lifecycle of grubs, also called grub worms, begins when the grub worms from last year appear as June bugs, also called Japanese beetles. This happens in the spring between May and June. While the Japanese beetles do not harm turf grass, they will damage trees and ornamentals as they feed on them. 

June bugs and adult beetles lay eggs in healthy lawns. The eggs hatch in the summer and become white grub larvae. Those are the grubs that are going to damage your lawn. They feed on your lawn from July and September. 

As winter moves in, the soil starts to freeze, and any grub worms that have survived bury deep into the soil and put themselves in a vegetative state over winter. When springs rolls in the next year, the newly hatched grubs come out of the soil as beetles around May to June. And so the life cycle of white grubs and June bug beetles continues. 

As the grubs feed on your grassroots during the summer and fall, you will see irregular patterns of brown patches all over your lawn. You will also be able to peel your grass back like a carpet. You can see the grubs around the edges of the damaged turf. 

To prevent grubs, use Acelepryn for season-long grub control. For organic options, Milky Spore Grub Control. Read our top grub control and prevention products.

White Grubs FAQs

*Disclaimer: This post contains effective products against grubs when applied as directed. Always read the label and follow the labeled instructions as set out by the manufacturer – including personal protective equipment (PPE) and restrictions such as near schools and waterways.