How to control curl grubs in vege patch?

[Charles15]

Hello, I have those "curl grubs" I think they are, the white grubs often found in the ground, anyway i have them in the vege gardens, particularly when i try to grow potatoes, which i cannot because the grubs eat them. Should i use the same product in the vege patch as i would use for the lawn? Thank you.

[EricL]

Hello @Charles15 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about curl grubs in your vegetable patch.

Curl grubs are the larvae of beetles (commonly African Black Beetle, Christmas Beetle, or Scarab beetles). They are a very common problem in both lawns and vegetable gardens, but the way you deal with them differs depending on where they are.

In lawns, there are several chemical products designed specifically for grub control, and these are usually safe for turf but not intended for use around edible plants. In vegetable gardens, you should not use the same lawn chemicals because they can leave harmful residues in the soil and on food crops. Instead, there are safer approaches you can take.

One option is to physically remove the grubs when preparing the garden beds. Birds and chickens also love eating them, so encouraging them into the garden can help reduce populations. Another approach is to do crop rotations and keeping the soil healthy with compost and organic matter also helps to reduce infestations.

One of the most effective non-chemical methods is to dig through the soil before planting and physically remove any curl grubs you find. This is easiest when preparing garden beds and greatly reduces the number of grubs that will damage crops later. Chickens, ducks, and even wild birds like magpies love curl grubs, so letting poultry scratch through the soil or encouraging wild birds into the garden can naturally lower populations.

Good soil health also helps. Adding organic matter such as compost, mulches, and manures encourages a wide variety of beneficial soil organisms that compete with or prey on pest grubs. It also makes plants more resilient to pest damage. Crop rotation is also important. Avoid planting potatoes or other root crops in the same bed year after year, since curl grubs will build up in areas where their preferred food is consistently available.

I also suggest having a look at this guide - How to control curl grubs and army worms by @Noelle. (There is a recommendation about using Eco-Neem as a soil drench which can be used for vegetables)

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric