Grading Box Blade, TC30, and Church lawn filled with Grubs

[SteveInMD]

I agree that this approach sounds like more time / effort than is worth it. What is the top soil like that you have now, besides the grubs? Unless it's really bad I think you are better off trying to treat it first. While the topsoil you buy may look good when it's delivered, it often doesn't look so good a year or two later. You may find that it's mostly sand mixed with some organic material.

If you decide to remove the top soil I've had good luck doing this...

Use a tiller first, then drag the loose soil back with the heel of your bucket into rows and scoop it up with your loader. I think two passes like this will remove about 3 inches of soil. Do the second pass 90 degrees to the first if possible. If you have large high areas do an extra pass or two and spread the soil in lower areas. This should leave you a pretty smooth base, with without dips or ruts, and level overall. Then spread the new soil with the loader. Lightly till it in with a single pass. Finish the lawn with a landscape rate with gauge wheels and then drag it if needed.

I'm sure there are other ways to accomplish the same thing, but I've had good luck with this method.

 

[DHennet]

There are organics for grubs, such as Milky Spore. If they are worried about chemicals like Diazon. Striping the top soil off is like trying to stop your finger from bleeding by cutting off your hand. "New" soil will just develop a new grub problem. I know it's for a church and all, but they aren't really thinking this out. Treat the cause...

 

[oliver28472]

Let me guess, you have grubs, so you also have moles. If you kill the grubs the moles will go away. Removing topsoil and replacing it in between all those tombstones will be an expensive nightmare. I am in favor of chemical treatment. I have had good success with sevin in my yard killing grubs and running off the moles. Have not tried milky spore yet but I understand it lasts longer once it starts to work. If the grass needs to be reseeded just burn it all down with roundup, aerate good with a plug core aerator if you can get it between the stones, then broadcast the seed. Put out your fertilizer before the roundup and don't do this until the fall. The chemicals whatever you use should probably be done right now.

 

[txhawg]

Sounds like a major project for a first time user of a boxblade, and probably won't work anyway. Using ripper teeth on a cemetery? You better hope they are buried deep enough /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

I would use another method, such as chemicals, or a more natural method, such as spreading beneficial nematodes.

 

[Panache]

Milky Spore worked for me. Grubs were so bad I could lift my sod like carpet. 2 years and 4 applications later and grubs are rare.

 

[Eric_in_Ohio]

There NO QUESTION how to handle this... Milky Spore /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[KentT]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( There NO QUESTION how to handle this... Milky Spore /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif )</font>
Agree 100% -- a permanent, organic fix to the problem....