How to Identify, Treat & Protect Your Lawn on The Sunshine Coast

A lush green lawn is a beautiful asset but when lawn grubs, army worms or beetles invade, damage can happen fast. These pests feed on grass roots and blades, causing browning, thinning and bare patches.

The good news? With the right identification and treatment plan, you can stop the damage and protect your lawn for the long term.

In this guide we cover:

• How to identify common lawn pests
• What damage to look for
• Step-by-step treatment options
• Which products and sprayers we stock at Caloundra Produce & Landscape Supplies

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🐛 How to Identify Common Lawn Pests

Lawn Grubs (Curl Grubs)

Look for:

• Creamy-white, C-shaped larvae with brown heads in soil
• Turf that lifts easily like a carpet
• Patchy brown areas that don’t recover with water

When active:
Mostly in late spring through autumn, especially after rain.

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Army Worms

Look for:

• Striped caterpillars feeding at night
• Lawn that looks grazed or shredded
• Rapid spread of damage across turf

Tip:
Check early morning or dusk — army worms hide during the day.

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Lawn Beetles

Adult beetles themselves may not do visible harm, but their larvae (grubs) feed underground on roots the same damage as lawn grubs.

Signs:

• Recurrent patches each season
• Birds digging at lawn surface
• Visible beetles around evening lights

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Treatment Options — Products That Work

Here’s how to treat these pests properly, including what to use and how they work.

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🌟 Fast-Acting Killers (Immediate Results)

These products work quickly and are great when damage is already visible:

• Superway Total Lawn Grub & Beetle Killer – 1L – Fast-acting liquid for grubs and beetles
• Fortune 500 Insecticide – 1L – Excellent contact spray for army worms
• Five Star 1L Insecticide – Broad-spectrum control of lawn pests

These liquid options work best when applied directly to affected areas.

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🌱 Granular & Long-Lasting Control

Granular products are perfect when pests are below the surface (in the soil):

• David Gray Lawn Beetle & Turf Pest Insecticide Granules – 3kg – Great general turf pest control
• Syngenta Acelepryn Granular Insecticide – 10kg – Pro-level, long-lasting grub & beetle control
• LawnPride Acelepryn Grub Killer Granular – 4kg – Season-long protection
• Searles Dead Grub – 1kg, 2kg, 5kg – Tried-and-true granular choice

How granular products work:
They’re spread over the lawn and activated with water, moving into the soil where grubs live.

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🚿 Easy Hose-On Option

• Searles Dead Grub for Lawns (Hose-On) – Connect to a garden hose and spray — simple application for homeowners.

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💦 The Right Sprayer Makes All the Difference

To get the best results from liquid pest control products, having a good sprayer helps you apply evenly and at the right rate. Here are great options we stock:

• 2-Litre Manual Sprayer – Compact, easy for small lawns
• 5-Litre Manual Sprayer – A solid all-rounder for medium areas
• 7-Litre Hand-Held Sprayer – Larger capacity without being bulky
• 10-Litre Battery-Operated Sprayer – Best for bigger lawns or frequent treatments

Whether you’re applying Superway, Fortune 500 or Five Star insecticides, choosing the right sprayer ensures accurate application and better pest control results.

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🧠 Step-by-Step Treatment Guide

1. Identify the pest
Check for grubs in the soil, army worms on blades, or beetle activity.

2. Mow lightly
Shorter grass improves contact with sprays and granules.

3. Measure lawn area
Knowing area size helps you calculate correct product dose.

4. Choose the right product
Match product to pest and damage level.

5. Apply treatment

• Use sprayer for liquids
• Spread granules evenly and water in

6. Water after application
This helps granules activate and reach soil pests.

7. Monitor & re-treat if necessary
Severe infestations may need a follow-up in 10–14 days.

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🌿 Tips for Prevention

• Keep lawn healthy with balanced nutrition
• Overseed bare spots
• Avoid thick thatch build-up
• Treat early at first sign of pest activity

Healthy turf is less attractive to pests and more resilient if they do arrive.

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🏡 Need Advice? We’re Here to Help

Pest control doesn’t have to be guesswork stop in store or browse online to find the right products and tools for your lawn.

Shop all pest control products and sprayers at Caloundra Produce & Landscape Supplies today.