White grubs eat grass roots until large pieces of lawn lift freely from the ground, says the Washington State University (WSU) Extension home lawn guide. A lawn that peels back like carpet fits that picture, but it is not proof of grubs.
Before you pay for any repair, confirm what killed the grass. UF/IFAS says mild grub damage leaves turf yellow and is hard to diagnose, while major damage leaves large areas of dead turf. Chinch bugs, mole crickets, sod webworms, disease and sprinkler gaps are covered below. Your Tampa price comes from a written quote after the crew comes out and measures.
What grub damage looks like in a lawn
Yellow turf that is hard to diagnose
According to the UF/IFAS lawn insect pest guide, mild white grub damage leaves turf yellow and is hard to diagnose. A yellow lawn alone does not point to grubs. Yellow turf is also where the chinch bug and water-stress sections below begin, so note where the yellow is and whether it is spreading before you decide anything.
Dead patches that lift up like carpet
Major damage, in the UF/IFAS words, leaves large areas of dead turf. WSU adds the detail people search for: grubs feed on roots until the turf lifts easily. If a dead patch comes up in one piece, that matches the root-feeding picture, though it does not prove the cause. Take a photo before you disturb the patch, and see the lookalikes below before anyone treats the lawn.
Why one lifted patch is a clue, not an answer
WSU calls grubs not very common at pest levels, and that guide is general, not Florida-specific. UF/IFAS lists other insects that work on roots or blades, and a Florida lawn can also have disease or water problems. This is why the repair order matters: find the cause first, then fix the patch.
What else kills a Tampa lawn in patches
UF/IFAS advises finding what killed dead areas before patching them: check the sprinklers for missed or overwatered spots and look for insects or disease. Here is what to look for, one cause at a time.
Chinch bugs in St. Augustinegrass
UF/IFAS calls chinch bugs the hardest pest of St. Augustinegrass. Chinch bug damage shows as yellow to brown patches. Heavily infested St. Augustinegrass turns yellow first, then quickly dark brown, and the center can go dead and bare. To check, look along the edge between brown and green grass for tiny black-and-white adults or orange nymphs. You can also vacuum about 1 square foot of that edge and dump it on white paper.
UF/IFAS adds that injury usually shows first in grass that is water-stressed or in full sun, and that poor sprinkler coverage, mowing too short, too much nitrogen and thatch build-up all invite chinch bugs. It also says they are becoming resistant to many insecticides, so it advises non-chemical steps first, such as less thatch and less fertilizer. Our page on chinch bug damage goes through that check in full.
Mole crickets and sod webworms
UF/IFAS notes that mole crickets tunnel through roots, and tunnels are a sign in bahiagrass lawns. Pouring soapy water over a few square feet of turf brings them up so you can count them. Tropical sod webworms can quickly make a lawn look scalped. Check the blades for chewing; UF/IFAS says the grass usually recovers with proper watering.
Large patch fungus
Large patch, often called brown patch, starts as round, discolored patches that grow. UF/IFAS says the edges are darker, sometimes orange, where the fungus is active, and the center is brown and sunken. It shows up mostly when temperatures drop below 80 degrees, usually November to May in Florida, so the calendar is one clue. Moisture is the main driver: heavy watering, rain and humidity. Read about brown patch in your lawn if your patches are round and sunken.
Water stress and sprinkler gaps
A sprinkler head that misses a corner, or one that overwaters a spot, can leave a dead patch with no insect behind it. Tampa limits what you can do about it. Under the City of Tampa water use restrictions, water customers may water lawns once a week, on a day set by the last digit of the house number. The days are 0-1 Monday, 2-3 Tuesday, 4-5 Wednesday, 6-7 Thursday and 8-9 Friday. Lawn watering is allowed only from midnight to 4 a.m. or 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. on your day. The district order covers private wells too, and it runs until March 31, 2027. Breaking the rules can bring fines up to $500 and a mandatory court appearance.
Tampa has about 94 days a year at 90°F or hotter, and North and Central Florida soils are typically very sandy and do not hold water or nutrients well, according to NOAA and UF/IFAS. Urban development in Tampa and Hillsborough County often leaves compacted, nutrient-poor sandy soil, says UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County. Those are good reasons to check water and soil before you blame an insect.
Checklist
What to check this week, and what to leave alone
Checks you can do yourself
- Mark the dead areas and take photos, including whether they sit in full sun.
- Look along the brown-to-green edge for chinch bug adults or orange nymphs, or vacuum about 1 square foot of that edge onto white paper.
- Pour soapy water over a few square feet of turf and count what comes up, to look for mole crickets.
- Run each sprinkler zone and check for missed or overwatered spots.
- See whether the dead patch lifts freely from the ground. That is the root-feeding sign WSU describes, so photograph it and tell whoever looks at the lawn.
What to leave alone
- Do not water outside the Tampa windows to revive a patch. Midnight to 4 a.m. and 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m., once a week, is the rule.
- Do not put down fertilizer to push recovery. In Tampa, lawn and landscape fertilizer with nitrogen or phosphorus may not be applied from June 1 to September 30.
- Do not spray the whole lawn on a guess. In Florida, anyone applying pesticide to lawns for hire must hold their own FDACS certification or work under a licensed Lawn and Ornamental operator, says UF/IFAS Extension Martin County. Ask who will apply any weed or pest treatment and which state licence they hold.
Cost
What the repair involves and what it costs
Patch, or replace the area
Once the cause is dealt with, UF/IFAS advises removing dead turf and filling the area with plugs, sprigs or sod. Where damage is extensive, it suggests replacing those areas with a different grass or another plant rather than patching. UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County says to replace a lawn when 30% or more of it is weeds, bare spots or damage. Ask the crew which grass suits your yard's sun and water.
UF/IFAS describes three Florida lawn grasses. It says St. Augustinegrass is planted as sod or plugs. Zoysiagrass is planted as sod or plugs and can tolerate shade, salt and traffic well. Bahiagrass has better drought tolerance than other Florida lawn grasses and can go in as sod or seed at any time of year in much of Florida.
Preparing the ground
The preparation steps come from UF/IFAS: clear debris, roots and rocks, kill and remove the old grass, get a soil test through the county Extension office, and grade the soil to slope away from the house. Never lay sod over existing weeds and grass; remove or kill them first. Rototill compacted soil 6 to 8 inches deep before laying sod. If the fix means digging, Florida law requires a call to Sunshine 811 at least 2 full business days before the dig, and the locate ticket is good for 30 calendar days.
When to lay sod in Tampa
UF/IFAS says spring is usually the ideal time to lay sod in Florida, though sod can root in any season if the ground is well prepared. Summer heat can quickly dry out rootless new sod, and summer rain helps it grow. The rainy season runs from May 25 to October 10 in the Tampa Bay area, according to the National Weather Service. If you re-seed instead, UF/IFAS says to seed warm-season grass between April and July in most of Florida. It names bahiagrass and bermudagrass as the best Florida lawn grasses to start from seed. Ask for a written start date and finish date with the quote.
Watering and care after the repair
UF/IFAS advises laying sod within 24 hours of delivery and watering the soil lightly just before you start. Then water new sod lightly but often for the first 2 to 3 weeks, keeping the soil moist but not soggy, and taper off once it roots. In Tampa, new sod still may not be watered between 4 a.m. and 8 p.m. The city points to the UF/IFAS 30-day establishment schedule, then normal days apply. Wait 3 to 4 weeks before the first mow and 30 to 60 days before fertilizing. That wait runs into Tampa's June 1 to September 30 fertilizer ban if the sod goes down in late spring or summer.
What it costs
The price depends on how much of the lawn is dead, how much old grass has to come out and how much grading the ground needs. These are national ranges from 2026 cost guides:
| Item | National range |
|---|---|
| Sod material only | $0.31 to $0.82 per square foot |
| Sod installed, average | $1.65 per square foot |
| St. Augustine sod installed | $0.98 to $1.79 per square foot |
| Pro sod install on a 1,000-square-foot yard, old grass removal not included | $1,000 to $2,200 |
| Removing weeds and old grass, disposal included | $0.88 to $1.84 per square foot |
| Tilling and grading before new sod | $0.90 to $2 per square foot |
| A pallet of sod, covering about 450 to 500 square feet | $150 to $450 |
| Lawn soil test | $35 to $100 |
What moves the price: how many square feet of lawn are dead, whether the old grass has to be removed, how much tilling and grading the ground needs, and the grass you choose. Ask for a written, itemized price after the crew walks your Tampa yard and measures it. For the wider picture, see our cost guide for Tampa landscape work. Tampa Landscaping Pros pulls the City permit when the job needs one.
Questions about grub damage in a lawn
What does grub damage look like in a lawn?
UF/IFAS says mild white grub damage leaves turf yellow and is hard to diagnose, and major damage leaves large areas of dead turf. WSU says grubs eat roots until the turf lifts easily.
Why does my brown grass pull up easily?
Root feeding by grubs is the reason WSU gives for turf that lifts easily. UF/IFAS also says mole crickets tunnel through roots, so check for both before anyone treats.
Are white grubs common in Tampa lawns?
WSU says grubs are not very common at pest levels, though its guide is not Florida-specific. UF/IFAS lists other insects and diseases that cause dead patches, so confirm the cause before you pay for treatment.
Who can treat my lawn for grubs?
In Florida, anyone applying pesticide to lawns for hire must hold their own FDACS certification or work under a licensed Lawn and Ornamental operator. Ask who will apply any weed or pest treatment and which state licence they hold.
Should I patch the dead area or replace the lawn?
The UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County line for replacing a lawn is 30% or more weeds, bare spots or damage. To patch, UF/IFAS says to find what killed the grass first, then remove dead turf and fill with plugs, sprigs or sod.
How much does it cost to re-sod after grub damage?
In 2026 national guides, sod installed averages $1.65 per square foot, and a professional install on a 1,000-square-foot yard runs $1,000 to $2,200 with old grass removal not included. Ask for a written, itemized price after the crew walks your Tampa yard and measures it.
When can I water and fertilize new sod in Tampa?
New sod may not be watered between 4 a.m. and 8 p.m. in Tampa, and UF/IFAS says to wait 30 to 60 days before fertilizing. Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer may not be applied in Tampa from June 1 to September 30.
Cost
Get a written price to repair your lawn
Call us or use the form. We call you back within one business day. The crew comes out and measures, and Tampa Landscaping Pros gives you a written price before any work starts.