Description
Jonathan Green Natural Grub & Lawn Insect Control is a 10 lb granular insecticide for lawns and landscapes built on a proprietary blend of plant oils — rosemary, peppermint, wintergreen, geraniol, plus corn cob carrier — instead of synthetic neonicotinoids or pyrethroids. The result: a product that kills grubs and the most common surface-feeding turf insects, but is pollinator-friendly and safe to use around children and pets on dried surfaces. EPA 25(b) minimum-risk class.
What It Controls
- White grubs — Japanese beetle, masked chafer, European chafer, May/June beetle, oriental beetle larvae. Kills all stages of the grub life cycle, not just early instars (unusual for a botanical product)
- Chinch bugs — the dominant surface-feeding pest in St. Augustinegrass and Bermudagrass lawns
- Ants — surface-foraging species; reduces mound activity
- Fleas — broadcast treatment for lawns frequented by pets
- Crickets
- Ticks — perimeter and broadcast application
- Other lawn / landscape pests per label
Why Botanical (vs. Neonicotinoid)
The mainstream lawn grub products on the market — including Bayer Season-Long Grub Control, Quali-Pro Imidacloprid, Scotts GrubEx — are mostly neonicotinoid-based (imidacloprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran). Neonicotinoids are highly effective but are also under increasing regulatory pressure: documented honeybee toxicity, restricted use in some US states (NY, MA, others), and outright banned for outdoor use in the EU.
This Jonathan Green product is the alternative for customers who:
- Keep bees or live next to apiaries
- Have pollinator-attractant flowering plants (clover lawns, flower beds, vegetable gardens)
- Live in a state that has restricted neonicotinoid sales / use
- Have children and pets who spend significant time on the treated lawn
- Manage a property under an organic / IPM / sustainable certification
The tradeoff: botanical actives have shorter residual than neonicotinoids (typically 30-60 days vs 90+ for imidacloprid), so re-application may be needed in a heavy infestation year. For preventive use on properties with normal grub pressure, one well-timed application per season is usually adequate.
Active Ingredients
- Rosemary oil
- Geraniol (from geranium / citronella oil family)
- Peppermint oil
- Wintergreen oil
- Corn cob carrier (granular substrate)
- Polyglyceryl oleate (emulsifier)
- EPA classification: 25(b) minimum-risk pesticide — exempt from full EPA registration because all actives are on the FIFRA 25(b) minimum-risk list
- Signal word: CAUTION (lowest acute toxicity tier)
When to Apply
- Soil temperature must be 55°F or warmer for the botanical actives to mobilize and reach grubs in the root zone. Roughly: late April / early May in the Northeast; mid-March in the South.
- For curative grub treatment (when you see active grub damage — irregular brown patches, sod that pulls up like carpet) — apply as soon as soil temp permits and you've identified grubs in a few test digs.
- For preventive treatment — apply in early summer (June) before peak adult-beetle egg-laying. The botanical actives stay in the root zone and treat grubs as they hatch.
- Surface pests (ants, fleas, ticks, chinch bugs) — apply any time during active growth season; broadcast over the affected area and water in.
How to Apply
- Use a rotary or drop spreader calibrated to the labeled rate. Always read the current product label on YOUR bag for exact rate by application target (preventive vs curative differs).
- Broadcast evenly across the treatment area. Halve the rate and apply in two passes at 90° to each other for the most uniform coverage.
- Water in immediately — 0.5 in. of irrigation or a heavy rain within 24 hours. The plant oils need moisture to activate and migrate down into the root zone where grubs live.
- Bag coverage: 10 lb bag covers approximately 2,500-5,000 sq ft depending on the rate selected. Read the bag for exact coverage at your chosen rate.
- Surface treatment: keep pets and children off the treated area until the granules have been watered in and the surface is dry to the touch.
- Re-apply per the label interval (typically every 30-60 days during peak pest pressure season).
Safety
- CAUTION signal word — lowest EPA toxicity tier. The active ingredients are food-grade plant oils, but follow standard PPE practice anyway: gloves and eye protection during application.
- Pollinator-safe when applied per label — this is the headline differentiator. Unlike neonicotinoids, the botanical actives don't accumulate in plant tissues / pollen / nectar.
- Safe for use around children and pets on dried, watered-in surfaces. Wait until granules have dissolved and the lawn is dry before re-entry.
- Wash hands after handling; standard agricultural product hygiene.
- Don't apply to vegetable gardens directly without reading the label for crop-specific restrictions. The product is approved for lawns and landscape ornamentals; edible-crop application has different rules.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Jonathan Green Inc. (Farmingdale, NJ)
- Net weight: 10 lbs (4.5 kg)
- Coverage: approximately 2,500-5,000 sq ft (depending on rate / target pest; read the bag)
- Formulation: granular (G)
- Active ingredients: rosemary oil, geraniol, peppermint oil, wintergreen oil, corn cob carrier, polyglyceryl oleate
- EPA classification: 25(b) minimum-risk pesticide (exempt from full EPA registration)
- Signal word: CAUTION
- Pollinator-friendly: yes (no neonicotinoids, no synthetic pyrethroids)
- Child / pet safe (when dry): yes
- Country of origin: USA
- UPC: 079545119256
What’s in the Box
- One 10 lb (4.5 kg) bag of Jonathan Green Natural Grub & Lawn Insect Control granular insecticide
Compatible Accessories — Sold Separately
- Rotary or drop spreader for broadcast application (Earthway, Scotts, Lesco, Jonathan Green brand)
- Jonathan Green Lawn Food / Black Beauty seed for full lawn-care system rotation
- Soil thermometer for verifying 55°F soil temp before application
- Spreader calibration tray for confirming output rate before application
Stop by Garoppo’s to pick one up, or schedule local delivery within our service area.