One of the major signs of a grub infestation is irregularly shaped brown patches of dead grass, but that can be caused by a number of different factors as well. If you think you may have grubs, look for other signs as well, including: Holes in your lawn caused by birds and mammals digging in the grass to get to the grubs Grass with no roots A spongy feeling when you touch or walk on the lawn When you do find evidence of grubs, the next step is to search your lawn to inspect for the larvae. To do this, find a small spade or shovel and go to one or two of the dead patches of grass. Dig up square-foot (30 cm by 30 cm) portions of lawn where the dead grass meets the green grass Dig to a depth of about two inches (five cm) Look for C-shaped bugs with legs on the inside of the body near the head If you find these larvae, it means you have grubs Even if you find grubs in your lawn, it's possible that you may not have to get rid of them, depending on how many there are. A few grubs aren't actually going to hurt your lawn or cause too much cosmetic damage, especially if your lawn is healthy. There is no need to take action to get rid of the grubs if you find fewer than five per square foot. If you find more than five but fewer than 10 grubs per square foot, you'll only need to treat your lawn if your grass isn't healthy. Regardless of the state of your lawn, you'll need to get rid of the grubs if you find more than 10 per square foot. The scientific name for these is Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, and they are microscopic, parasitic worms that invade grubs and release bacteria that kill them. It's important to note, however, that this is a long-term method, and it can take the worms up to three years to fully control your grub problem. For the best results, apply the beneficial nematodes in the late afternoon, and water the lawn immediately after applying them. Because beneficial nematodes need to invade the bodies of grubs in order to propagate, you must choose between using this method or using a chemical pesticide. These worms may be sold under the name Hb nematodes, and you can buy them through gardening stores, catalogues, and online. Bacillus popilliae is a bacterium that can be used to kill the larvae of Japanese beetles. Because it's a spore, it comes in the form of a powder that you can sprinkle on your lawn to get rid of grubs. Like the worms, using Bacillus popilliae to get rid of grubs is a long-term solution, rather than a quick fix. To use Bacillus popilliae, you can spray it onto your lawn with water, or sprinkle the dry powder onto your grass. Like the beneficial nematodes, you'll have to choose between using Bacillus popilliae or chemical pesticides, because the spores won't work without a grub population. A Japanese beetle grub can be distinguished from other grubs by the end of its body. Whereas most grub bodies end in a rounded stump, the Japanese beetle grub has a pointed end. Beetles don't tend to lay eggs in grass that's long and thick. By seeding and fertilizing your lawn, you can repair any damage the grubs have done and deter new beetles from laying more eggs. In spring and fall, rake away dead grass from any brown patches. Water your lawn, then sprinkle new grass seed over any thin or dead areas. After reseeding, fertilize the lawn to help the dead patches regenerate and the new seeds to thrive. Because beetles don't like long grass either for egg-laying, let your grass grow longer than you might otherwise once it starts to grow back. Keep your grass about two inches long. Raise the blades on your lawnmower to increase the length that it will cut the grass. An easy way to prevent your lawn from becoming a breeding ground for grubs is by letting it dry out or watering it as little as possible. Beetle eggs will die without water, so starving them of it will kill the eggs before they even hatch into grubs. Many grubs lay eggs in July, so it's especially important to keep your lawn dry in July and August. Beetles will also avoid laying eggs in a dry lawn, so you should consider not watering your lawn in the last week of June as well.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary -- Look for signs of grubs. Check for grubs. Decide if you need to treat. Use beneficial nematodes to get rid of any type of grub. Use spores for Japanese beetle grubs. Seed and fertilize your lawn in the fall. Let your lawn grow long. Don't overwater.

You can also buy fiberfill and fill the pillow with stuffing yourself. This project is easily customizable according to the size of pillow you want to use. You can get really creative here. Lots of people choose a solid color for one piece of fleece, and a coordinating pattern for the other. Some people choose to go simple with two different solid colors. The possibilities and combinations are endless! Depending on the size of your pillow, you will need about 1 yard (0.92 meters) of each type of fleece. This is important, because you won't be turning the pillow inside-out afterwards. It may not make much of a difference if you are using a solid color, but some patterned fleeces may be blank on one side, which would make a difference. Use a sharp pair of fabric scissors, or rotary cutter, and a straight edge to cut through both pieces of fleece at the same time. This will ensure that both pieces are even and that they match up. If you are working with a large pillow, or if you'd like a longer fringe, cut the fleece so that it is 8 inches (20.32 centimeters) longer and 8 inches (20.32 centimeters) wider than your pillow. This will make your fringe neater in the end. Consider drawing the squares first with a ruler and a piece of chalk to ensure that the squares are neat and even. If they are crooked, your fringe may not turn out right. If you are working with a large pillow, or if you'd like a longer fringe, cut 4-inch (10.16-centimeter) squares out of each corner instead. Be sure to cut through both layers of fleece at the same time. This ensures that the fringes match up. Use a piece of chalk to draw the lines, if you need to. If you are working with a large pillow, or if you'd like a longer fringe, cut the slits 4 inches (10.16 centimeters) deep instead. Tie the top piece to the matching bottom piece in a tight double knot. Keep doing this until you have completed three sides. If you are using fiberfill, tie most of the fourth side shut, but leave four ties undone. If you are using fiberfill, simply stuff your pillow with that instead. At this point, your pillow is all done! If you used chalk to mark off your lines, brush it off the fringe.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary --
Buy a pillow form. Buy some fleece. Stack two pieces of fleece on top of each other, with the wrong sides facing in. Cut the fleece down so that it is 4 inches (10.16 centimeters) longer and 4 inches (10.16 centimeters) wider than your pillow. Cut a 2-inch (5.08-centimeter) square out of each corner. Cut 1-inch (2.54-centimeter) wide, 2-inch (5.08-centimeter) deep slits along all four sides of your fleece. Start tying the fringes together. Slide your pillow form into your pillowcase. Finish knotting the top of the pillow.