skip to main content

What's ruining my lawn!?

11 years ago

Hello! Brand new to the forum here, but something is ruining my lawn and I need help indetifying it and exterminating it! Just the past couple weeks something has infested my lawn. The grass has soft spots all over it as if something is burrowing underneath it and is quickly dying. I don't know what it is or how to get rid of it. I imagine it is some type of vermin. What are the steps to identifying and exterminating the critters?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

goren
11 years ago
I could write a book on the things that eat at a lawn so I'll mention just a few and you can do your own research.

Moles and voles...eat at grass roots. Slugs and snails do the same.
Skunks will dig up a lawn to get at the slugs.
Mice move across a lawn in winter eating what they find.

If you have a slug problem try this: dig up a small section...about two feet square, look under the sod; if you have just a couple, don't worry about it...just pick them off and deposit into a bucket of soapy water. If you see more than 6...then action is called for. There are a number of methods of attack....do some reading on how to remove them.

Moles and voles are the big troublesome pests that can destroy large areas of a lawn. Do read about them too.

Dogs....urine. the female is the worst offender. If you have dogs of your own or neighbors' animals that visit, there is absolutely nothing that will cure the problem other than watering more often the place where they go...and replacing the sod with plugs, overlaying some topsoil and overseeding.
There is no need to go to the extreme such as buying an electric fence, or laying down hot pepper that, if the animal gets it on his paws, then wipes his face, gets it in his eyes...and blinds him. Water from a hose is the usual shoo that works. And reminding his owner that any damage done by his dog will be followed by a bill in the mail for damage and repair.
grass1950
11 years ago
It sounds like it could be moles. They are mostly carnivores looking for earthworms. I have not seen any literature stating that they eat grass or its roots. They tunnel under the turf and this action pushes up the turf causing turf grass's roots to lose contact with the soil, the turf suffers and can die. There are people who try to flood them out. There are all styles of traps available from humanitarian to deadly. there are also a number of poisons, some resemble earthworms made out of jell. Although blind, moles are not stupid, none of the traps or poisons or attempts at flooding are very effective if not completely worthless. I can't say it's related (cause and effect), and I'm not recomending it, but I haven't had moles since I started aerating with a 1700# tractor. On the otherhand, it could be because I just don't have many worms.
Related Discussions
Did I just ruin my lawn with too much fertilizer?
Q
Comments (25)
"tiemco, I see your point on getting any nitrogen off the blades. What is your rational for accelerating so much nitrogen into the soil/root zone? Wont that be detrimental?" No. Sure you are going to get tons of growth, but I'll take that over burn any day. It's about a month early for the spring feeding above the transition zone, so all that nitrogen shouldn't stress the grass too much (not sure where the OP lives), Just be sure you mow often enough to keep it at the level you want. Nitrogen is fairly transient in most soils, so some will leach away as well. Fertilizer burn happens because the fert ingredients are salts, and with only a small amount of water around, like dew, the salts pull water out of your grass, basically dehydrates it. If you give it a good watering you prevent this from happening. "So if I understand tiemco, he is recommending AGAINST the Scott's Plus-2." Yes, I am against Weed and Feed products for a few reasons. They make you apply synthetic fertilizer to wet grass without watering it in. They make you combine applying synth. fertilizer at the same time you want to kill weeds. What if I want to kill weeds in early April? They make you apply weed killer in dry form (liquid form is much better) and to the whole lawn, even if you only have weeds in some areas. It's much better to apply liquid weed killers directly to the weeds. If your whole lawn has weeds throughout, then get the appropriate product (Weed B Gone Max is great for most lawn weeds, CCO should handle the rest) and apply it with a hose end sprayer. If you only have a few weeds in your yard, use a tank sprayer and apply the weed killer directly to those weeds. You will get better results and use much less chemical. Weed and Feed sells so well because most people are gullible and lazy. They want to do the least work possible, and they believe everything that it says on the bag. People see that and are like "All I have to do is one application and I'm done? I'll take it!" The best thing Weed and Feed does is make money for Scotts.
...See More
Rain is ruining my lawn!!
Q
Comments (1)
I renovated a little stand alone section of my backyard to begin with and we had a downpour 3 days later. 2 inches total! I slaved on that section to get the grade just perfect (1in every 10ft away from the house). I lost some seed along the edges too but on the bright side I now know the grade is good! :) I spread 1/4in peat moss over all the new seeds and that really seems to hold everything in place. You could try peat moss as a top dressing. A 3.8cu ft bale covers 192 sq.ft ($10/bale at Lowes)
...See More
Skunk ruining new lawn!!! HELP!
Q
Comments (2)
Question? Are you saying that you added 2" of new soil OVER the existing soil and then reseeded?
...See More
So pervasive it's ruining my lawn!
Q
Comments (4)
It looks like broadleaf dock, also called bitter dock. It does have a very deep taproot and will regenerate from pieces left behind near the surface. If you don't want to use Roundup on it, probably the next best thing is to use an asparagus knife or shovel to keep cutting the crowns off several inches below the surface until the roots eventually die. That may take awhile, because it is a very hardy and long-lived perennial. The flower stalk is tall, so probably you won't see any flowers if you are mowing over it -- and a good thing, too, because the seeds can sprout after lying dormant for 50 years. So if your lot was an open field a few decades ago, or you have had topsoil that contains dormant seeds brought in, you may see some new seedlings appear from time to time.
...See More

Related Stories

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 15 Great Ideas for a Lawn-Free Yard

By Laura Gaskill

End the turf war for good with hardscaping, native grasses and ground covers that save water and are easier to maintain

GARDENING GUIDES What Are Your Spring Gardening Plans?

By Annie Thornton

Tearing out the lawn? Planting edibles? Starting from scratch? Tell us what you plan to change in your garden this year

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Spring Party Primer: 20 Ideas for Fabulous Fetes

By Laura Gaskill

Roll out the green carpet. On a lawn or in your living room, your spring party will be a hit with these tips and ideas

GARDENING GUIDES Texas Gardener: What to Do in July

By J. Peterson Garden Design

Beat the heat with sun-loving blooms, pest control, good lawn care and sun protection. Pick up the pace for planting and planning

GARDENING GUIDES Lay of the Landscape: English-Style Gardens

By Marianne Lipanovich

Stately and formal meet natural and romantic in English-inspired landscapes

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Great Design Plant: Quaking Aspen for 3-Season Beauty — on Its Own Turf

It offers bright fall foliage, snowy winter bark and lush green leaves in summer. Just don't try to plant quaking aspen away from its home

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Tips to Start a Garden — Can-Do Ideas for Beginners

By Alison Hodgson

Green up your landscape even if you're short on time, money and knowledge, with these manageable steps for first-time gardeners

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: Opening Up a Midcentury Schreiber Home in Phoenix

By Mitchell Parker

With fewer walls and a respectful addition, this Arizona feels less boxed in

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Enjoy the Romance of Dining in a Classic Gravel Garden

By Laura Gaskill

Here’s what to consider when it comes to installing, styling and maintaining a DIY-friendly gravel patio

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Houzz Survey: See What Homeowners Are Doing With Their Landscapes Now

By Annie Thornton

Homeowners are busy putting in low-maintenance landscapes designed for outdoor living, according to the 2015 Houzz landscaping survey

Sponsored

More Discussions

Sowed a month ago, but little to no germination

5

Giardia Prevention Help

2

Every spring and fall with pre-emergent, but still lot weeds???

3

Plastic netting in lawn starter

2

Lawn care Zone 3

1