Lawn damage

Jerry Taylor
by Jerry Taylor
Last fall we began noticing large areas of the lawn that looks as if it's been turned over, for a better lack of words. We at first thought it might be moles but I'm not so sure. If anyone could help with this mystery I should would appreciate it.
  24 answers
  • Moxie Moxie on Mar 15, 2014
    I can't be 100% sure, but I had something similar happen to my yard. As it turns out my hubby used a combo weed killer fertilizer and more of my lawn was weeds than grass. I raked, reseeded and it filled in.
  • Jerry Taylor Jerry Taylor on Mar 15, 2014
    Nothing has been put on it so that can't be it. It's really weird looking. Hard to explain but it really looks as if the ground is partially tilled. It's lumpy with a lot of soil showing. I'm at a loss.
    • Carole Carole on Mar 15, 2014
      @Jerry Taylor @Douglas Hunt maybe Douglas can help you with this problem? Our front lawn has gone the same way, but I know our lawn was not laid properly to start with. They did not have enough soil under the turf when ours waslaid and if you stick a fork into our lawn you should be able to at least go 5cm deep but our fork hits rock or builders rubble after about 1cm and nearly breaks the fork! (We live in a mountain area). It could be dead grass or thatch which might benefit from raking and aeration with a garden fork if it is a small area or Douglas might be able to recommend what to use on it. I would also be interested to know the answer!
  • Dee Dee on Mar 16, 2014
    Where is Doug when you need him. DOUG can you hear us help LOL.
  • Shelley Shelley on Mar 16, 2014
    This is sort of a wild shot but....do you live in a wooded area? If so, you may have wild hogs that are having fun with your yard. My folks live in the country and this happens to them when the hogs come out and root.
  • Julie J Julie J on Mar 16, 2014
    @Douglas Hunt can you help with this lawn mystery?
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Mar 16, 2014
    And just where is Douglas Hunt when you need him? He is probably out in that beautiful Florida sunshine in a fishing boat! (I'm taking bets on this!)
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Mar 16, 2014
    Well, Jeanette, I was out in the beautiful Florida sunshine, but I was shopping for plants, not out on a fishing boat. (This should actually not be a surprise!) I'm afraid I do not have a quick answer to this mystery. @Jerry Taylor, when you say it looks like large areas of the lawn have been turned over, do you mean the soil is raised? Has it gotten worse or remained consistent? If it were more or vole damage, that's what it would feel like. Moles can dig at a rate of a foot a minute, so, even though they are relatively solitary mammals, they can do a lot of damage in a short amount of time. Moles are insectivores that mostly feed on grubs and earthworms. If you had a significant grub problem, you would probably see large yellow patches in your lawn before you saw tunnels from moles. Another possibility is that the damage was done by birds foraging for insects. Did you ever turn over a portion of the lawn and take a look at the soil underneath? The Missouri Botanical Garden has a couple of simple tests for lawn insects. I would do them to rule out insects as a cause before doing anything else: http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/gardening-help-faqs.aspx?questionid=354&afmid=4462
  • Bonnie Lewenza Bonnie Lewenza on Mar 16, 2014
    Is this just happening in patches or is it through out your lawn? It may be that you have a slug problem as they leave their slim birds come along and think they have a feeding ground. As the birds poke they beaks looking for worms eventually it gives the lawn this appearance. Rake it up and reseed, throw some pennies down around the area, slugs hate copper. They will move themselves along.
  • Dee Dee on Mar 16, 2014
    OK Barb i would like to hear what he has to say. Thanks
  • Jerry Taylor Jerry Taylor on Mar 16, 2014
    When we first noticed it last fall it was only in one section about 10' x 10'. Since then a few other large areas along with smaller ones have appeared. Now there is hardly any area that doesn't have some type of this damage. The ground is very soft and yes @Douglas Hunt it does look raised. No signs of grubs.
    • Cindy Barnes Cindy Barnes on Mar 17, 2014
      @Jerry Taylor I live in Southern Indiana and have the same thing happening in my yard. We know we have moles, voles, and other small vermin. Every winter, they tear up our back yard searching for grubs. It makes the yard very dangerous come Spring when it gets warm and thaws. We are still trying to find a way to get rid of the vermin without killing our cats who like to hunt the vermin. I would love a non-toxic way to get rid of them so I can have a nice yard.
  • Jerry Taylor Jerry Taylor on Mar 16, 2014
    Jesse you may be on to something! I am sure I saw a few Crane Flies last summer. I viewed some images of damage on the net and it looks very similar. The first day we get descent enough weather I will dig up some samples to know for sure. Thanks so much!
  • MaryAnn W MaryAnn W on Mar 16, 2014
    Do y'all have armadillos there yet? They will do that to your yard too
  • What part of the country are you located in? If you are in a warmer climate and have had an irrigation event, then it is possible that earthworm activity. I have had many lawns that thought they had grubs but when we dug into the soil, we found excessive amount of worms in a very tight area. Just another possibility .....
  • Jerry Taylor Jerry Taylor on Mar 16, 2014
    Central KY
  • H.C. Lawn H.C. Lawn on Mar 17, 2014
    I have seen wild turkeys turn up lawn because food there ct gets a lot of grubs It happens after the hatch and lay eggs for next cycle life
  • Luann Chandler Luann Chandler on Mar 17, 2014
    Moles/voles?
  • Starla Swanson Starla Swanson on Mar 17, 2014
    Not moles or voles. Wrong evidence. I'd say you've had a bug hatch, and quite possibly birds helping it along. We had a Japanese beetle hatch-hate them-and it seriously disrupted the ground. Pretty much killed off the vegetation in the area, not to mention what they did to my green beans!
  • Robin Grunzweig Robin Grunzweig on Mar 17, 2014
    Raccoons will do that as well, looking for grubs...do you have a lawn service, like TruGreen? They might be able to tell you what's going on.
  • Susan Stodola Susan Stodola on Mar 17, 2014
    I would know what this is here in northern Wisconsin. Skunks are the guilty party's when they are digging for grubs. I thought I was doing everyone a favor by permanently 'removing' them from the neighborhood and that summer I had a HUGE infestation of grubs AND June bugs. I have always remarked that I hardly ever have June bugs and now I know why. I don't know if I can entice any skunks to come live in the culvert at the end of the driveway again or not.
  • Eirene Simmons Eirene Simmons on Mar 17, 2014
    I have something similar in my yard in Lakewood, CO. It is in the lawn, that is under a bird feeder, There was a colony of "Marshmallow" shaped musrooms in that area last summer, also we have Racoons, and squirrels. I would appreciate any guiidance.
  • Jerry Taylor Jerry Taylor on Mar 17, 2014
    I took some samples today and found no evidence of Crane fly, grubs or anything along those lines. I live right on the edge of our city and there is a farm just a few hundred yards from our property. We do have racoons, skunks and a lot of birds. Could this be water damage. It seems like we did have a very wet fall and this winter has been one of the snowiest that I can remember. Maybe this new pic can give a little more insight.
    • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Mar 18, 2014
      @Jerry Taylor I do not think that is water damage. I am still inclined to think it is from an insect, or a predator in search of an insect. How far away is your nearest Extension office? I suggest taking a sample (in a zip-lock bag) there.
  • Laurie Riddle Laurie Riddle on Mar 17, 2014
    I have the same problem in North Texas. I think it is cinch bugs.
  • Susan Stodola Susan Stodola on Mar 18, 2014
    You are not going to find any grubs because the skunks are digging them up and eating them. Do an internet search.......'skunks eat grubs in fall'. You will see some images just like you are posting.
  • Jerry Taylor Jerry Taylor on Mar 19, 2014
    @Douglas Hunt thanks for the advice. That sounds like my best option and I am lucky enough that the office is close by. @Susan Stodola Skunks are everywhere here right now. Mating season has brought them out in full force so that might also be an option.