After a long, brutal winter it’s finally time to get out and do some yard work. While the grass probably needs some TLC after all the snow and cold temperatures, you may have uncovered a greater source of damage. Holes in the yard can indicate the presence of pests. The question is, which one?
Unless you catch the guilty party in the act, it’s difficult to be sure of the cause. Here are some general guidelines to to help you narrow the possibilities.
- Holes that are roughly the same circumference as pencils, with no other visible damage, are usually made by birds. If the holes are accompanied by small piles of a granular texture, the culprits are most likely earthworms. Neither of these present a particular threat to the health of your lawn.
- Grubs are the larvae of many species of beetles. They hatch from the eggs that adult beetles lay in the lawn. They’ll feed on the grass roots until they become fully grown, emerging from the lawn to begin the cycle again. The holes they create are approximately the size of a nickel.
- Moles are probably the most commonly known pest to invade lawns. Their feeding tunnels are identified by the telltale raised ridges running across the grass. If you find tunnels without mounds of soil nearby, this usually means voles, not moles. Sometimes called field mice or meadow mice, voles feed on plants as well as grass.
If pests are raising havoc with your lawn, don’t rely on guesswork. Our Monmouth County, NJ professionals at Allison Pest Control will help you identify the source and provide efficient elimination. Please contact us to regain control of your lawn.