Posted on 07/04/2005 11:22:40 AM PDT by Dysart
After watering my yard day and night for a couple of weeks, I finally brought it back to life( in the midst of drought). So I set about mowing this morning and quickly found my feet sinking into the earth into what I thought were ant mounds. But no ants to be found when I extricated my foot. I found this vexing but pressed on. And it happened again. And again, until I stepped into one especially deep soft soft spot and turned my ankle rather nastily.
These mounds/soft spots just popped up seemingly overnight and I'm at a loss to account for what's causing this, and more critically, what to do about them.
Anybody care to weigh in? FYI, I'm certain no beebers, moose, or cheese are implicated...
Thanks and a very happy 4th of July to all.
Is the dirt humped up or just soft? Any visible holes?
My guess would be some sort of burrowing animal attracted to your yard because the ground is soft and moist. The most likely culprit would vary based upon where you live. One dry summer I even had a problem with snakes because they liked my nice, moist yard. It could possibly be caused by subsurface drainage patterns caused by overwatering IF there are no visible humps or holes.
Moles.
Oh yeah, the ground was so dry it was opening up before I started my watering regimen.
Definitely moles. Same thing happens with my lawn. If i don't water then they go off looking for softer and more earthworm ready dirt to hunt in. Once you water you make it more viable for grubs/earthworms and stuff and the moles come to feast.
If Helen Thomas was the culprit, I'd know precisely how to solve this little problem. Come to think of it, she does favor some the Gopher pics I've seen so maybe, just maybe...
How did you reslove it? Exterminator or restrict the watering?
You should be able to find them at Home Depot. I've tried traps, but they're a hassle and have to be set just right. I've also tried smoke bombs, but again ineffective.
Thanks for the assistance.
ROFL! I wan't expecting that! I almost went into post traumatic stress syndrome but caught myself.
Well be careful
/playful smile
lol
About those people telling you it's moles and you need to get rid of them:
HA!
If it's moles, then you no longer own your yard period.
Grubs and ants would be attracted to your lawn because of the moisture. Use diazanon, an insecticide. One brand name is "Sevin" Use it liberally and often. Kill the moles food supply and it will discourage them. - They will leave if and when they get damn good and ready and not one minute before.
If moles are present, they are present year round too. They go deeper in very hot and dry weather and in the winter time, hence no tell tale burrows above ground.
Could be Voles too.
I'm fairly convinced now that I'm dealing with Moles and they DO have a hearty supply of ants to feast on. That's likely why they are so taken with my yard; it does makes sense. I'll give the insecticide a go before calling in the varmint assassins. Thanks for your input and I do have that gnawing feeling that they now own my yard!
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