Dirt Piles

Hokie’76 – posted 23 August 2004 09:56

My St. Augustine lawn has thinned tremendously in the past year. Yesterday, I noticed small piles of dark earth about 2-3 inches apart covering most of the lawn. The ground has a “spongy” feel when you walk on it. My lawn spraying vendor says the thinning problem is caused by shade, but these little piles make me think something’s eating away at the lawn from below. Any suggestions?

Luis – posted 24 August 2004 00:51

It sounds like you should buy some gopher pellets my friend!!Good luck.

Hokie’76 – posted 24 August 2004 08:14

quote:Originally posted by Luis:It sounds like you should buy some gopher pellets my friend!!Good luck.

I’ve seen what moles and gophers can do in yards “up north,” but not here in Florida. The dirt piles are very small (only about 1″ in diameter and about 1/2″ high), which points to some kind of worm or insect.

cboothe – posted 25 August 2004 22:01

mole crickets??

turfie – posted 31 August 2004 11:04

Sounds like earth worm castings that I usually see on the golf course, but never seen them on St. Augstine. Have a picture to post?

cohiba – posted 31 August 2004 12:27

We are finding hundreds of piles in clusters on our course. The hole is about 1″ deep and the diameter of a pencil. We are finding grubs. May/june beetles to be exact. Treated with dylox this morning and watched as hundreds of the tormentors came out of the ground, to twitch to death, this afternoon.

Dylox is like napalm to grubs.

Take care and good luck………..