Holes in the lawn: How to close small holes in the garden
You should check your lawn regularly. If you discover holes in the lawn, you should take a closer look. A hole in the lawn can have a variety of causes: from incorrect care to voles or ants. That's why you should first identify the cause and then take care of repairing it.
In this article, we will summarize for you what causes holes in the lawn and how you can recognize them. You will then learn how to repair the holes and fill them with lawn seeds from RasenExpert. We will also give you tips on how to avoid holes in the future.
Holes in the garden due to incorrect care:
Weeding and heavy work can damage your lawn and cause holes as well as bare patches.
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Holes in the lawn caused by moles & mice:
Moles and mice dig underground tunnels in your garden and dig holes.
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Gaps & bald spots caused by insects:
Various insects build their nests in abandoned tunnel systems and spread quickly.
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Repair holes in the lawn with suitable lawn seeds:
With fast-germinating lawn seeds from RasenExpert, you can easily close gaps in your lawn.
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Holes in the garden due to incorrect care
As a hobby gardener, you dream of a green and even lawn. If holes suddenly appear, you will certainly ask yourself how they came about. Often, it is incorrect care or excessive stress that leads to holes and bald patches.
For example, if you pull weeds out of your garden, holes are often left behind. Sowing poor quality seed can also lead to holes in the long term: the lawn does not grow properly and only has a thin turf. It dies and holes appear in the lawn.
Overuse of the lawn can also damage it in the long run. If your children run around in the garden or you drag benches across the grass, this can also cause damage. These are shallow holes that still spoil the appearance of your lawn.
If your lawn is subject to heavy use, you should choose the right seed from the start. You need lawn seeds that are designed to withstand the strain and can withstand it. For this, we recommend our PREMIUM sports and play lawn:
Holes in the lawn caused by moles & mice
If you have discovered deep holes in your garden, you probably immediately think of moles. They dig underground tunnels that you can recognize from the outside by a large mound of earth. The tunnels are usually closed, so you probably won't even see the culprit.
Voles, shrews and other types of mice also dig tunnels in your garden. They also like to nibble on the roots of your plants, which can cause them to die. Mice mostly live underground: they run through the tunnel system or even use moles' tunnels.
The holes are usually open, but surrounded by small piles of earth. If shrews or voles dig holes in your garden, they usually have a diameter of around 2 centimeters. If they are rats, the holes are much larger and measure up to 15 centimeters.
Caution: Moles are protected species
Moles are protected in Germany. They are one of the endangered species that are under special protection under the Federal Nature Conservation Act. They may not be killed or caught. If you have discovered a mole in your garden, there is not much you can do about it. There are various household remedies, such as vinegar, dog hair or sour milk, that are supposed to drive moles away.
Gaps & bald spots caused by insects
The holes in your garden may also be caused by insects. Ground wasps and mole crickets build underground nests in your garden. Sometimes they also settle in the burrows of mice. The danger is that children can easily step into the holes and then get stung. At the same time, the insect larvae can eat away at the roots of your lawn, which can have negative consequences.
Holes in the lawn can also be caused by ants. The holes are usually round, small and sandy. Ants can usually be seen running across the lawn to get to the underground nest. They are difficult to control because common ant killers would also attack your lawn and are often not approved for use on lawns.
Birds may also be pecking at your lawn. If there are worms or grubs in the lawn, birds will peck at the lawn with their beaks to eat the insects.
Even larger animals cause holes in the lawn
There are also larger animals that can leave holes in the lawn. If raccoons, wild boars, rabbits, badgers or foxes are looking for food, the lawn can be destroyed. If you live in a rural area with lots of wild animals, one of these animals could be responsible for the holes. You can set up a wildlife camera and check which animals are looking for food on your lawn at night.
Repair holes in the lawn with suitable lawn seeds
Once holes have appeared in your lawn, you should repair them quickly. Gaps in the lawn are often a welcome invitation for weeds to settle on your lawn. Therefore, take action as quickly as possible.
First, start by filling the holes with soil to create a smooth surface. Loosen the affected areas and sow your seeds. Make sure to use a quick-germinating mix. This will close the holes and gaps particularly quickly.
Then tamp the seeds down and water them. Over the next few weeks, the seeds will germinate and the holes in the lawn will slowly close.
You can order the right seed for this from RasenExpert. We offer you a variety of different mixtures with which you can easily repair the holes in your lawn:
Prevent holes & bald spots in the lawn
If animals have dug holes in the lawn, you certainly want to prevent this from happening again. Holes caused by pets or visitors are also annoying. However, with simple tricks you can avoid holes in the lawn in the future:
Remove snails and grubs:
If snails, grubs and worms have settled in your lawn, birds will be attracted. They will peck at your lawn, which will create holes. If your garden is prone to snails, you should apply nematodes. These eat insect larvae before they hatch.
Fence your garden:
To prevent wild boars, foxes and rats from getting into your garden so easily, you should fence it in. A fence keeps out unwanted guests and protects your lawn at the same time.
Fill in uninhabited passages:
If a tunnel on the lawn is uninhabited, you should fill it with soil as soon as possible, as new residents often quickly settle in the tunnels.
Strengthen the grass with proper lawn care:
A dense turf makes your lawn more robust and strengthens it against a wide range of influences. That's why you should invest a lot of time in lawn care and strengthen growth as best as possible.
No matter whether there are large holes or shallow holes in the lawn: They are a nuisance that you can avoid with relatively simple tips. In many cases, it helps if you act quickly and take the best possible care of your lawn.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the causes of holes in the lawn
Yes, hedgehogs can cause holes in your lawn. When hedgehogs are looking for food, they dig up the soil and leave small, funnel-shaped holes. However, this is usually only a one-off activity for the hedgehog.
Yes, dog urine can cause holes in your lawn. If your dog repeatedly urinates in the same spot, the grass will turn yellow and may even die. If you have a dog, not only his digging, but also his need to relieve himself can damage the lawn.
You should be careful when mowing a lawn with holes. Depending on the depth of the holes, there is a risk of falling. In addition, your mower can get caught in the holes and get stuck. Therefore, you should fill the holes first and then mow.
Our conclusion: Close gaps in the lawn quickly with the right lawn care
Gaps in the lawn can be caused by animals, incorrect care or excessive stress. If you care for your lawn intensively, it will become particularly strong and dense. It will then be able to withstand stress better and holes will not form too quickly. If you do discover a hole, it is advisable to act quickly to avoid further damage.