logo: University of Minnesota Extension Gardening Information

What's wrong with my plant?

Turf > Uneven bumps, mounds, or ridges in lawn

1 of 5
  • moles 1
    Credit: Lynn Vernon
  • moles 2

    Credit: Lynn Vernon

  • moles 3

    Credit: Lynn Vernon

  • - CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE -

green arrowEastern Moles

  • Fairly straight to irregular lines of raised ridges of grass with no openings
  • Scattered mounds of soil present within ridge system; 1 pint to 2 quarts in volume
  • Grass on ridges can turn brown and dry out quickly
  • Most apparent in early summer and again in September to October
2 of 5
  • voles 1
    Credit: NCRS Archive, USDA FS, Bugwood.org
  • voles 2

    Credit: NCRS Archive, USDA FS, Bugwood.org

  • voles 3

    Credit: B. Jarvis

  • - CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE -

green arrowMeadow Voles

  • No soil mounds present, but small, irregular shaped trails on lawn surface
  • Especially visible just after snow melt
  • Loose grass blades on tops of tail give the appearance of ridges, but soil is not raised
  • Grass plant usually not killed, but may be slower to come back in the spring
  • More information on Meadow Voles...
3 of 5
  • nightcrawler 1
    Credit: Bob Mugaas
  • nightcrawler 2

    Credit: Bob Mugaas

  • nightcrawler 3

    Credit: Dept. of Entomology, Univ. of Minnesota

  • - CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE -

green arrowNightcrawlers

  • Occurs during early to mid-spring; can remain throughout the summer
  • Small, conical bumps randomly distributed through lawn
  • 4 to 8 inches long and reddish-brown
  • More information on Nightcrawlers...
4 of 5
  • cornfield ant 1
    Credit: Jeff Hahn
  • cornfield ant 2

    Credit: Jeff Hahn

  • - CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE -

green arrowCornfield Ant

  • Small, about 1/8 inch wide, hole generally surrounded by a conical mound of dirt
  • Found in areas where grass in thinning or bare
  • Found anytime during spring or summer
  • Ant 1/10 inch long and brown
  • More information on Cornfield Ant...
5 of 5
  • field ant 1
    Credit: Jeff Hahn
  • field ant 2

    Credit: Jeff Hahn

  • - CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE -

green arrowField Ant

  • Large mounds with numeroud 1/8 to 1/4 inch wide holes
  • Found in healthy lawns as well as thinning turf
  • Found anytime during spring or summer
  • Ant 1/8 to 1/4 inch long and black or black and red
  • More information on Field Ant...

Don't see what you're looking for?