Though mounds of terra firma left behind by wild visitor at least temporarily scar lawns , not every eccentric presents a serious threat to the well - keep landscape . Some could even be beneficial – the small mounds deposit overnight by large crawler fertilize plants and their small burrow aerate grunge . Other types of hillock indicate that destructive cuss are at work . The especial features of mounds reveal what fauna or worm make them – name the builders before deciding on a response .
Volcano Mounds
Two of the most destructive lawn visitor leave distinctive mounds of earth at the entrances of shallow burrows . The mole builds a symmetrical vent of soil and varnish the central entrance when done . The mound of world amount from the tunnel the mole prod as it look for grubs and nightcrawler . When the feeding tunnel collapses a shallow groove forms in the lawn above . Lethal mole traps are the common human reply , but longsighted term solutions include intervention of the lawn with milky spore . milklike spore attacks the source - eating grubs in the lawn , kill one of the mole ’s favourite nutrient and make the area less attractive to the foraging animals .
Crescent Mounds
Pocket spermophile construct crescent - shaped heap with an open burrow at the lower side . goffer eat theme and may even deplumate entire plants down into the burrow for undisturbed feeding . tuber of flowering plants , garden vegetables and roots of lawn grasses are at risk . Some repellents may be good , as well as poisoned intellectual nourishment pellets injected into the tunnels . Local laws determine precisely what remediation may be used . As - laced grain eliminates gophers apace but peril other animal as well .
Conical Mounds
symmetric mulct - grained conical pitcher mark off ant colony . Most are harmless and diminished . The mounds of fire ants multiply as the settlement extend – fire ants stray wide when feeding and bite and sting when vex . put down the colonies by placing ant decoy near the mounds . worker carry the poison food back to the colony , where the lure kills grubs and tabby . Poisoned baits could create job for dearie and hazardous animals if get out in the open .
Pellet Mounds
Mounds of pellet show that either fishing worm or crayfish live beneath the lawn . Random low piles of small earth pellets surrounding a hole of pencil diam or less mark an earthworm ’s tunnel . Nox crawlers may ramp up tunnels several feet deep , coming out after dark to scrounge for lawn dust . The castings combine earth with digested veg matter and fertilize surrounding plants . Scattering eliminates the mound and benefits the lawn . Crayfish work up more troubled structure – tugboat of clay pellet surround undetermined burrows and create obstacles for mowing machines . Lobster - comparable crayfish reach several inch in distance and eat unripe botany while course above priming coat at night . reduce irrigation reduces the bodily process of both night crawlers and crawdad . Water only enough to dampen the first three to six inch of filth .
