Mote: What’s digging in my yard? Here’s how to know
Unless you are like me and have two dogs, the question “what made this hole in my yard” can be hard to answer. The biggest concern when we notice something has been digging in our garden is, is it friend or foe? Most holes do not indicate a problem, but here are a few tips to help determine the culprit.
The first question: Is there dirt mounded up on top or scattered around the hole? If no, then the hole is probably caused by the soil settling from decomposing roots, stumps or buried trash. These holes can be many different sizes and shapes. If the answer is yes, then some creature probably put it there. The size of the hole, location of the hole, and the look of the soil often determine the type of animal that did the digging.
Here is a break down:
12-36-inch diameter hole, soil plowed up, often in flower bed or lawn -- armadillo.
6 - 10-inch-diameter hole, soil not mounded, in lawn -- skunk or raccoon.
2-inch-diameter hole several inches deep, no mound or soil may be pulled to one side, middle of the lawn or in beds -- squirrel digging.
2-inch-diameter hole that often goes deep into the ground, small mound, under a shrub or concrete slab -- chipmunk or rat.
2-inch-diameter hole with a small mound, in lawn with raised tunnel nearby -- mole. The 2-3-inch-wide tunnel is most diagnostic for moles.
1-inch-diameter hole, no mound, next to hosta or woody plant. Woody plant roots may be chewed. You will often see fine tooth marks on the plant -- vole.
1-inch-diameter hole, soil thinly scattered around hole, middle of the yard or in bed -- cicada killer wasp.
1-inch-diameter hole, 2-inch-high pile of mud blobs, near creek, pond or other wet area -- crayfish. This is not commonly seen in Middle Georgia.
One-fourth inch diameter hole, mound 2 inches high and wide, several in middle of the yard -- ground bee.
No hole, mound two inches high & wide of granulated soil, middle of the lawn -- earthworms.
Mole crickets often get blamed for small holes in the soil. Mole crickets tunnel just under the soil surface. The main evidence of a mole cricket infestation is a tunnel about the width of your finger. Look for these tunnels in bare dirt or under turf. Affected turf will often die and can be easily pulled up as though it has no roots.
If you have a hole you are concerned about, just fill it in with soil. Filling the hole may solve the problem. If something reopens the hole by pushing the soil out, then try to find the culprit. If the soil settles down into the hole, then you are just experiencing soil settling. As long as the hole is small, soil settling is nothing to be concerned about.
Source: extension.uga.edu
For more information on any program area, contact Houston County Extension at 478-987-2028 or drop by our office in the old courthouse, downtown Perry, 801 Main St. Office hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Visit our website at www.caes.uga.edu/extension/houston/ for more news about your local Extension office.
*Check out my blog at http://blog.extension.uga.edu/houston/
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Sept. 18-20: MGCG Fall Plant Sell, State Farmers Market, Macon
Oct. 2-12: Georgia National Fair
Oct. 2-5: State Market Lamb and Goat Show
Oct. 2-5: GNF Steer and Heifer Show
Oct. 9-11: Junior Market Hog Show
Oct. 11-12: Junior Invitational Steer and Heifer Show
Oct. 14-16: Sunbelt Ag Expo, Moultrie
Oct. 21-24: Master Gardener Southern Regional Conference, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
This story was originally published September 17, 2014, 12:00 AM.
