Keeping up with a healthy lawn can really pay off for landscapers, especially since your lawn usually covers a huge portion of your property. With that said, grass can be a delicate plant to care for. A healthy lawn is the product of hard work, resilience, and attention to detail. Just ask any landscaper that has dealt with problems like plant diseases and dead patches on their lawn about how important it is to keep up with regular lawn maintenance. There’s one problem that impacts a lot of lawns and can lead to serious damage if you don’t take care of it as soon as you notice.


We’re referring to pests and how they love to eat away at your hard work. While there will always be insects on your property since it is located outdoors in nature, there are certain pests in particular that can derail your entire landscaping if you let them. That’s why we’ve created the following list of pests that can damage your lawn so that you know exactly what to look for. This article is brought to you by Cal Blend Soils, the leading supplier of landscaping products in the California area. Reach out to one of the team members at Cal Blend Soils today to learn more about how our landscaping products can help you fortify your lawn against pests.

Moles and Gophers

The first pest on our list are animals that absolutely love to burrow. These critters can leave large holes all over your lawn and leave you scrambling to figure out what happened. Moles are carnivorous animals that dig into your yard in search of insects like earthworms and grubs. Gophers, on the other hand, are herbivores that only eat plants. However, that doesn’t stop them from burrowing in your lawn.

There are a few ways to keep moles and gophers off of your property. Trapping and releasing them is an option, but it doesn’t have to be the only option. If you can find a way to eliminate the food source for these animals, they will likely move on to greener pastures. You can also use repellants like castor oil that doesn’t harm the animals but keeps them away from your lawn so that it can stay healthy. Finally, you might want to consider an ultrasound pest control that emits a sound that scares them away. If you notice tunnels and holes all over your lawn, keep the tips mentioned above in mind since you are likely dealing with gophers or moles.

Ants

Another pest that can cause damage to your lawn and give you headaches as a landscaper is ants. These tiny insects create colonies throughout your yard that can put your lawn under extra stress to survive. Their nests are unsightly, but you usually don’t have to worry about them unless you are dealing with a larger infestation. It’s easy to recognize them when you notice worker ants above the ground searching for food.

Smaller colonies of ants can actually be a good thing for your landscaping, as they can provide natural aeration and feed on other insects. However, larger colonies can spread to other areas of your lawn and cause extra stress on patches of your lawn that are struggling to survive. One of the best ways to deal with ants on your lawn is to rake the ant mounds you notice. You can also use an eco-friendly combination of soap and water to spray in and around the ant mounds on your lawn. Finally, using bait can be a nice option to get rid of ants on your property, since you won’t be using harsh chemicals on your grass.

Chewing and Sucking Insects

While each pest that can cause damage to your lawn is cause for concern, insects that love to chew on your grass are probably one of the worst. While most insect species don’t cause injury to your plants, when the one that does chew on your grass shows up, it is an immediate issue. One of the most common insects that will damage your lawn is aphids, which suck the blades of grass. This causes your lawn to turn pale green or yellow, and can also lead to stunted growth. Additionally, you need to watch out for Japanese Beetles, which will feast on your grass and potentially cause irreparable damage.

Finally, grubs love to feed on the roots of your grass and can cause damage to areas of your lawn as well. Dealing with these types of insects is a lot easier if you notice them early. That’s why it’s important to regularly inspect your lawn for signs of pests. You can use certain pest killing products that won’t harm your plants to get rid of these insects.

Final Thoughts

Keeping your lawn pest-free is important because it keeps your grass healthy and allows you to enjoy all of your hard work with family and friends. Remember that moles and gophers can be removed in a humane way if you notice they have been burrowing all over your lawn. Ants aren’t necessarily a cause for concern unless the infestation gets out of hand. If that’s the case, consider using a soap and water mix to remove them or try raking over the anthills on your lawn. Finally, chewing and sucking insects certainly cause for concern and should be dealt with as soon as possible to avoid letting things get out of hand.


We hope this article has helped you gain some valuable insight into the types of pests that can damage your lawn. Remember that regular lawn maintenance and close attention to detail are the best recipes for landscaping success. As a reminder, you can always reach out to Cal Blend Soils if you are interested in purchasing landscaping products to take your property to new levels of success. We offer discounts on bulk purchases and can deliver our products to the location of your choice for added convenience.