Teg Blog & News

You’ve seen the trails and mounds developing in the grass…noticed bite marks around the bases of trees and plants…maybe you’ve even twisted an ankle stepping on a soft patch of earth due to a pesky rodent creating its underground lair right in the middle of your beautiful lawn. Rodents are much more than just a nuisance – they can cause significant damage to the health and appearance of your yard. 

Above Ground

Surface damage is a much bigger problem than just negatively affecting the aesthetic appeal of the yard… a healthy lawn and garden adds value to your property as a whole. Many types of rodents can cause visible damage to your lawn, but here are some of the most common culprits: 

• Squirrels may dig to store food, then dig again to recover their treats. They enjoy chewing bark and limbs of trees and shrubbery and will gladly feast on the delicacies growing in your garden. 
• Voles cause damage primarily by foot traffic and chewing. They create trails, or runways, of bare earth while traveling between their burrows. Surprisingly, many of their runways are made under the cover of snow – snow on the ground adds a layer of protection from predators, and homeowners are often unpleasantly surprised to find a maze of trails through their lawn once the snow has melted in the spring. Voles are also known to chew on roots, crowns, and stems of vegetation, causing the untimely demise of many garden plants. 
• Surface damage from moles and gophers is an eyesore as well as a tripping hazard, with their volcano-like mounds of dirt that can spring up on your lawn seemingly overnight. 

Below the Surface

Damage to the surface is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to rodents in your yard. Mounds and trails give only a preview of what may be happening below ground when rodents burrow and create intricate tunnels under the lawn. 

Moles tend to eat insects and worms rather than grass and plants, but their tunnels can still be detrimental to the stability of root systems which can ultimately stunt growth. Gopher activity can lead to soil erosion, and they have been known to chew on plant roots as well. Unfortunately, if there is extensive damage to root systems it may be too late to save the plant by the time symptoms manifest at the surface.  

These underground pests don’t just damage your lawn and garden – they can also chew through underground cables, sprinkler systems, and piping. Repairing these systems in addition to your lawn itself can quickly turn a pesky yard nuisance into a very costly problem. 

If you live in the Visalia, CA area and suspect (or know!) that you have a rodent problem, don’t wait for further property damage or financial loss to occur – call The Experienced Gardener today for a rodent control estimate. Investing in professional rodent control services will stop the current damage and prevent future issues so you can enjoy a beautiful, healthy lawn and garden for years to come.