It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 1:53 pm

All times are UTC - 6 hours




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 19 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
 Post subject: bumpy soil problem
PostPosted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 11:28 am 
Offline

Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2014 11:12 am
Posts: 10
I'm hoping I can learn what my problem is and how to fix it. For years my lawn's soil surface has been growing increasingly bumpy. Thousands of bumps have developed with each bump typically about 2.5" wide and about 1.5-2.0" tall. Each bump has a small hole at the top about the width of a pencil. I've always assumed the bumps have been caused by some sort of insect, but I've never seen anything crawl or fly out of the holes on top of the bumps. The yard shows no other signs of infestation of any sort. Each bump is NOT from excavated soil, like an ant mound. It's more like from an upheaval of sorts. Every year there are more bumps. When the soil gets dry, the bumps get hard. It is making it increasingly hard to push the lawnmower over them - very bumpy. Also, the grass seems to get thinner wherever the bumps are concentrated. I have dug up many of the bumps and never find anything like larvae, etc. Any advise about this would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: bumpy soil problem
PostPosted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 11:41 am 
Offline
Moderator
Moderator

Joined: Tue Mar 18, 2003 3:45 pm
Posts: 2884
Location: San Antonio,TEXAS
Most of the time a bumpy lawn surface was caused by rototilling the soil in preparation to lay the sod or throw seed. Do you know if that was done, say, three years ago or so?

Leveling the soil can be done, but if the cause is ongoing, you have to find the reason first. Since you did not mention holes in the soil we can probably rule out moles or voles.

Where do you live?
What kind of grass do you have?

_________________
David Hall
Moderator
Dirt Doctor Lawns Forum


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: bumpy soil problem
PostPosted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 1:13 pm 
Offline

Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2014 11:12 am
Posts: 10
In reply to your questions, no rototilling has been performed on this soil. It has a high clay content and if anything, it is highly compacted.
I live in West Virginia, in the northeastern part, known as the Eastern Panhandle.
The grass is just common rye and fescue.
Again, thanks for your help.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: bumpy soil problem
PostPosted: Sat Mar 01, 2014 9:19 pm 
Offline
Moderator
Moderator

Joined: Tue Mar 18, 2003 3:45 pm
Posts: 2884
Location: San Antonio,TEXAS
That is odd. I don't recall this issue coming up exactly like this.

Before I jump into an essay on the benefits of organic fertilizers over chemical, are you already on an organic program? When were the last two times you fertilized and what did you use?

How often do you water and for how long?

Do you ever reseed the thin areas?

_________________
David Hall
Moderator
Dirt Doctor Lawns Forum


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: bumpy soil problem
PostPosted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 6:40 am 
Offline

Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2014 11:12 am
Posts: 10
In answer to your questions:

1) I am not on any organic program
2) I fertilize every spring and fall
3) I usually use a crabgrass pre-emergent weed and feed in the spring and a winter weed and feed in the fall.
4) I have not watered the lawn in years.

Thank you for your help


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: bumpy soil problem
PostPosted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 8:57 am 
Offline
Moderator
Moderator
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2003 8:09 pm
Posts: 1917
Location: Fort Worth,TEXAS
Would you get some photos of the yard? If you can get different angles - from straight above some of the bumps, and from an angle to the side so we can see the contour of the lumps. Pick someplace where the grass is a bit thin so we can see.

Your description, along with the information about using a chemical program, brings to mind some kind of sci-fi mutant resistant large insect. Here's hoping that isn't the case!

_________________
Northwesterner


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: bumpy soil problem
PostPosted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 5:50 am 
Offline

Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2014 11:12 am
Posts: 10
OK, I'll post some photos. But we have gotten more snow, so it will be a few days.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: bumpy soil problem
PostPosted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 10:29 am 
Offline
Moderator
Moderator
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2003 8:09 pm
Posts: 1917
Location: Fort Worth,TEXAS
Understood!

_________________
Northwesterner


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: bumpy soil problem
PostPosted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 6:37 am 
Offline

Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2014 11:12 am
Posts: 10
OK, I've got some photos, tried to attach them to my post and I am told each photo is too big. How can I get these photos to you. Thanks for your help.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: bumpy soil problem
PostPosted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 8:24 am 
Offline
Moderator
Moderator
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2003 8:09 pm
Posts: 1917
Location: Fort Worth,TEXAS
If you use software like Google's Picasa or even the Microsoft photo viewer they have ways to reduce the size yourself. Or, if you can post them at their current size to a site like Flickr or to online Picasa photo storage. They give several size options for sharing, so choosing something that is about 1000px or less on a side should make it small enough to upload to the forum from flickr. The other option is to post a link to them (Flickr is very helpful in providing html links for posting) and we can follow your link to see them (I can also copy and post reduced sized photos from there into the thread).

Flickr requires a Yahoo sign in (a Yahoo mail account) and Picasa requires a Google sign in (a Gmail account).

If this is more than you want to fool with, send me a private message and I'll send you my email address. You can send them to me to resize and post for you.

_________________
Northwesterner


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: bumpy soil problem
PostPosted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 4:13 pm 
Offline

Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2014 11:12 am
Posts: 10
Attachment:
100_1288.JPG
100_1288.JPG [ 220.9 KiB | Viewed 13808 times ]
Attachment:
100_1289.JPG
100_1289.JPG [ 104.24 KiB | Viewed 13809 times ]
Attachment:
100_1287.JPG
100_1287.JPG [ 231.93 KiB | Viewed 13808 times ]


Here are 3 photos of 5. Sending second post with photos 4 and 5.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: bumpy soil problem
PostPosted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 4:14 pm 
Offline

Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2014 11:12 am
Posts: 10
Attachment:
100_1291.JPG
100_1291.JPG [ 108 KiB | Viewed 13805 times ]

Attachment:
100_1290.JPG
100_1290.JPG [ 203.51 KiB | Viewed 13804 times ]


Here are photos 4 and 5. Thank you for your help with this.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: bumpy soil problem
PostPosted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 5:25 pm 
Offline
Moderator
Moderator
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2003 8:09 pm
Posts: 1917
Location: Fort Worth,TEXAS
Excellent job, excellent photos. I don't have a clue. I'm sure someone will come along with at least an educated guess.

In the meantime, can we talk you out of using the chemical fertilizers and pre-emergent weed killers? I'm sure the organic program can do some good for this odd looking soil condition.

_________________
Northwesterner


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: bumpy soil problem
PostPosted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 9:31 am 
Offline

Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2014 11:12 am
Posts: 10
I'm willing to listen to what ever advise you have. Thank you


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: bumpy soil problem
PostPosted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 9:40 am 
Offline
Moderator
Moderator
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2003 8:09 pm
Posts: 1917
Location: Fort Worth,TEXAS
I was looking out my kitchen window this morning, thinking back to when I lived in a northern climate, and it dawned on me that I used to sometimes see frost heaving in the winter that could result in lumpy soil. Do you think these lumps appear in the cold months and remain during the warmer months?

Google image search. These are just a few images. Does it get cold enough in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia to do this? Do you see these lumps in the area in general, or just in your yard?

Frost heaving from Wikipedia

_________________
Northwesterner


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 19 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 6 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by eWeblife