You might have gotten rid of the voles in your yard, but you’re left with burrow holes, surface runways, and dead patches of grass. To repair vole damage on your lawn, it starts with assessing the damage and cleaning up debris.
Then, you’ll need to fill the tunnels and burrow holes, fertilize, and overseed bare spots. With help from the experts, we’ll explain every step of the DIY process. Even with the right approach, though, you’ll still need to exert a bit of effort.
To save yourself the time and trouble, hire a landscaping pro who knows how to repair vole damage and restore your lawn, from filling the runways to overseeding bare patches.
| Project Difficulty: Moderate Estimated Time to Complete: 2 to 4 weeks (including grass regrowth) Project Cost: Low to moderate — DIY repairs typically cost $18 to $75 (seed, soil, and fertilizer). Professional overseeding costs around $90 to $150 per 1,000 square feet, while fertilization costs around $20 to $80 per 1,000 square feet, depending on factors like yard size. |
1. Assess the Damage
Voles, also called meadow mice, create shallow surface tunnels and bare patches as they chew through the grass roots and stems. Never underestimate these little creatures, though, as they can be really destructive.
At a density of 100 voles per acre, they can destroy around 4% of alfalfa fields — about 1,000 pounds per acre — over a period of 7 months.
While the damage left by voles on your lawn may not be as severe, you still need to survey its extent before starting the repairs. It’s best to assess and repair vole damage in early spring or early fall, as that’s when soil temperatures and moisture are ideal for seed germination and root growth.
Also, identify which areas are most affected to help you focus your repair efforts and prevent wasting seed or fertilizer where it’s not needed.
How to assess vole damage:
- Look for runways: Check for narrow, grassless paths (about 1 to 2 inches wide) snaking through your lawn.
- Inspect for vole holes in the yard: Small openings (1 to 2 inches in diameter) near garden beds or tree bases often mark vole tunnels.
- Check the grass roots: Tug gently on damaged grass. If it lifts easily, voles may have eaten the roots.
- Estimate the affected area: Mark damaged zones with flags or stakes to plan where reseeding or patching is needed.
“Vole damage is most costly during the winter,” says Kyle Broderick, plant diagnostician at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “During this time, a shortage of preferred food forces them to eat the inner green layers of bark of trees.”
He recommends paying particular attention to adjacent areas with heavy vegetation (e.g., parts of your yard with overgrown grass and bushes), because such areas are likely sources of invasions.
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2. Rake Debris and Excrement
After assessing the damage, you’ll need to rake the thatch in their runways. “This is primarily done to remove the dead grass, allowing new grass seed better contact with the soil,” says Broderick. Also, remove their droppings to increase the likelihood of germination and lawn recovery.
Remember to use a flexible garden rake when dethatching your lawn to avoid tearing the healthy turf. Then, bag and discard dead grass and vole waste to prevent parasites or bacteria from spreading.
After raking, you can also aerate your lawn to loosen compacted areas and encourage new grass growth.
See Related: When to Dethatch Your Lawn
3. Fill Burrow Holes and Runways
When you’re done clearing the debris, filling in the vole entry holes with soil is an important activity, says Danielle Gunn, agricultural Extension educator at the University of Idaho. This will help restore the soil structure and allow new grass roots to establish properly.
To fill the burrow holes and surface runways, follow these tips:
- Use a quality topsoil mix: Fill small burrow holes and shallow runways with screened topsoil or a mix of soil and compost to improve fertility.
- Tamp gently: Lightly press down the soil with your foot or the back of a rake to eliminate air pockets without compacting it.
- Level the surface: Ensure the repaired spots are even with the surrounding lawn to prevent puddling and standing water.
- Water lightly: Moisten the filled areas to help the soil settle naturally before seeding or fertilizing.
4. Fertilize
Since voles disturb the soil and grass roots, the affected areas often struggle to regrow on their own. To encourage new root growth, you’ll need to replenish lost nutrients. Applying the right fertilizer gives your lawn the boost it needs to restore density and color.
- Choose a balanced fertilizer: Use a starter fertilizer, which has more phosphorus for root growth.
- Apply evenly: Use the right lawn spreader to distribute fertilizer across the damaged areas, following label directions for rate and coverage.
- Water thoroughly: Water the area immediately after fertilizing to help nutrients soak into the soil.
- Avoid over-fertilizing: Too much fertilizer can burn tender new grass shoots and delay recovery.
5. Overseed or Patch
Voles often leave long, barren vole tracks where grass roots were chewed away, and these won’t fill in on their own. “Replant areas to desirable vegetation once the infestation is controlled,” says Gunn.
When overseeding to restore your lawn’s uniform look, remember to:
- Pick the right grass seed: Choose a seed blend that matches your existing lawn type and your region’s climate for best results.
- Loosen the soil: To improve seed-to-soil contact, lightly rake or aerate the top 1/4 inch of soil.
- Spread the seed evenly: Apply seed at the recommended rate using a hand or broadcast spreader.
- Cover and water: Gently rake again and cover with a thin layer of compost or straw. Water daily until the new grass establishes.
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FAQ About Repairing Vole Damage
You can expect to see results within 3 to 4 weeks. Note that grass seed germination depends on temperature, watering, and sunlight, so cooler weather may slow growth. (Read more: When is the Best Time to Plant Grass Seed?)
Wait at least 3 weeks, or when the grass reaches about 3 inches tall, before walking on the repaired areas.
Repaired areas should stay consistently moist until the new grass is established. Your lawn must be damp, not soggy.
Hire a Pro to Restore Your Lawn from Vole Damage
Filling in vole holes and tunnels takes a bit of patience. Plus, you’ll also need to restore your lawn’s health and keep it well-maintained. So, if the job sounds like too much for you to handle, hire a pro who can fertilize, overseed, and mow your lawn.
Read Next: Voles vs. Moles: How to Tell the Difference
Sources:
- “Controlling Vole Damage.” By Stephen Vantassel, Extension project coordinator, Scott Hygnstrom, Extension specialist, and Dennis Ferraro, Extension Educator. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension.
- Danielle Gunn, agricultural Extension educator at the University of Idaho. Personal interview.
- “How To Manage Vole Damage on Lawns, Trees and Shrubs.” By Jennifer Menken, education collections manager. Bell Museum, University of Minnesota.
- Kyle Broderick, plant diagnostician at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Personal interview.
- “Pests: Vole Management in Home Backyards and Gardens.” By Dave Pehling, Extension educator. Washington State University Extension.
- “Vole Damage Prevention and Control Methods.” Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management.
- “Voles.” By Ryan Davis, arthropod diagnostician. Utah State University Extension.
- “Voles (Meadow Mice).” By Roger Baldwin, cooperative Extension specialist. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Main Image: Vole peeking from hole in grass. Image Credit: Marytog / Adobe Stock
