Here’s Why You Keep Finding Holes in Your Lawn—and How to Handle Them

Maintaining a healthy lawn involves a lot of work, from keeping it lush and green to ensuring it's free of debris. Lawn care often requires daily attention and plenty of patience, especially when problems like brown patches, weeds, compacted soil, or fungus arise. And, of course, there are those pesky holes that appear out of nowhere.

Holes in your lawn can pop up unexpectedly, but there are several familiar reasons behind them. According to Teri Valenzuela, natural science manager at lawn care company Sunday, common causes include dogs digging, recently weeded areas, wildlife like moles and voles, and even weather stressors.

Here, we’re exploring the various reasons you might be discovering holes in your lawn—and how to address them, straight from the experts themselves.

Animals

It’s no surprise that one of the primary causes of holes in your yard is critters. The exact culprit can vary based on your landscape and location, but common offenders include moles, voles, rodents, and even rabbits. “While it’s easy to notice if your dog is digging holes, it can be trickier to identify lawn-burrowing wildlife,” says Valenzuela. “If you can’t find an entry hole but instead feel a soft, sunken spot in your lawn, the likely culprit is a mole. Look for low ridges of soil or dirt mounds.”

Dealing with these areas can be tough, as no one wants to displace adorable wildlife (especially when the critter is a nest of baby bunnies). After ensuring there isn’t an animal nest inside, you can begin to make the hole less inviting. “To fix the holes, start by flattening any raised soil, mounds, or tunnels using a lawn roller or leveling with a rake,” suggests Valenzuela. “Adding a layer of quality topsoil can help fill in deep depressions. Once the holes are filled, reseed bare spots with high-quality grass seed to encourage new growth and prevent weeds. From there, you can support deeper-rooting grass and deter additional burrowing with a personalized lawn plan.”

Irrigation Issues

We all know that weather can affect your lawn, but most of us only think of it in terms of rainfall and the overall greenness of your landscape. However, experts say that your irrigation system plays a huge role in maintaining the firmness and stability of your lawn. “After a winter of freezing temperatures or a summer of dry, shifting ground, irrigation lines can become compromised,” says lawn care expert Justin Stultz. “Small holes or cracks can go unnoticed long enough to erode significant amounts of soil around the leak. If the irrigation system is the issue, you’ll spot puddles or water collecting during sprinkler operation.”

To fix lawn holes caused by irrigation issues, Stultz recommends consulting an expert to repair the irrigation lines, followed by focusing on restoring your lawn’s health. You may need to backfill the holes and reseed to rejuvenate both your soil and turf.

Insects

Believe it or not, even tiny insects can cause significant problems in your lawn. Creatures like ants, ground wasps, worms, and grubs can create substantial damage when present in large numbers, often going unnoticed until it’s too late. “What starts as a small or seemingly harmless issue can become one of the most destructive to your lawn if left unchecked,” says Stultz. “Grubs, worms, and beetles can leave behind small holes with tiny mud balls scattered around them. In a couple of weeks, you’ll start seeing brown or yellow patches appearing in localized areas or spreading throughout your lawn.”

The good news? Eliminating insects—and their damaging holes—isn’t too difficult. “For many insect infestations, a quick pesticide treatment from your local store will usually do the job,” says Stultz. “It may take a few weeks, but you’ll see the green return to the affected areas. Reapplying pesticides can also be part of a regular lawn maintenance routine to keep your lawn healthy,” he adds.