Signs Your Lawn Has a Pest Problem (and What to Do)

A green, healthy lawn can turn brown and patchy almost overnight—and pests are often the hidden culprits. From grubs chewing roots underground to chinch bugs draining moisture from your grass, insect infestations can quickly undo months of hard work.

Knowing how to identify pest damage early and act fast can save your lawn before the problem spreads. Here are the top signs your yard has unwanted visitors—and how to stop them for good.

1. Brown Patches That Don’t Respond to Watering

If parts of your lawn stay brown even after regular watering, the issue might not be drought—it could be pests feeding on your roots.

Common causes:

• Grubs: Feed on roots, causing turf to lift up easily like a carpet.
• Chinch Bugs: Suck moisture from blades, especially during hot, dry months.

What to do:
Pull up a small section of brown turf. If you spot white larvae (grubs) or tiny black-and-white chinch bugs, it’s time to call for professional pest control treatments.

2. Increased Animal Activity

Raccoons, armadillos, birds, or skunks digging up your lawn? They might be hunting for grubs or mole crickets hiding below the surface.

What to do:
Eliminate the pest food source. Once grubs or crickets are gone, animals will stop tearing up your yard.

Anointed Lawn Care’s grub and mole cricket control treatments are timed perfectly to target these insects before they mature and multiply.

3. Thinning or Wilting Grass

If your grass appears thin, wilting, or unevenly growing, pests could be disrupting the root system.

Possible culprits:

• Armyworms – chew grass blades to the ground, leaving sudden bald spots.
• Sod webworms – feed at night and cause patchy damage.

What to do:
Inspect your lawn at dusk for visible caterpillars or moths flying up when disturbed. Professional insect control stops the infestation before it spreads.

4. Soft, Spongy Soil

When grubs or mole crickets tunnel beneath your lawn, the soil may feel soft or uneven. This tunneling weakens root systems and can cause turf to detach from the soil surface.

What to do:
Avoid heavy foot traffic in damaged areas and schedule core aeration after pest treatment to help roots recover.

5. Fire Ant Mounds Appearing Overnight

Fire ants are one of Texas’s most aggressive lawn invaders. Their mounds can pop up quickly, and their painful stings make outdoor spaces unsafe for families and pets.

What to do:
Don’t disturb the mound—it only spreads the colony. Instead, rely on professional fire ant control services that eliminate the problem at its source.

6. Grass That Pulls Up Easily

Healthy grass resists being pulled, but when pests feed on roots, the turf detaches easily from the soil.

What to do:
Try gently tugging up grass in brown areas. If it lifts with little effort, grubs or other root-eating insects are likely the cause.

7. Uneven Growth or Yellowing Grass

If some parts of your lawn look healthy while others stay yellow, pests may be targeting specific zones. This patchy pattern often points to localized infestations.

What to do:
Request a lawn inspection from experts who can identify the pest species and apply the right targeted solution.

8. You’re Seeing Insects on the Surface

While most pests prefer hiding underground, seeing bugs like beetles, mole crickets, or aphids crawling or flying around your lawn is a red flag.

What to do:
A single treatment won’t solve the issue—many pest species lay eggs in cycles. Ongoing perimeter pest control and lawn insect management are key to breaking the life cycle and preventing future infestations.

9. Fungal Growth or Mold Spots

Some pests create entry points for disease by damaging grass blades or compacting soil. If you notice fungal patches appearing alongside thin grass, pest activity may be the root cause.

What to do:
Combine fungus control and pest control for full recovery and lasting protection.

10. Your Lawn Just “Doesn’t Look Right”

If your lawn looks dull, uneven, or lacks its usual vibrancy despite proper watering and fertilization, pests could be quietly causing damage below the surface.

What to do:
When in doubt, schedule a professional lawn health assessment. Experts can detect early-stage infestations invisible to the naked eye.

Why Professional Pest Control Matters

DIY insect sprays often miss underground or hidden pests. Professional technicians use targeted, soil-safe treatments that protect your grass and beneficial insects at the same time.

Anointed Lawn Care’s pest control services are designed specifically for Texas lawns—addressing everything from chinch bugs to grubs using eco-conscious, season-timed treatments.

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