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Help please - birds have ripped up the lawn

jamezmjamezm Posts: 1
in Problem solving
Hi. After a commercial treatment yesterday (late summer fertilizer and weedkiller application) to the lawn, I've come downstairs this morning to see large sections of the lawn ripped up presumably by birds. Big chunks of lawn have been pulled up. Photos attached.

Is there anything I can do to stop them continuing over the rest of the lawn? Anything I should do immediately with what's already ripped up? Is it worth me trying to put the clumps back in the soil and then heavily watering?

Thanks in advance.


Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I don't think that's a problem, it looks like mostly tufts of brown dead grass that have been pulled out. If the tufty appearance bothers you, you can run the mower over it to pick them up. If the lawn was watered following the treatment, that might have brought worms or something up to the surface, which is probably what the birds were after.
    The grass should regrow new green blades when it gets a decent amount of rain, and then you can scarify to pull the worst of the dead stuff out if you like, and sow seed to fill in any thin/bare areas that don't look like they're regrowing well
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    maybe you could feed the birds, it must be hard finding food



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    As @JennyJ says, any watering will have brought worms and, more likely, chafer grubs to teh surface and the birds will feast on them as they'll be very hungry given this summer's weather.

    I would leav the grass well alone until September and you've had some decent rain and given the summer treatment you've used time to do its work.   Then, and only then, run over it with a scarifier or a spring-tined lawn rake to remove all that thatch of dead material and then re-sow the bare patches.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    If it happened overnight ( in the hours of darkness ) as your post suggests, have you considered that the culprit may have been something other than birds ? 
    From your pics and given the extreme weather we've had recently, your lawn doesn't look any worse than many others. Follow @JennyJ 's advice and you should see an improvement come the Autumn.
    If you are convinced that birds are the culprits, then @nutcutlet 's advice is also worth considering. 
  • CrazybeeladyCrazybeelady Posts: 778
    It looks how my grass looks after my cat has been sharpening his claws on it!
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I think they’re doing a grand job aerating the grass and digging out the thatch. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • RedwingRedwing Posts: 1,511
    It's a lawn.  It's also a drought. No need for chemical treatment.  Patience.... and the birds need to eat....let them.
    Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Unfortunately the weed killer is already on,  not a good idea in a drought. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

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