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Why Does Your Grass Pull Up Easily? 3 Common Lawn Issues to Watch For

Written by Chase Coates | Mar 15, 2024

Grass is supposed to stay put.

When you notice your lawn pulling up in clumps or peeling back like a loose rug, it's a clear sign that something has disconnected your turf from the soil.

In Idaho Falls, the most likely culprit is a hidden grub infestation. These underground pests devour the root system, leaving nothing behind to anchor the grass to the earth.

Poor watering habits can also cause this problem. If you water every day for short periods, your roots stay lazy and shallow, making it easy for the turf to dislodge during yard work or play.


Is your lawn being eaten from below, or is it just struggling with a weak foundation? Keep reading to learn the 3 reasons your grass is pulling up and how to build a deeper, stronger root system in Eastern Idaho.

1. Your Grass Pulls Up Like Carpet? Could Be Grubs

Grubs, you slimy little root feasters, what’s your problem?

If they could answer, grubs would act all innocent and say, “Hey, we’re just hungry.”

Grubs might just be having dinner, but they’re doing a real number on your lawn. 

Here’s the deal with how grubs make your grass pull up like carpet:

First, grubs are so hungry because they’re growing kids. They’re the larvae of Japanese beetles, June beetles, chafers, and other beetles.

They feed on grass roots and organic matter in the soil. When your lawn’s roots are munched, they can no longer hold your grass securely to the soil.

Why didn’t you see it coming? Because lawn grubs are super sneaky. They’re underground, out of sight, feasting on your lawn’s tender roots like houseguests who raid your fridge at midnight.

Unfortunately, grubs are common pests here in the Idaho Falls area. How to get rid of them?

The trick is to kill grubs before they hatch and start to chow down. That means you need preventive lawn grub control in the spring to nip them in the bud.

2. Grass Pulls Up Easily? You Might Be Overwatering

Watering your grass too much causes it to grow a shallow root system.

When there’s always water handy right there at the surface, your lawn’s roots can be super lazy and hang out close to the surface, too. 

You want your lawn’s roots to grow down deep into the soil. That means watering less often, but for longer periods, like a long, soaking rainfall.

Strong, healthy roots will keep your grass firmly attached to the soil. None of this peeling-back-like-carpet nonsense.

3. Grass Pulls Up in Clumps? Check for Lawn Diseases

Fungus is one of the common grass problems in Idaho, and one reason why your lawn pulls up easily.

Lawn damaged by fungus will often have a brown dead spot where the grass has died, but a lighter yellow-ish-brown ring around that where the fungus is spreading.

The type of disease will determine the course of treatment. Applying fungicides can help treat many lawn diseases. A professional lawn care technician can help with diagnosis and proper treatment.

Meanwhile, you can head off lawn fungus with good preventive maintenance. Invest in a balanced fertilization program that provides the necessary nutrients at the appropriate times of year.

And keep your mower blades sharp. Grass blades that are torn by dull mower blades are not only susceptible to lawn fungus, they also help to spread it across your lawn by introducing it to healthy grass while it clings to the mower blades.

Invest in a Healthy Lawn to Fix The Problem

Both grubs and lawn fungus — two reasons why grass pulls up easily — hate a healthy lawn.

A well-fed and maintained lawn can stand up to attack better than one that’s hungry and stressed.

Do your part by establishing healthy turf, including proper fertilizing, watering, and mowing. Don’t mow your lawn too short. And don’t water every day. Water less often, for longer periods. 

Keep your grass thick, lush, and healthy with an annual lawn care maintenance program that promotes strong roots.

Grass Pulls Up Easily? Get Help from Lawn Buddies

Chances are, you’d prefer your grass to stay put. The only thing you want rolling up like carpet is, well, carpet.

If your lawn pulls up like carpet, a skilled lawn care technician can diagnose your problem and recommend the right solution.'

Meanwhile, invest in lawn care in Idaho Falls, ID designed to boost your lawn’s root health so it keeps your grass firmly attached to your soil.

If you want simple, hassle-free lawn care that offers quality core lawn care services for a healthy, impressive lawn, it doesn’t get easier than Lawn Buddies.

No stressing about which complicated combination of lawn care services will get you beautiful, dark green grass.

You don’t have time to fuss with all that. Give yourself a break.

Lawn Buddies features one premium, six-visit lawn care program that includes everything your lawn needs to grow healthy and green.

Fertilizer, weed treatments, and grub control, all wrapped up in six visits, each perfectly timed throughout the season, so your grass is green and strong and resists weeds.

Got a few minutes? That’s all you need to get started. Just fill out the form on this page, call us at (208) 656-9131 or read more about our services. Then you can kick back and relax in your healthy, thriving yard.

Image Source: sprinkler head