Are these mining bees, digging wasps or something else and how can I get rid of them?

dhokes

They're leaving lots of hills and patches of sand which is making the lawn an eyesore. I've uploaded photos of the hills as well as trying to capture the bees/wasps here. What are they and any suggestions on how to remove them? I tried to basically hose them down but they appeared again the next day. Would adding lawn seeds/weed/moss remover 4-1 seeds on the patches help to grow the grass around there?

twopenny

Dhokes, where is the sand from?
Where are the photos?
To identify something really need to see it.

dhokes

twopenny said:

Dhokes, where is the sand from?
Where are the photos?
To identify something really need to see it.

There’s a link to some photos in my first post.

I don’t know if it’s sand or soil or something else. It’s light brown/golden like brown sugar.

[Deleted User]

Those are ants.
Brush the sand areas and disperse them.
You can see these little mounds of sand in various different scenarios, i have at the edge of some of my lawns, also at the base of walls - basically anywhere !
They're harmless and causing you damage.

Woolsery

First world problem of ants (or mining bees, or both) inhabting in a dry lawn about to be rectified by the onset of autumn rains and a return to 'normal' conditions. If your soil is as light as I suspect, you will have this most years. However, the problem of an over-wet shady lawn on heavy soil is worse!

There doesn't appear to be much moss to kill, but a bit of over-seeding now with a fine grass would be possible. We don't know the history of the lawn or what a previous owner may have created it on - some of the stuff thrown out looks like compost. Must admit I've done a quick overlaying with compost job + turf to sell a house! Not saying that's what's happened here, just that it's possible, especially by 'developers.'

Anyway there's a huge amount of lawn care advice out there and if you feel a lawn is very important, you can spend winter absorbing it, secure in the knowledge this  damage can be partially solved. Personally, I just have 'grass' and put most effort into growing other more edible things. I have a feeling more people will soon be digging up their lawns and joining me!

Farway

I tried expanding the photos, the flying insects look like bees.

If it was wasps, they have one exit / entrance with plenty of wasps coming & going, plus if it was wasps, and you hosed them you would soon know it by them attacking you

Can't you just let them alone and be a bit nature friendly?

However, as Woolsery points out, there is loads of advice on lawn care and plenty of traders more than willing to take your money in your quest for a green desert

Woolsery

Farway said:

I tried expanding the photos, the flying insects look like bees.

Silly me, I forgot about opening a new window. I can see them now! Agree, not wasps.

Much the same applies though, they'll disappear with the changing season....well, until next year!

My original post modified and hands slapped.

dhokes

Woolsery said:

First world problem of ants (or mining bees, or both) inhabting in a dry lawn about to be rectified by the onset of autumn rains and a return to 'normal' conditions. If your soil is as light as I suspect, you will have this most years. However, the problem of an over-wet shady lawn on heavy soil is worse!

There doesn't appear to be much moss to kill, but a bit of over-seeding now with a fine grass would be possible. We don't know the history of the lawn or what a previous owner may have created it on - some of the stuff thrown out looks like compost. Must admit I've done a quick overlaying with compost job + turf to sell a house! Not saying that's what's happened here, just that it's possible, especially by 'developers.'

Anyway there's a huge amount of lawn care advice out there and if you feel a lawn is very important, you can spend winter absorbing it, secure in the knowledge this  damage can be partially solved. Personally, I just have 'grass' and put most effort into growing other more edible things. I have a feeling more people will soon be digging up their lawns and joining me!

The lawn is on a new build plot - 5 years old now though. I've tried to maintain it however the recent heatwave left patches of dry/dead lawn which I guess I need to rake and then reseed?

Woolsery

Yes, raking out the dead thatch will help with over-seeding. I'd wait and see how many really hot, dry summers we have before taking more drastic action!

twopenny

Sorry about missing the photos dhokes. It's smaller and the blue didn't show on my kindle.

I'd not rake too hard, there are live roots there. Just add some plant food to get the grass to grow thicker and not too low a cut and it should be fine once we've had more rain. That will stop the ants too.