Dead grass in lawn after winter

Question

Where I live, we have a severe rodent problem during the winter, such that when spring comes around, I have little vole/mouse trails in my lawn and patches of dead grass where the rodents had made nests.

I began raking the dead grass (not even sure if I should do that?) to find the grass was completely detached from the soil. There were a few green strands of grass here and there.

I also have patches of grass left untouched by the rodents, but it has dead/brown grass mixed in with the healthy looking stuff. This problem persists during the summer.

Should I be removing the dead grass in either case?

EDIT: I am living in Northern Utah (Cache Valley). As far as what type of grass I have, it is a thick grass; from what I've been able to find, it looks like I either have a Ryegrass or a Kentucky Bluegrass. I am by no means a grass expert, and by that token, very experienced when dealing with lawn care. I'll post pictures as soon as the snow goes away :)

Now that the snow is gone (hopefully for good!), I was able to snap some pictures. This is the current state of my lawn; my watering schedule is every other night (I believe M, W, F). Should I rake all this dead grass?

Answer 1

You can go crazy sweetie with raking the crap out of those dead spots! Right down into the soil. Fluff the top of those spots with your rake, reseed. I'd need my 'loop' to see what disease this is for sure but sure looks and acts like a fungus disease like snow mold. The grass looks awfully green. If one uses a fertilizer with a high number as the nitrogen (NPK...10-5-5..10 percent is nitrogen, 5 percent is phosphorous and 5 percent is potassium...the nitrogen is obviously higher than the phosphorous and potassium) just before winter kicks in you'll get too much vegetative growth.

Too much new, vigorous top growth going into the winter is a sure fire way to get a fungal disease. The fall fertilization is very important but make sure that first number is LOWER than the P and the K! Grubs will only be a problem if one has applied a pesticide to kill ALL INSECTS. No way to select for grubs. A healthy soil will prevent grub damage. And grub damage will look like this in the late spring early summer...not after the snow melts. Rake and reseed! Use a good organic fertilizer like Dr. Earth. Comes with bacteria for thatch. Great stuff and worth the bucks!

Just remembered a 'test' for grubs...take a bucket of soapy water and dump on the soil. If it is a grub problem you'll see the fat grubs come up for air. If you find 12 or more grubs in a square foot then I might be asking you other questions, but go ahead and get rid of dead grass. Allow the birds to eat them up and in time the grubs mature and fly away. Build up the microbiology of your soil. Have you ever used a pesticide to kill the grubs? This is not a solution just makes one's lawn vulnerable to grubs! Otherwise looks to me like fungus disease.

Answer 2

That looks like grub damage to me, and the rodents looking for them as well. Rake off and reseed. I'm not sure this is a problem in that area of the country.