What can you do?
Photo 1. The manager, satisfied after checking that the team has done a really thorough job in the night, leaving no blade of grass unturned.
Photo 2. The worksite the morning after.
Great job, guys. There's no easy recovery from this!
By the way, they achieved all this with a radio on the raised bed playing rock music full blast. This has deterred them fairly effectively in the past. I think they're got so they quite like it.
Your (former) lawn must have a bonanza of grubs or earthworms.
You might try changing the music. Maybe disco or Sinatra would be a better repellent. 🙂
In non-freezing weather, you could try a water hose with a motion activated sprinkler/sprayer.
https://gardenitemreviews.com/best-motion-activated-sprinklers/
The sprinkler is definitely for smaller areas. I’m thinking of getting one because the deer have made a shortcut from the woods to the river through my garden.
Golf courses deal with the problem by poisoning all the grubs so critters aren’t attracted. Not an environmentally friendly solution.
In the larger field, I would be tempted to scatter clover seed (red clover and trefoil) in the affected areas. It would probably grow and provide food for pollinators.
If it’s mowed somewhat, that will keep the really rank, tall weeds from growing, which is good. Occasional mowing is s good management tool. The field will probably recover pretty well from roots and seeds in the soil.
I just hope the critters don’t send you a bill for aerating the lawn.
Ellie Kennard
Don Ray