Question
Dear Floyd,
I have a two part question, first I have an infestion of Lawn moths/sod web worms, I would appreciate your advice on, secondly the tree roots have started to pop up near the surface of the lawn. This is probably due in regard to ever increasing hills and valleys that have in the last ten years appeared. I have contacted local and state offices as to why the problem and have yet to receive an answer that was acceptacle. In the meantime do you have a suggestion on the tree root problem.
 I live on the East coast in Cinnaminson, NJ near Cherry Hill and our property is about a half acre.
    Thank you, Dave

Answer
Good evening Dave:
The adult moth of the sod webworm is ?inch long, light tan or buff colored, and holds the wings close against the body in a tube like fashion when at rest on a grass blade. When disturbed, the moth will fly in a dipping, zigzag pattern just a few feet above the turf. The caterpillar is gray or greenish, up to 1inch long, slender, and covered with brown spots.  The caterpillar emerges at night from a silk-lined tunnel in the thatch and will eat grass blades down to the crown.
Attacked turf has irregular brown areas because the grass blades are gone, allowing the thatch to show. Green, 1/8 inch diameter feces are numerous at the base of attacked turf. Damage usually occurs during dry periods of the growing season.
Chemical insecticides are effective. Damaged turf usually recovers with irrigation (after the caterpillars are controlled) because the undamaged crowns and roots are able to grow new leaves.
Some web sites that can help you in control of the Sod Webworm are: (Copy and paste to your browser then hit "GO").
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2011.html
http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/dp_hfrr/extensn/problems/sodwebwm.htm
http://www.utextension.utk.edu/publications/spfiles/SP290-L.pdf
http://ipm.montana.edu/YardGarden/docs/sodwebworms-insect.htm
Tree roots in the lawn are an on going problem. Remember that growing turf under trees is not a good idea because the shade canopy is not conducive for good turf growth. You should consider replacing the turf under the shade of trees with a shade loving ground cover such as Hosta, periwinkle, Ferns etc. or an organic mulch .
You can add a top dressing of soil over the tree roots as long as you do not make it thicker than three inches. Otherwise you will take a chance of smothering the tree roots and killing the tree due to lack of available oxygen.
I hope I have helped. Have a good lawn!
Floyd McMahon