It’s hard to think of moles as pests: they’re pretty to look at and don’t do plant damage like horseflies or slugs. Sand mounds on a grassy verge look picturesque and it’s nice to know that nature has found a place even on the edges of busy roads. However, if grains of sand start to appear on your well-manicured lawn, that’s a different matter. The time, effort and money that can be invested in maintaining the perfect lawn is ruined overnight by these burrowing creatures.
Moles don’t actually do any real damage to the grass plants that make up a lawn. They burrow underground and although they may disturb the roots, this does no harm to the grass. An ironic point is that the presence of moles is actually a sign that you have a good lawn. Moles like to eat earthworms, so they will settle wherever there is a good food source. Lots of earthworms help keep your lawn healthy and well-drained, so if your lawn has attracted moles, you should be proud (before you grieve over the loss of its pristine finish!).
The main downside to having moles living under your lawn is the unsightly mounds of sand that inevitably appear. Not only do they ruin the look of your yard, they make it nearly impossible to mow. Gopher tunnels can also collapse, turning your beautiful flat lawn into a hilly, uneven landscape.
Encouraging moles to leave your yard can be a long, arduous, and ultimately pointless task. Once they have found prime ground with a good food supply, they don’t like to leave. They are fiercely territorial creatures, so even if you do manage to get rid of one, it might not be long before another mole moves in.
However, there are a few methods you can try to prevent moles from further ruining your beautiful lawn. A professionally set mole trap costs a bit of money, but once the mole is caught, it can be released far from your yard. If the tunnels your mole has dug are shallow, they can be flooded to scare the mole away. Keep in mind that baby moles won’t be able to escape, so you may want to opt for a more humane method.
Buzz devices are available at your garden center – you place them in the ground and they make a sound that drives moles crazy. These are good deterrents to stop a mole invasion before it starts, and if you’re looking for a cheap alternative, a kids’ windmill does the job.
One last method of removing moles is to lace their tunnels with garlic. You can buy special granules at your garden center or just use garlic from your cupboard, but moles don’t like the smell and it will prevent them from burrowing further. Of course, this is not guaranteed to get rid of them, as they might change course!
A combination of these methods is often the best option, and be prepared to persevere before you see results. Moles are stubborn creatures and you may have to learn to live with them!