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Are you irritated by moles and wondering how to get rid of moles in the garden that you have created? Well, don’t worry. We have got everything covered for you. However, these species are carnivorous mammals that prefer to eat insects instead of plants, but they do harm your garden with their tunnelling system. They also leave clumps of dirt or patches of dead grass, which give your garden an uneven look and hinder other plants’ growth. They tend to stay underground, and getting rid of them can be very tricky to get rid of them.
Also, there are some gardeners that believe that these insect-eating mammals are helpers. Thus they do not want to get rid of them. However, if you do not want any kind of invasion in your yard, then this is the right guide for you. We have all the tips and tricks on how to get rid of moles in the garden. So stay tuned and learn everything here.
What are Moles?
Moles are small mammals. Also, they are burrowing insectivores that are not very big, only around 6 to 8 inches, and have cylindrical bodies, velvety fur, small eyes, and ears. But they do have large paws adapted for digging. Also their big teeth also help in digging the ground surface. There are almost seven species of moles, which include the common mole, the star-nosed mole, the hairy-tailed mole, and the shrew mole. Among all of these, the common mole or eastern mole has a big appetite for insects. It can consume about 70-80% of its body weight of insects every day.
Surprisingly these mammals live underground, which is possible because the proportion of red blood cells is very high compared to other mammals. Thus, it helps them to survive in low oxygen levels. Also, these little creatures need to eat insects, half of their body weight, around 20 worms per day. Suppose their requirements are not met in a day, so they tend to dig more and more molehills in a specific area. If you have no issue with molehills and moles in your garden, then these insectivores do not cause any harm to human beings. However, if they make you feel unease with all the nuisance to your land, then we have put together all the options that are best suited to get rid of these miners from your pretty garden.
Signs That You Have a Mole Problem in Your Garden
There are certain specific reason that helps you ensure that there are moles in your garden. Before you plan on how to get rid of moles in your garden, just make sure that the problem that you are seeing is because of moles only. There are some hints given below:
1. Molehills
Moles have one specific work, which is to dig the soil underneath in search of insects for food. These little mammals act like mini excavators as they move all the dirt out of the tunnel. Placing it all up on the surface creates a mountain-like structure called a molehill. So the famous saying, “Making a mountain out of a molehill,” is based on this situation only as molehills are not a very big problem, but they do seem ugly facades on the ground.
2. Dead Grass
Dead grass is the prime indication that you have a mole problem in your garden. This is because when moles make their tunnels, they tend to disturb the root system of the nearby grasses or plants. Thus, it leads to the killing of the grasses and leaving dead patches, which are clearly visible.
3. Mounds Have Distance
Moles are not the single species that are responsible for making entrance and exit mounds. Gophers also have a similar tendency to disrupt the garden’s look. However, the main difference between mole mounds and gophers mounds is that molehills tend to be about six feet apart. That is not the case in the gopher’s mounds, as they are close.
4. Chunks of Dirt
Moles dig up the ground and leave behind the soil in chunks. When you are looking for moles in your yard, look for the clumps of soil, as that is a direct indication of them being present.
5. What Not to Look
While you are introspecting moles in your garden, you should keenly observe the problems. This is because moles are insectivores. They do not attack plants. They only eat earthworms, grubs, and centipedes. If you find marks on your plants or vegetables, then it is more likely to be done by other species, such as voles or mice, instead of moles. They are a bigger problem, so keep in mind to find preventive measures for them.
How To Get Rid of Moles In Garden, Remedies!
Once you have established your beautiful garden, then, there is a high chance of having moles. However, you need to choose a particular method to have a final answer to your question of how to get rid of moles in the garden.
Moreover, there are several methods to either remove moles altogether or to shift them from your garden. Below are some strategies:
1. Create Noise
This might sound weird, but it actually works, as moles are sensitive to noise. They would not prefer to stay in any area that has loud noise. So party hard in the ground where you feel like there is an invasion of moles. Placing radios or music boxes within the entrance and exit of tunnels with loud music will eradicate moles.
You can also encourage kids to play outdoors and ask them to make as much noise as possible to get rid of moles in the garden.
2. Mole Netting
This is a brilliant environment-friendly method if you are laying new turf. Mole netting is a satisfactory answer to your question on how to get rid of moles in the garden. Mole netting is available at garden centres and online. These are even long-lasting. It would be best if you placed the net at a depth of at least 10cm before sowing the grass. Since it has nets to which moles could never easily succeed in making a molehill in your garden.
3. Make It Stink
It is considered that moles are blind. However, it is not true but they are short-sighted. Despite bad vision, they do have an acute sense of smell and hearing. Since making noise can hinder their sharp noise-hearing ability. Similarly, if you lay something that has a very foul odour in its tunnels, then it will surely pack them away from your garden. However, choose something biodegradable to protect your garden’s fertility as well. Smelly cheese, fermented yoghurt, or gone-off milk can be a good source of foul smell.
4. Mole Traps
Sometimes all your preventive measures do not work well. You want them to send these unwanted mammals away, but they are too stubborn to follow your methods. Thus you need to choose some hard methods to completely removes these creatures. There are various traps available, and when used properly can terminate moles. Traps should be placed about 10-20 cm below the ground level but not directly below the molehills. Set the trap carefully by using a stick or something around the molehill entrance. Then cover the trap with a bucket or something which will block sunlight.
Furthermore, these traps do not require any bait. Only check them once a day. There are times when moles push the soil in the traps unknowingly, so you need to reset the traps in order to function properly.
Trapped moles should be released at least one mile away from where they are captured. Also, look for an area where moles can easily find insects to fulfil their hunger.
5. Plant Repellents
Planting plants that are natural repellents is a good way of keeping moles away. There are some vegetative barriers, including daffodils and marigolds. Daffodils have toxic bulbs, so it is obvious that moles would avoid these. On the contrary, marigolds are aromatic, so it repels worms and other soil-dwelling moles as they won’t stick to places that would keep them hungry.
6. Hire a Hitman
It is an expensive method, but when all the above methods fail to prosper, then it becomes necessary to hire a professional. However, there is no guarantee that a new mole won’t make a home in your garden again. But if you have to get rid of moles in your garden, you can opt for this method.
7. Electronic Devices
Since moles have some problems with loud noise and foul smells, so there are products that are specially designed to solve your query about how to get rid of moles in the garden. Most of these products produce low-frequency vibrations or sounds which disturb moles and cause them to stay away from the location. However, these machines do not cause harm to other animals or to your garden. In order to work these devices effectively, you will need to make sure you have set up around your garden. This is because moles will find now time to shift to a quieter part of your property.
Final Thoughts
Moles are not the worst pests that your garden can ever face. However, it was necessary to find an answer to your question about how to get rid of moles in the garden. This is because these small carnivores insectivores cause damage to your property. However, it is best to manually remove these unwanted species before you kill them, as they are not very hazardous. We have mentioned home remedies as well as some products to get rid of moles.
But in case these methods do not meet your expectations and do not give results, then you can opt for killing them. However, it takes time and patience to find the best method for you. We have provided you with detailed information about how to find moles and also how to get rid of them. So make sure to follow all the necessary tactics and solve your problem on your own. Try the methods and protect your garden from these small furry neighbours.
