If you notice moles in your yard, you’ll want to get rid of them as soon as you can — before they destroy your property. Signs such as raised ridges and mounds of soil are a sure sign that moles have arrived and may soon wreak havoc. Thankfully, there are numerous methods that will allow you to do so. Read on for seven of the best ways to get rid of moles in your yard.
7 Proven Tips to Rid Your Yard of Pesky Moles
Moles can cause more damage than most other garden pests. But there are several effective ways to get rid of them. Here are the seven best mole-removal methods.
1. Set Mole Traps
Setting mole traps is one of the most efficient ways to reduce the mole population in your yard. While some of traps will kill any mole that activates them, others will simply capture the mole so that you can release it back into the wild elsewhere.
Regardless of what type you use, you should place your mole traps where there is evidence of mole tunnels below the ground. Raised mounds of soil in your yard are among the surest signs there is a mole tunnel below.
2. Apply a Mole Repellent
Most mole-repellent products come in spray or granular forms. You can apply these repellents to broad areas of your yard as a quick and easy way to encourage moles to leave your property.
Most of these repellents work by creating a smell that is horrid to moles, which alone can be enough to get the moles to leave. Many repellents also work their way into the ground to contaminate a mole’s natural food sources. However, some of the more lethal mole repellents may have a harmful effect on your pets, which is why natural alternatives or non-lethal sprays may be a preferable option.
3. Leave Mole Bait in Your Yard
To use mole bait, you must first locate a mole tunnel in your yard. Once you find an active mole tunnel, you can poke a small hole through the soil’s surface. Then, place the mole bait into the hole so that it rests on the tunnel floor.
Next time the mole walks through that tunnel, it will mistake your bait for a viable food source. Little does the mole know that the bait contains poison that will kill it, often within 12 to 24 hours of ingestion.
4. Eliminate Common Mole Food Sources
One of the top reasons that a mole will choose to reside in your yard is that it can find a readily available supply of its favorite food. Of all the creatures you’ll find living in your soil, grubs are what moles enjoy eating most.
Reducing the supply of grubs in your soil makes your yard much less attractive to moles, and doing so is much easier than you might expect. Often, adding beneficial nematodes to your soil will reduce grub populations relatively quickly.
5. Grow Plants that Moles Despise
There are several plant species that you can add to your garden that moles hate to be around. Fortunately, many of these mole-repelling plants are also quite attractive. Here are some of the top plant species you can try for this purpose:
- Daffodils
- Lavender
- Marigolds
- Rosemary
- Salvia
Each of those plants gives off scents that moles dislike enough to avoid entirely. Try growing these species to chase away any existing moles in your yard. You can also grow one or more of those plants around the edges of your yard to discourage new moles from arriving.
6. Dig a Trench
While this approach is one of the more labor-intensive options, it remains an incredibly effective method. Begin by digging a trench that is about a foot and a half to two feet deep. Ensure that the trench is continuous and goes around your entire property.
After completing your trench, you should fill it with some type of hard material such as gravel or stone. Once your trench is full, moles will be far less likely to burrow through them and enter your yard.
7. Make a Natural Mole Spray
Creating a homemade mole spray is an excellent choice for anyone who wishes to avoid the strong chemicals a store-bought mole repellent spray may contain. But to make your own mole spray, you need to understand how the commercial products work.
Castor oil is the active ingredient in nearly every mole repellent on the market, and you can buy it on its own. By mixing this oil with standard dish soap, you’ll have a natural mole repellent that you can spray on your yard without concern. All you need to do is soak tunnels you find in your yard, and soon your mole problem will be gone.
Conclusion
Finding moles in your yard is a legitimate cause for concern. However, if you know how to deal with this sort of infestation, you can make your property mole-free in no time. So, next time you notice signs of a mole in your yard, be sure to use one or more of these methods to get rid of them.