Moles have some benefits; for instance, they mechanically turn the soil from time to time and feed on insect pests. But their burrowing activities wreck gardens and yards, creating mounds and destroying plants’ root systems. Organic methods of removing moles are viable for anyone who wants to keep off extra intruders in their compound without using fertilizers or pesticides. Here, you will learn how to mole rodent control activity in your garden and naturally maintain a lovely landscape.
Why Moles Are Attracted to Your Garden
Knowing all the reasons moles are attracted to your garden will assist you in using the best control measures available. Burdens prefer such habitats with soft, muddy substrates containing many insects, such as grubs and worms. Good gardeners with rich gardens with a lot of organic matter can rest assured that moles are about. They are most prominent during spring and autumn, forming broods while searching for food and building nests.
Signs of Mole Activity in Your Yard
Moles are elusive creatures, spending most of their lives underground. However, they leave telltale signs when they’ve taken up residence in your yard:
- Soil Mounds: Moles cultivate the ground by pushing the soil to the surface, forming level mounds or ‘molehills.’
- Tunnels and Raised Ridges: They cause raised furrows on the surface of the soil, depressing the terrain, and they might cause damage to plants.
- Disturbed Plants: Whenever you find plants drooping or pulled out of the ground, it may be due to mole movement that interferes with the roots.
If the molar is discovered early, it will help avoid the situation where the infestation becomes too big to control and the garden’s destruction.
Why Choose Natural Mole Control Over Chemical Options?
There is nothing more frustrating than realizing that you have a mole problem in your compound, and the easy solution that comes to mind is to either use chemical repellents or poison the animals. However, there are reasonable grounds to consider natural methods instead:
- Environmental Safety: Chemicals may be toxic to the beneficial insects, pets, and children around the environment. Taking natural solutions makes tremendous sense because it avoids subjecting the body to dangerous chemicals that can trigger other diseases.
- Garden Health: Organic farming methods do not harm the soil and vegetation; thus, the environment in your garden remains healthy.
- Long-Term Effectiveness: Eco-friendly methods of combating moles are consistently more effective, providing lasting control without any negative environmental impact.
Top Natural Mole Rodent Control Methods to Try
Since we learned the reason for moles’ presence and the importance of organic pest control, let’s learn about some practical measures to control moles.
Organic Mole Repellents
The best of all the natural repellents that are available today is castor oil. Coyote says that moles hate the smell and taste of castor oil, and using a castor oil solution in your garden will help eliminate them. There are commercial preparations of castor oil that work as a mole repellent, or you can prepare one by diluting castor oil with water and dish soap. To achieve this, dilute the following mixture with a 1 part mold eradication mixture and four parts water and spray it on areas most sensitive to mole activities so that they feel uncomfortable.
Using Vibrations to Deter Moles
Moles are somewhat vulnerable to vibrations at the ground, and the sound can interfere with the work of these animals when they build tunnels. And by using your garden equipment, you can pound the ground in a way that scares moles off in your garden. There are several ways to do this:
- Sound or Vibration Devices: Solar-operated light of low frequencies can be installed in the soil to repel moles.
- Homemade Options: A pinwheel or a simple plastic bottle wind spinner placed on the ground will vibrate enough to drive moles away.
These low-cost and no more invasive procedures make them suitable for those concerned with the control agents’ environmental fate.
Mole-Proofing with Barrier Methods
Some specific areas can be valuable in a garden, including flower gardens and vegetable gardens, among others. It is recommended that physical barriers against moles be applied in those areas.
- Hardware Cloth or Mesh: Mesh or hardware cloth should be used, and it should be placed 3-4 inches into the ground to stop moles from getting through to other areas.
- Gravel Layers: Simply placing a layer of gravel below the soil makes it difficult for moles to continue digging, particularly in the flower bed or around plants with very fragile roots.
Long-term Mitigation methods include Barrier methods, as these do not affect the moles but ensure that reasonable areas in the garden are well protected.
Safe and Humane Mole Trapping Service Options
Natural repellents can serve as the initial means of control if a mole population persists in a particular area, after which humane mole trapping may be deemed necessary. That is why trapping is one of the best ways to control mole activity, as it does not cause any harm, especially if the moles are let go in an area completely different from where they are usually.
- Choosing the Right Trap: Poisonous baits kill moles instead of trapping them, while humane traps trap them without harming them. Wildlife regulations may differ; one should consult a local agency before trapping.
- Placement and Timing: Place trap at the regularly used tunnel and check on those after a while. Moles are most active during the early morning or late night; therefore, traps should be placed within these periods.
Although trapping works, it is advisable to be used only when all the other methods have proven ineffective.
Tips for Maintaining a Mole-Free Yard Year-Round
Once you’ve gotten rid of moles, the next step is to keep them from returning. Here are a few long-term prevention tips for mole control.
Lawn Maintenance for Mole Prevention
The first and easiest method that can be adopted to keep moles away is mowing. Since moles feed on grubs and insects, these can be eliminated so that these animals do not stay for long.
- Beneficial Nematodes: You can also naturally eliminate grubs or other yard enemies by introducing beneficial nematodes to the soil, thus creating a less inviting place for moles.
- Regular Watering Practices: Wait to water the plants too often, as this will encourage worm infestation that will bring moles. Moderate soil moisture should be made the target for maintaining the vegetation.
Companion Planting for Mole Repellents
Certain plants are known to deter moles, making them a valuable addition to your garden:
- Marigolds: This is because moles have a problem with the scent of marigolds and thus should be planted around the edges of gardens.
- Daffodils: They are also molecular resistant and come in a beautiful finish, giving your landscape beautiful touches.
You can introduce certain plants into your garden to make it less attractive to moles rather than creating it an eyesore.
Soil Management to Reduce Mole Attraction
It is essential to know about the texture and moisture of your soil to determine the activities of moles. Your soil management determines MOLE control since these animals prefer loose, moisture-filled soil.
- Soil Compaction: If mole activity is significant in the planned application area, lightly compacting the soil may be warranted. Compared to the loose soil, the dense soil is challenging to work with the moles, which makes them relocate.
- Mulching: Pearl says this can be deterred by altering the soil’s physical features and moisture content in mulch. This also helps your plant by providing moisture and controlling the temperature simultaneously.
As an industry group, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) assists pest management professionals in their goal to deliver pest control and inspection services safely and efficiently throughout America.
Take Control of Mole Rodent Control with Natural Methods
Even though Moles can be quite troublesome, they can be controlled through natural methods to reduce their impact on the natural environment. You can have a gorgeous, mole-less garden by learning why moles are attracted to your garden, how to identify they are there, and humane ways of removing them. When applying organic repellents, making vibrations, growing barriers, or planting mole-repellent crops, the natural methods let you do so without causing harm to the earth. If one learns how to go about it, control of mole rodents becomes as easy as any other garden chore.
