Sarah Metlova
What Gets Rid Of Moles In Yard – Moles and gophers can wreak havoc on your lawn. If you find mounds or tunnels in the ground, you must determine which pest is responsible so that you can solve the problem.
This guide will show you how to get rid of moles and gophers in your yard before they cause serious damage.
What Gets Rid Of Moles In Yard
Moles are solitary insectivores that live underground and rarely come to the surface, usually only to find a mate. They dig into the soil to a depth of a foot, using their front legs to break through underground tunnel networks.
Are Moles Good For Your Yard
How to identify moles? They are about seven centimeters long and have pointed beaks, small eyes, and bare noses. Their eyes and ear canals are covered with fur, and they have no external ears. Their front legs are very large and wide, with webbed toes, while their hind legs are narrow and have elongated claws.
In their natural environment or in large open rural areas, moles do not cause much damage. They only become a problem when they get into your lawn and garden. Moles naturally aerate the soil and eat the larvae of harmful insects. However, in your garden they can also damage plant roots, bulbs and grass. The sign that you have moles is not the sight of the moles themselves, but the appearance of volcanic mounds and raised ridges in your garden.
Gophers are herbivorous rodents with four front teeth. They are bigger than mice, but smaller than mice. Although they are often mistaken for moles, they do not have the spatulate front claws found in moles. They form crescent-shaped mounds and stop the holes they enter and leave the ground. Gophers destroy everything from hydrangeas to trees by eating their roots. They also eat vegetables, especially carrots and potatoes. Unfortunately, they can also damage water pipes and irrigation systems when digging.
The only way to get rid of moles and gophers is to remove them from your lawn. Sometimes this may mean baiting and killing moles and gophers, but this should be the last resort. Other humane home remedies can help get rid of yard mice and squirrels. However, the best way to get rid of these critters is to keep them out of your lawn in the first place.
Protecting Your Lawn From Moles
Moles feed on soil insects, especially larvae. You can eliminate this food source by killing the larvae in the soil with beneficial nematodes and milk spores. It may take several seasons before milk spores bear fruit.
You can also use more aggressive repellents such as insecticides. Without food, the mole will simply live on. However, this approach is only partially effective. Moles feed on earthworms, as well as other types of worms and insects. They may prefer to enjoy themselves rather than leave your garden. Carefully follow the instructions for each product you use.
Using castor oil is another way to get rid of moles and gophers in your garden. Castor oil will not kill them, but it will upset the digestive tract. It can also make your lawn unattractive. To make a home remedy, mix three parts castor oil with one part washing up liquid. Add four tablespoons of the mixture per liter of water. Soak tunnels and entrances to keep moles away and burrows to keep gophers away. Castor oil is one of the most effective home remedies to get rid of these pests. Avoid using mothballs, tea tree oil, and cayenne pepper for pest control; they are ineffective.
You can also buy granular or liquid repellants to keep away gophers and moles. Most granules can be applied directly from bags or dispensers. Read the product label and follow the instructions.
How To Get Rid Of Moles And Voles In Your Yard
To apply liquid repellent, connect a garden hose to a bottle and spray it into the tunnel or hole as indicated on the label. Liquid repellents often contain castor oil and other ingredients that can be absorbed by the soil. Tunnels and burrows will be less attractive to animals and make their food sources repulsive so they leave. These repellents usually last several weeks. Most are safe to use around pets and on lawns, but read product labels to be sure.
Some plants in the yard can help keep moles away. Moles do not like the smell of daffodils, marigolds and onions. This plant barrier is generally safe for children and pets and also makes a great addition to your garden.
To deter gophers, grow plants in raised beds. You can also make “gopher baskets” from mesh material and place bulbs or seedlings in them. This allows the bulbs and plants to grow without letting in gophers.
Red gopher and mole barriers are also available as baskets that can be placed around plants to prevent them from being eaten.
Why Are Moles In Your Yard
Checking where moles and squirrels hide is an important part of their elimination. For the moles, dig a trench about 6 inches wide and 2 feet deep. Then fill the trench with stone or cover it with wire mesh or cloth with holes no wider than 3/4 inch. This will prevent moles from entering the lawn or garden.
Repel gophers by digging a trench around your flower bed or vegetable garden and burying mesh or cling film inside. Make sure the holes in the wire mesh or fabric are no wider than 3/4 inch.
Eradicating moles and ground squirrels can be problematic. However, they do not like to live in disadvantaged areas. Sound spikes inserted into the ground use electrical impulses to make annoying noises to scare away these pests. There are many options for ultrasonic pest control.
When gophers see or hear certain pets, they will chase them away. Even the smell of dog or cat hair or urine can deter gophers. However, gophers can carry disease-transmitting fleas or ticks, so check your pet carefully for gophers and remove or treat any parasites as directed by your veterinarian.
Remedies For Getting Rid Of Moles
If you don’t have pets, consider spraying your yard for predator odors such as coyote urine. This is another humane way to repel pests that can last for months. Read and follow the directions on the label before using your fragrance.
Catching and releasing moles is another way to deal with moles in your lawn. Make sure the mill tunnel is active by leveling the track, marking it and checking after a day or two that the tunnel is back up. If so, set a mole trap nearby, preferably in early spring or fall when moles are most active or when you first see the tunnels. Follow the product instructions for safe operation of the traps. Some humane traps catch moles but do not kill them. To use a humane trap, put on gloves and goggles and release the mole in a rural area at least five miles from your home.
To use the gopher trap, follow the instructions for safe operation and setup of the device. Use fruit, plant roots or vegetables as bait. Place the trap near the gopher’s entrance and place it inside. Cover the trap with some soil and check periodically to see if you have trapped a gopher. Most gopher traps kill these animals.
If other methods fail, you can choose the most aggressive method. The most effective way to deal with moles and gophers is to use traps or poison to kill these creatures. If youare using poisons or chemicals, follow the instructions for use carefully and keep a safe distance from pets and children. Chemical repellents and poisons are harmful to pets and children in and around the treated area.
How To Get Rid Of Moles And Gophers
Moles and gophers can damage your lawn and garden. Humanely control them by eliminating food sources, spraying liquid repellents, spreading repellent pellets, using barriers, and/or digging trenches lined with mesh or hard cloth. Other humane ways to get rid of moles and gophers include using sonic devices and traps to trap and lure the animals out of the home. In a pinch, poisons or chemicals will kill moles and gophers, but you must carefully follow the directions for use and avoid using them around pets and children. Each featured product is selected by Country Living editors. We may earn a commission if you purchase from a link. Why do they trust us?
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