Cures for Mole Maladies
Paul James offers tips on how to invite moles out of your yard.
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Moles are nature's rototillers — they aerate the soil with their underground tunnels — but folks who like a nicely manicured lawn may want to eradicate them.
Identifying the problem
You can diagnose a molehill by its shape. Moles typically produce a volcano-shaped mound with a hole in the center. Were it gophers, the hole would be to one side and the dirt would be messed up.
One good thing about moles: They don't eat and destroy plants the way gophers do. In fact, the fluffy soil that moles create makes a great home for plant roots, but the mounds they produce as a result are a tad unsightly.
Addressing the problem: The heavy-handed method
One way to get rid of moles is to drown them out. To do so, insert a hose into one of the mounds. The adults will flee at the first sign of water. But if you're not up for killing baby animals, this method might not be for you — baby moles won't figure out they need to flee until it's too late.
Addressing the problem: Paul James' way
For the record, Gardening by the Yard host Paul James is a big fan of sniffing out, rather than snuffing out, moles.
Castor oil also comes in a granular product. Paul prefers it because he thinks it works a little more effectively, is easier to spread and lasts longer. It also deters voles, gophers and armadillos.
Soak the sponge and squeeze the nematodes into water. It's not long before up to 10 million wind up in the solution, which you then spray onto the lawn and plants. Nematodes are typically applied in the spring. Use them quickly — they usually don't have a long shelf life.
mole trap — Victor caster-oil-based repellent ("Shot Gun Mole and Gopher Repellent") — Yard Lover granular caster oil repellent ("Mole Max") — Yard Lover coyote bobcat urine repellent ("Predator Pee") — Lexington Outdoors milky spore — Gardener's Supply Co.
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