Several years ago I had a mole/vole problem in my decorative plant garden and lawn. I use a pine, walnut shell, or other natural cat litter for my cats. These products often have instructions right on the bag to use them once used on inedible plant beds as mulch. So I poured the used litter from my several cat boxes into the mole/vole holes and voila! The little critters disappeared! It's been a long time and they haven't returned, but if they do, I'll surely put the kitty litter in the holes again. Any odor from the used litter disappears, especially after a rain.
Check out these tips.
My neighborhood has an extremely bad mole problem. The only yards that don't have mole holes, are the homes where people let their cats go outdoors.
Moles don't like castor oil. Try this solution and be sure to let us know whether it was successful.
I have been bothered by moles routing through my garden eating my earthworms. I read that the castor bean was poisonous. I grow castor plants, so I put a dozen seeds in a run.
From what I have read, moles are difficult to get rid of. There are lots of things that people try with mixed results, such as putting garlic down the holes. The best solution I found was using castor oil.
I heard that instead of trying to get rid of moles, which can be difficult, it is better to get rid of their food source. Here in Florida, they love grubs, so by eliminating the grubs the moles will move to another area.
Put a galvanized hardware cloth in the bottom before adding dirt. This will keep voles/moles from eating your plants. Without it the critters think it's their buffet!
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I live in Illinois and this Summer we hardly had any rain and it's been extemely hot. I have lived in my house for 14 years and this is the very first time that I have ground hogs or ground moles making tunnels in my front yard.
They have eaten up my entire Hosta plant. What is the best way to get rid of this pest so it doesn't come back next year?The main reason for moles is that they are after the grubs(an insect) in your yards. So the easiest way to get rid of them is to go to the garden center and get something to kill grubs and the moles will leave too.
Theres no reason to kill the little fellow, just do what I did and find his hole stick a water hose in it and then fill it up. Surprisingly you will see him come out of the ground from another hole that you weren't aware of and then you can put him in a bucket and take him to the park and release him safely. If your lucky when ever you go for a walk at the park you may see him building a new home and then feel good that he is still alive and happy. Thanks for reading, from Kevin L. in Arlington, Texas.
Is there an easy way to rid my yard of voles, moles, and gophers? They are destroying my lawn and shrubs.
Hardiness Zone: 5b
By Dee from Long Island, NY
Castor Oil and Cayenne pepper work pretty well. The Castor Oil has to be an industrial grade (you can see if you have Murphy's Castor Oil around the house). They don't like the smell of the pepper or oil.
I've also heard of using human hair. Never tried it, but some friends told me if you stir it in the soil that will repel them as well. I've even heard someone say they used to put a donut in the holes, and it actually worked! :)
I live in Graham Washington. We have run out of ideas on how to keep the moles away. We've used the poison bait, and even bought the ever full proof, money back guaranteed black hole mole trap and haven't caught a single one.
I would also like to add that the soil where I live is very very rocky. Seriously it is unlike any I've ever seen and I think that may be playing a part in why the traps aren't working. Any suggestions?Try a marigold and daffodil barrier.
Have you tried the electronic devices? I used one once and it worked.
How do I get rid of moles? They are terrible this year in our area.
By Ginny Rusch
Treating for grubs is very expensive and is only about 50% effective. If possible, encourage owls to your area. Talk to your State's Game & Fish Commission; if you have trees, install an Owl House.
The one nice thing is, once they nest and have chicks, they return every pre-Spring and do their hunting in the evenings. Nice to hear them chatter away because I know they're looking for those nasty little critters to show themselves.:)
We have moles and maybe voles in the yard, leaving little mounds of dirt everywhere. When it was just in the lawn it was bad enough, but now something is in the veggie garden. How do we get rid of them?
By Zippy
You may need to put hardware cloth under the planter beds to keep the burrowing critters out. Easier to do when you have raised beds, of course, but you could do it by digging out the regular bed soil, putting down the hardware cloth in a "U" shape, and re-filling the bed. Good luck!
I live in Cape Town, South Africa. Does anyone know how I can keep moles out of my garden?
By June Daries from Cape Town South Africa
Good grief, from Portland, Oregon, to Capetown, those pesky diggers are everywhere. My sis in law tried hair and steel wool down the holes and only minimal success. I would think anything physical that would impede comfortable digging for them, since their skin is sensitive. Maybe she didn't use enough hair.
They do aerate the soil and bring up minerals for plants, but that's no satisfaction when your flowers are imploding.One might put down wire screening of some kind in flower beds about 12 inches down and form it into a box with sides and replant dirt and plants.
Or if one had access to a thorny bush lay branches about 16 inches below plants. It would take some time to decompose, probably good for 2-3 years. Perhaps rose bush clippings.
Anybody know what discourages moles in nature?
We are having some serious issues with ground moles and the many tunnels they keep digging in our yard. Our next door neighbor keeps throwing bread out in her yard. Can someone tell me if moles also feast on bread? She will not stop doing this. We also have a problem with ground squirrels and the many holes they too dig. This is getting out of control. Thanks in advance for your feedback.
By Sandy from IL
I don't think moles eat bread. They eat insects and are especially fond of grubs. If you can find a biodegradable organic insecticide (I think there are such things) spray the yard. With no food, the moles will leave. If insects are eating the bread then the moles might just move next door.
Do mothballs really get rid of moles?
By beverly from Kansas
You need to get a lawn fertilizer type product that contains grub giller. Grubs are these gross white worm looking bugs that live in the roots of the grass & attract the moles as the moles eat the grubs. Follow the package directions. It is usually best to do the application before a good rain and this is also a good time of year to do this. Be sure to by enough product to get the job done right the first time! If you don't get the problem under control it can become quite costly. Friends of mine actually had to remove their whole lawn and replant it. Good luck!
Would anyone know how to help get rid of moles in my yard? They're turning it into a sponge. I've tried all the commercial products and the spinner things to no avail.
By Crystal
Getting rid of moles is a problem for a lot of people. I learned if you have moles you have grubs which is a white worm that lives under your grass and you would never know they were there until you see the moles, and they are what the moles feed on.
I found by running a rolling spike across your lawn which puts holes in your lawn, which is called an aerator (you can probably rent one or borrow one from someone who has a farm). This helps with the getting rid of the grubs which you will then have to buy some Grub Ex at your local home improvement store. Spread it over the lawn using a spreader with the holes in the ground.
It makes it easier for the grub ex to get into the ground to do what it was made to do, get rid of the grubs. The primary goal here is to get rid of the grubs first and once you get rid of them you get rid of the moles.
How do I get rid of moles in my yard?
Hardiness Zone: 8b
By Debbie from Fremont, CA
My ex-husband swears by using cotton balls soaked in caster oil. After soaking cotton balls you just drop them in the mole holes or open a tunnel and drop in the moies don't like the oil on there skin and I think the smell also.
How do I raise asparagus in mole heaven?
Hardiness Zone: 7b
By bill from LaPlata, MD
I am not sure moles eat asparagus--I suspect your culprit is more likely voles.
As for the asparagus, plant it as deep as you can, I like 18 inches. I don't think any rodent is going to get at the roots this deep. If you find them damaging the asparagus, you might try a pepper spray. Call your local agricultural extension service, they should have some ideas for mole remedies.
The moles are there for a reason, probably going after grubs along with your vegetables. There are mole traps that you can use, but it would also be wise to get rid of what they are after. Dig up some ground close to your asparagus, see if you find grubs, little fat white worm looking things. There is stuff you can get to kill the grubs. Good luck.
In Michigan we use those solar sonic sound that you put in the ground they work if your yard isn't to big 1 will do about a 20 foot span. We have not seen a mole in about 3 years. bought them at harbor freight for about 10$ each on sale. Good luck.
How do you get rid of a mole?
Hardiness Zone: 4a
By roz from IA
Moth balls. Lots of moth balls where ever they have their tunnels. They are cheap and easy.
If you find a sure way to get rid of moles, please, let me know. I tried at my mom's house, chewing gum, garden hose water down their tunnels, to flood them out, and now I have moles where I live. I understand that moles are after insects, so in a way, moles are a good thing. But moles destroy lawns, as I've so many times stomped on the lawn to put it back, wondering what the neighbors thought I was doing outside, when I was trying to push the lawn back down into the soil. Jumping up and down on the lawn at my age, and what did the neighbors think I was doing?
Right now, we have a mole or moles (voles,) that has gone around the perimeter of our garden for the past couple of years, but not destroyed our garden. I just know that the moles/voles--eat pests. So I'm thinking that when the pests are gone, the moles/voles will leave, but I'm not sure yet.
Moth balls will only make them go away for awhile just to come back again. Moth balls are not really very good for the environment either. I think traps are the most effective. My son had problems with them until he got a Jack Russell dog. The dog got everyone of them!
I'm going to try using the Castor oil/detergent remedy to rid my lawn of moles. How do I go about applying it to a large lawn?
I use 2-3 $1 store pin wheels in my yard. Haven't seen any moles since. I didn't believe it till I tried it, amazing.
Although moles don't eat plants, they can damage the roots of plants and lead to their decay by digging numerous canals in the ground. There are many natural ways you can drive moles out of your garden. These are some of them.
ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.
I am having a big problem with moles digging up my lawn. How can I get rid of them? Thank you.
Does anyone have a way to get rid of moles? I have tried a yard spray of castor oil, sonic noises, and Jerry Baker's suggestions.
Does anyone know how to eliminate ground moles and woodchucks from taking up residence in an and around our home.
I have moles that are tearing up my yard and I don't know how to get rid of them. Can anyone help me with this problem? I would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks, JOANIE FROM LOUISANA
