Moles can be a problem for gardeners (Image: Getty)
There are few things more frustrating than putting a load of hard work into your garden, only for it to be dug up by moles. Those tell-tale mounds of earth are the bane of any gardener’s existence.
Although moles do help aerate soil by tunneling through it – which can ultimately be a good thing – they also destroy anything in their wake – including your carefully-cultivated plants. As a result, any gardener will want to take action as soon as they spot signs of the little beasts.
Thankfully, moles are solitary animals, meaning seeing multiple molehills doesn’t mean you’ve got an infestation on your hands – more likely there’s just one or two wreaking havoc.
Gardening website has some helpful tips for what to do if you find your garden being dug up by moles. The first thing to do is make sure moles are actually to blame if you find your garden in disarray.
A key giveaway is raised ridges of soil, which indicates tunnels just below the surface, and conical mounds of earth – or molehills – where they’ve pushed soil to the surface. Although moles might look like rodents, they’re actually insectivores – mammals which eat small insects, earthworms, and grubs. And they don’t eat plants – so if you spot something’s been chomping on leaves or roots, then another pest is at work.
There are a lot of ways to get rid of moles, but one of the most humane is simply to make your garden less appealing to them. Moles have a strong sense of smell, so planting something with a strong odor such as marigolds, daffodils, or alliums is likely to drive them away. Spraying castor oil mixed with water can also keep moles away without hurting other wildlife.
This is the last thing any gardener wants to see (Image: Getty)
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Encouraging natural predators is another way to deal with moles. Owls, hawks, and snakes all prey on moles, so installing owl boxes or maintaining your garden in a way which will attract them will help keep the population under control. However, if you have pets, be careful you don’t end up attracting predators which could hurt them.
Flattening tunnels and burrows as soon as you see them can also drive moles away as they prefer quiet, undisturbed environments. Filling molehills with soil can also prove effective.
If none of these methods work, you could consider taking more drastic action and setting traps. Humane mole traps can be placed along tunnels to catch them and release them elsewhere – but they need to be checked regularly, and you’ll need to be patient.
If nothing else works, professional pet control services can also help. A quick internet search will bring up plenty of options.
Once you’ve got rid of the pests, you’ll want to make sure they don’t come back. Reducing the number of grubs and insects in your soil will make your garden less attractive to moles. There are plenty of products available at any garden centre which will help you with this.
Regular maintenance can also make your garden less inviting, as moles prefer quieter areas where they won’t be disturbed.