Don't underestimate the value of mole control for your lawn and garden. There are few things that will ruin a beautiful backyard faster than a single mole. Keeping your landscape mole-free could be as simple as removing its source of food, or as complicated as digging holes and setting traps. Here is some useful mole control advice and pest removal tips to help you keep your lawn looking perfectly manicured year-round.
What's for Dinner?
Moles are not rodents but insectivores. They happily feast on things like grubs, earthworms and various types of insects. Without a doubt, grubs are to moles what candy is to a child. Take away or alter the grubs in your yard, and you will likely have a successful mole control plan.
- Grub pest control - Pesticides aimed at general insect removal will kill adult insects, but rarely get down deep enough into the soil to have any real effect on the larvae. Insecticides aimed directly at grubs have a more probable chance of reaching and killing off the grubs.
- Mole repellent - Most mole control products labeled as repellents actually target the mole's food. Some mole repellents make grubs difficult for a mole to digest or simply make the grub taste repulsive. In response to the tainted food, the mole will leave your yard and seek a more hospitable location.
Home Sweet Home
If messing with the mole's food doesn't give you the mole control results you need, the next step may be to attack him on the home front.
- Electronic pest control device - What constitutes easy mole removal? Convince the mole to remove himself. Electronic pest control devices aimed at mole control are said to produce a noise that the pests find intolerable. Some designs make a sound that resembles another mole or a whole heard of moles. Since moles are solitary creatures, the thought of sharing their tunnels with someone is very unappealing. Take note that while some people swear by these devices, others find them to be ineffective mole control products.
- Traps - Traps are arguably the single most effective way to either kill or simply remove a mole from your yard. There are three basic lethal trap designs: scissor, harpoon and choker loop. Pitfall traps are catch-and-release style traps for people that prefer a no-kill option. While traps are generally very successful mole control devices, you must understand that they may require you to dig holes in your yard and could be a little difficult for the first-time user.
- Flooding - The key to the flooding method is making sure that the tunnel you are trying to flood is the active tunnel. If you can determine which tunnel, or runway, is currently in use, then simply put your hose into it and turn on the water. You may need to try this several times, but eventually you might see the mole scrambling out of his tunnel in search of dry land.
Last Resort?
Poison is a standard pest removal choice and the preference for many people looking for simple do-it-yourself pest control. There are many different mole poisons and generic pest control poisons available. If you decide this is your best mole control option, be sure to read the directions and safety warnings thoroughly and completely.
Maybe They Aren't So Bad After All
Some people prefer to find ways to live in harmony with their fuzzy brown friend instead of seeking out mole removal. Perhaps the mole is only causing minor disruption to your yard and you really just want to protect your garden. If that is the case, you can look into constructing a special mole control barrier.
Moles do not like to dig rocky terrain or sharp edges. Sometimes something as simple as running into some fencing buried underground is enough to make the mole turn around and dig in another direction. For the best chance at success, dig a trough around your garden area, making sure it extends at least two feet into the ground. Fill the trough with small rocks and see if the mole bothers your garden ever again.
Summary
If despite your best mole control efforts you still find yourself with a mole problem, it is probably time to call in a professional. Getting rid of an active mole infestation quickly and efficiently increases your chances of getting your yard back in shape in an equally quick and effective manner.