Mole control

[mostaza]

Can anyone help me with ways of controlling moles, organic ways in particular would be great.

thanks

[Hanau]

Can anyone help me with ways of controlling moles, organic ways in particular would be great.

thanks

Is lead organic?

[Wojomower125]

I’m not sure exactly what they are called but they attack the grubs I believe or was it the mole... but anyways they are called "nematodes" research them on Google they are live organisms that attack the host but do not harm worms or the soil. Also there is a type of plant that moles absolutely hate. I bought it 2 years ago and kept it alive every winter under grow lights then back into the garden in the spring. Never seen a mole since and not even kidding did a great job. I think just research "mole plant" on Google and you might get some hits. I think it’s too late in the season for me but I’m not sure how it would thrive for you down south give a try and give me some feedback on how it went.

[ICT Bill]

You have to identify which kind first, some eat grubs/worms and some eat plant roots. Obviously what works on one doesn't on the other

I am no expert but I think some are called voles and the other moles

[Wojomower125]

Yes, but moles are the main culpurates to the destruction or undermining of the lawn. Voles also do that but mostly live in wooded areas and occasionally enter the lawn environment. They all eat different things its all about identifying what is in your area.

[atouchofnature]

Get yourself a Jack Russell Terrier. I have one that will run along the trail until she gets to the spot where the mole is, then dig him out and turn him into an afternoon snack. I don't have a clue how she knows exactly where the mole is in that trail, but she rarely takes more than 1 try to get it. Never takes more than 2 tries.

Back in my environmentally unfriendly days, we stupidly applied Sevin XLR+ at double rate during a rain storm, essentially killing every insect on, and under the lawn (including earthworms). I definitely do not recommend that. Since the mole had nothing to eat, he moved on to another area.

I am not sure how effective it is, but Gardens Alive sells a mole repellant, which is a cocktail of natural substances that make a smell that a mole finds repulsive. http://www.gardensalive.com/search.asp?ss=mole&x=0&y=0

[mdlwn1]

Nematodes...LOL.

[alf500series]

i have never tried it but i have heard that putting moth balls in their tunnels will cause them to leave. i have also heard that they only tunnel at certain times of the day(cant remember when), and if can watch then you just dig them up as the fix their tunnels. ill have to do some asking around.

[ICT Bill]

Nematodes...LOL.

What he was referring to was using grub hunting nematodes to kill the grubs in the soil which are probably the food source that the moles are digging for.
The grubs are used as a place to hatch eggs and soon the soil is filled with grub hunting nematodes

end result: no grubs, no moles their food source was taken away and then no more grub hunting nematodes because of no food

You are left with BIOMASS to feed the plants

[ICT Bill]

Get yourself a Jack Russell Terrier. I have one that will run along the trail until she gets to the spot where the mole is, then dig him out and turn him into an afternoon snack. I don't have a clue how she knows exactly where the mole is in that trail, but she rarely takes more than 1 try to get it. Never takes more than 2 tries.

Back in my environmentally unfriendly days, we stupidly applied Sevin XLR+ at double rate during a rain storm, essentially killing every insect on, and under the lawn (including earthworms). I definitely do not recommend that. Since the mole had nothing to eat, he moved on to another area.

I am not sure how effective it is, but Gardens Alive sells a mole repellant, which is a cocktail of natural substances that make a smell that a mole finds repulsive. http://www.gardensalive.com/search.asp?ss=mole&x=0&y=0

Castor oil is the main one, I am told (have no experience) that they don't like the taste in the soil or the grubs and move

who knew, picky grub eating moles

I can see it now..... PPPHHHTTT that grub tastes like **** I'm moving

[Black Bear]

look for a product called mole-med. it is corn husks that are soaked in Castor oil, you spread it on the ground like fertilizer, the oil "coats" the insects that the mole is going after. The PC version is that they do not like the taste and leave the area, the real world version is they get the shits, dehydrate and die.
Make sure you wear gloves while handling, if you get this on your hands, watch out.
Lesco also sells a gummie bear looking thing that looks like a worm and you put it in the tunnels, it is poision so be careful where you use them.

[starry night]

You go out early in the morning with two shovels. Very quietly you walk to the area of the moles. Stand very still. When you see the ground moving up, you stab one shovel behind that spot to keep the mole from backtracking. You dig him up with the second shovel and throw him in the river. Works for me. (Don't try clubbing him with the second shovel. Moles are very hard headed. You'd get tired beating him.)

[ICT Bill]

You go out early in the morning with two shovels. Very quietly you walk to the area of the moles. Stand very still. When you see the ground moving up, you stab one shovel behind that spot to keep the mole from backtracking. You dig him up with the second shovel and throw him in the river. Works for me. (Don't try clubbing him with the second shovel. Moles are very hard headed. You'd get tired beating him.)

AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!
the mole whisperer or maybe the mole spader, I am digging for a name, OK just shovel it on

[NattyLawn]

I have used Scoot! Mole with pretty good results. I don't see many voles or grubs for that matter on properties. I do get deal with a good amount of voles (field mice) though. The product states you blanket the property then do banding around edges. I do this mostly on properties with raised beds or porches or walkways that are hollow underneath and a good warm home for the winter for these critters.

Also, while moles do like grubs, there favorite source of food are earthworms. So hold off nuking your soil with grub controls or wasting a bunch of money on nematode applications (not that these aren't a good control material) and just try to balance the soil. I rarely see grubs on my organic properties. You get the soil right and the beetle larvae won't be able to take over.

Nice description of the castor oil product BlackBear....I tend to use the "It drives them to your neighbors", but yes it can kill.

[Grohorganic]

ok so maybe some cats or a few snakes....

or flood the yard, just run a hose in the hole a while, only works on flat land:laugh:

:laugh:land mines, not really the PC thing but it may work:laugh::laugh::laugh:

or the long road like has been pointed out and that is just get the food source and the compaction gone and the moles /voles move on and stop aerating the soil and sh*ting out grub based fert:cry:

[stimpy]

Dogs dig up the gummie bears and eat them and get sick. Voles eat roots you trap them above ground at the base of bushes with victor mouse traps baited with apples and peanut butter. moles eat worms and grubs you trap them under ground. Steve albano makes a very small trap that fits in the tunnel out of sight of the home owner. traplineproduct.com. He has a video on youtube if you want to take a look the trap in action. Gummie bears (talprid I think) is 50$ a box at lesco the cost of 4 to 6 traps. It may not be legal to kill moles in your state. The ADC talk forums on trapperman has tons of info and how to photos from guys that do this for a living........