Idea Transcript
Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. Tried, True, Trustworthy Home Advice Newsletters Find a Pro Bob Vila Academy How-To Center Get Ideas Find Info Discuss It Watch TV 'Tis the Season: Shop Gift Guides Now!
Green > How To: Get Rid of Moles
How To: Get Rid of Moles All summer long, you've put hard work into maintaining a lush lawn. Don't let it go to waste! If you see signs that moles are wreaking havoc with your lawn, save yourself a migraine by trying these methods to remove the disruptive underground pests from your yard. PESTS By Bob VilaHOW TO MAINTENANCE SHARES
See More How To: Remove Mold from Wood Pests, Be Gone! 10 Natural Ways to Make Your Home Critter... 8 Things the Exterminator Won’t Tell You for Free
Photo: shutterstock.com There’s no mistaking when a mole or two have invaded your lawn and garden. Though you’re not likely to see one above ground, the hills and ruts a mole leaves in its burrowing wake can spoil, if not devastate, your landscaping. Beyond the eyesore of new mounds sprinkled throughout your lawn, the tunneling can separate roots from soil, killing grass and other vegetation. If you’ve been researching the topic of how to get rid of moles, then you’ve probably come across scores of reports, each touting this or that method as being the best solution to a mole problem. It might be worth trying one or some of those recommendations, but in our experience—and according to most experts—trapping remains the only reliably effective means of stopping these creatures. Related
Dealing with Deer, Rabbits, and Groundhogs
10 Natural Ways to Make Your Home Critter-Free
10 Plants to Stop Deer in Their Tracks
12 Places You Never Clean But Should First, the bad news: If you were hoping there’d be a way to get rid of moles without getting your hands dirty, it’s time to either modify your expectations or call in a professional. Trapping is not only somewhat labor-intensive, but it’s also going to bring you up close and personal with at least one mole. If you’re squeamish about such things, enlist the help of a neighbor or hire a pro.
Photo: shutterstock.com If you’re used to dealing with animals—or if the damage caused by the moles has driven to you a point of frustration-induced courage—then you’re ready to get to work. Basically, there are two options: You can try to catch a mole, so to speak, in the act, or you can set out a series of mechanized traps. The former is the more humane approach, because it doesn’t require killing the mole. The latter is more likely to produce results, but the mole may die in the clutches of your trap. Option 1: More Humane, Less Effective Here’s the prevailing wisdom on how to catch a mole and keep it alive. It turns out that things haven’t changed much since Caddyshack, in which Bill Murray portrayed a hapless groundskeeper obsessed with getting rid of the moles terrorizing the local country-club golf course. First, use the back of a shovel to flatten out and pat down any molehills that you’ve noticed on your lawn or garden. Next, remove yourself to a vantage point elsewhere on the property, somewhere at a distance—and ideally downwind—from the patches of earth you’ve shoveled over. If a mole catches your scent in your air, or if your footsteps send vibrations into the ground, the mole isn’t likely to show itself. Wait patiently and be as still as you can be until you see a disturbance in the soil caused by the mole returning to repair the hill you’ve covered. Carrying two shovels, rush to the disturbed area and plunge the shovels into the ground, one on either side of where you saw the ground move. The mole should now be trapped in the small section of its tunnel between your tools. Now that you’ve isolated the mole, dig it out from its tunnel, transfer it to a cardboard box, and take it to a field far away from your property. Repeat the process until you’ve relocated all the offending moles. Option 2: Less Humane, More Effective Purchase a mole trap online or at your local home center. Place the spring-loaded snare into a mole’s tunnel, being sure to choose an active tunnel. If you’re not sure of a given tunnel’s status, cover over the nearest molehill. Wait a day or two, and if the molehill has been uncovered, that’s a pretty clear indication of activity. Once you’ve set the mole trap, check it often. Also, remember that catching one mole doesn’t mean the problem’s behind you. You’ll need to set the trap again and again, because additional moles may decide to occupy the initial one’s pre-established tunnels. Indeed, several moles may need to be trapped before the tunnel goes dormant. Finally, know that it may not be legal in your state to set a trap that kills moles. Check with your local authorities. Until you’re rid of the pesky critters, know that it can be OK and even beneficial to live with your underground neighbors for the time being. Their quick digging actually aerates your yard and circulates nutrients in the soil. Plus, a mole’s diet of grubs and other insects could get rid of pests that would otherwise eat at the roots of your plants. While you’re cohabiting, just follow a little bit of maintenance to be sure their shallow tunnels don’t completely disrupt the roots of your plants: Press any raised soil back into place with your foot, and water thoroughly so that the roots do not dry out. To discourage moles in the future, cut back on the watering in your lawn-care routine, and maybe even consider choosing a grass that can survive on less water. The drier soil will attract fewer earthworms and thus minimize your chances of tempting a mole to move in and chow down.
All of the Outdoor Design and DIY Tips from BobVila.com With fair weather having arrived finally, it’s time to turn your home improvement efforts to the backyard and your deck, porch, or patio—the parts of the home built specifically to enjoy the extra hours of sunlight. Guided by these practical pointers and inspiring ideas, you can introduce beauty, comfort, and utility to your backyard and outdoor living areas, making them as inviting and enjoyable as your home interiors.
Related Products Prev Next
BUY Bully Tools 92510 12-Gauge Round Point Shovel with Fiberglass D-Grip Handle $41.98 from Amazon
BUY Tomcat Mole Trap $14.99 from Amazon
BUY SGT KNOTS Twisted ProManila / UnManila / Tan Polypro Rope 1/4", 5/16", 3/8", 1/2", 5/8", 3/4", 1", 11/4", 11/2", 2" x Several Lengths (3/4"x100') $64.95 from Amazon
BUY DEWALT DW745 10-Inch Compact Job-Site Table Saw with 20-Inch Max Rip Capacity - 120V Too low to display from Amazon
BUY Outlite A100 Portable Ultra Bright Handheld LED Flashlight with Adjustable Focus and 5 Light Modes, Outdoor Water Resistant Torch, Powered Tactical Flashlight for Camping Hiking etc $12.99 from Amazon
BUY BLACK+DECKER LDX120C 20-Volt MAX Lithium-Ion Cordless Drill/Driver $47.89 from Amazon
BUY CLC Custom Leathercraft 125M Handyman Flex Grip Work Gloves, Shrink Resistant, Improved Dexterity, Tough, Stretchable, Excellent Grip $9.80 from Amazon
BUY Snow Joe AZ-10-CC-JUG 2 GO Ice Melt Removal, 10 lb Jug from Amazon
BUY BLACK+DECKER LCS1020 20V MAX Lithium Ion Chainsaw, 10" $97.00 from Amazon
BUY Snow Joe SHOVELUTION SJ-SHLV01 18-IN Strain-Reducing Snow Shovel w/ Spring Assisted Handle $24.49 from Amazon Available on Amazon
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: A Dozen 10-Minute DIYs for a Pest-Free Home
1 of 12 | Photo: armchairsommelier.wordpress.com How to Keep Mosquitoes AwayHow to Keep Mosquitoes Away
Testing Laboratory
Bob Vila 2X PER Week The latest in news, tips, & inspiration delivered right to your inbox. Enter your email address
SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER
Thanks! SEE MORE IN Green
21 Clever Little Things to Do with Scrap Wood Don't toss all that scrap wood left over from your last DIY adventure! Instead, put it to good use building one of these fun an...
How To: Remove Mold from Wood Wood, which naturally soaks up and retains water, makes an ideal environment for mold and mildew. If you're dealing w...
Pests, Be Gone! 10 Natural Ways to Make Your ... No need to use chemicals—instead, use these herbal, fruity, or soap-laden solutions to problems with pests like ants, mice, and...
8 Things the Exterminator Won’t Tell You for ... Bugs got you down? No one wants to swat gnats away from their food or stomp roaches as they scurry across the floor, so it’s no...
Popular Right Now
7 Easy Budget-Friendly Backyard Makeovers
17 Tiny Bathrooms We Love
20 Sneaky Storage Ideas
13 Home Improvements That Are Illegal to DIY
Explore How To Center Get Ideas Find Info Discuss It Watch Bob Vila TV Shop Mobile Connect Bob Vila - Flipboard Bob Vila on Facebook Bob Vila on Twitter Bob Vila on Pinterest Subscribe Sign Up Now to Receive Bob Vila's Newsletter
Enter Email Address
Privacy Policy Bob Vila's Toolbox app
Bob Vila Academy Make Things. We'll Help.
Enroll now and learn DIY basics from the next generation of home improvement experts
Contact / Info About Bob Advertise with Us Press Info Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use
Copyright © 2017 Vila Media, LLC. All rights reserved