When Moles Attack: How To Make Your Lawn Critter-Free

Ever notice mounds of soil on your lawn? It's likely that they are caused by moles. While other small animals like raccoons also leave holes, moles create distinctive "volcano-like" soil formations or ridges that are very noticeable and destructive to your lawn. But there's good news: reversing a mole infestation is as simple as following a few easy steps.

The first step is to choose which type of method you will use to control the mole population. In the past, getting rid of moles often required trapping them. Fortunately, modern lawn care experts recommend using a few simple products to control a mole population in a much more humane way. Used in combination with your Burlington inground irrigation system, these products will help you quickly and efficiently eliminate moles from your lawn. Read on to find out more.

Castor Oil

One of the most common products to use against moles is castor oil. Moles hate castor oil and will usually avoid grass or soil that is sprayed with it. To apply a castor oil product, wait until the grass has been freshly watered, then use a sprayer to evenly apply the product across the entire lawn. You should then water the lawn again with your Burlington inground irrigation system to ensure complete saturation. You may need to repeat the castor oil application more than once if it does not work the first time around.

As a more unconventional option, some lawn care experts also recommend putting cat litter or human hair in and around molehills. Both of these items work as repellants since they carry scents that are unpleasant to moles.

Nematodes

Another popular option is to target a mole’s food source. Moles do not eat vegetation, but actually consume small insects such as earthworms and grubs. They also have incredibly voracious appetites; in fact, adult moles can consume almost a third of their weight every day. One of the best strategies for curbing a mole population is to deplete their food source using nematodes in combination with a Burlington inground irrigation system. This is another great option for “green” gardeners who want to avoid the use of pesticides on their lawns.

Nematodes are small worms that actually feed on the larvae of other insects, such as grubs. They are traditionally introduced to the lawn during summer months and in periods of low sunlight, like the morning or evening. Fortunately, nematodes will quickly target the small insects that moles feed on, which should encourage moles to leave your lawn alone.  
In order to distribute nematodes on your lawn, you will need to ensure that your Burlington inground irrigation system is ready since it is necessary to keep the soil moist for 10 days after the product is applied. Contact Nutri-Lawn for more information on how nematodes can help control pesky insects and moles.

Be Persistent

In order to thoroughly rid your lawn of moles, you are going to need a long-term plan. Moles exhibit different behaviours at different times of the year, but are particularly active during the summer months. While some experts believe that moles can be good for lawns in the short term since their digging aerates the soil, they can do extensive damage when they are present long-term.

The best course of action is to be proactive: don’t wait until your lawn has been overtaken by moles. Request a consultation with Nutri-Lawn to learn how a Burlington inground irrigation system can help tackle your critter problems before they get out of control.