Horticulture Magazine

8 Ways To Get Rid Of Moles In The Garden

a mole on a heap of soil in the garden
By CHRIS LEE
Chris Lee, MA - Gardening Writer

Chris is a gardening writer and nature enthusiast. He graduated from Oxford Brookes University in 2022 with an MA in Psychology. Chris works with the Leeds Green Action Society, helping their food cooperative by growing various fruit and vegetables on their two allotments in Hyde Park, Leeds.

/ Updated June 27th, 2023
Reviewed By COLIN SKELLY

Colin is a Horticulturist and Horticultural Consultant with experience in a range of practical and managerial roles across heritage, commercial and public horticulture. He holds the Royal Horticultural Society’s Master of Horticulture award and has a particular interest in horticultural ecology and naturalistic planting for habitat and climate resilience.

/ Meets Our Editorial Guidelines

Though rarely seen, moles are undoubtedly skilled at making their presence known.

Those volcano-like mounds of soil that erupt across a lawn can be the bane of many gardeners’ existence.

While moles are rather shy creatures, they can do extensive damage to the aesthetic of your garden and leave you feeling more than just a little bit frustrated.

If all this sounds familiar and you are desperate to get rid of moles in your garden, then this article is for you.

We’ve put together everything you need to know about how to keep your garden protected from these pesky pests, and to keep things looking less like a building site and more like a beautiful, natural haven.

What Are Moles?

One of the first things you need to do is make sure you know your enemy; this will help you to be more effective at ridding your garden of these chaos-inducing critters.

young mole protruding from soil with grass in background

Moles are small, burrowing, carnivorous mammals that have adapted to live comfortably underground.

They dig out complex systems of tunnels and chambers, and feed on invertebrates found during their excavations.1Moles and myths: Are they friends or foes? (2004, June 3). Purdue News. Retrieved March 17, 2023, from https://www.purdue.edu/uns/html3month/2004/040603.Gibb.mole.html

The famous molehills are formed when the mole throws out the excess soil from its tunnels.

Moles have cylindrical bodies, soft velvety fur, tiny eyes and ears and large, powerful paws that are perfectly designed for digging.

Although the molehills are indeed unsightly, it is worth mentioning that the excess soil is perfectly sifted and can be a brilliant base for potting compost.

Their underground activities also aerate the earth, leading to much healthier grass, and they also sometimes dine on plant-damaging pests like slugs and snails.

However, if the benefits moles bring doesn’t outweigh the eyesores they create, then we have put together all the options you can try to remove these dastardly diggers.

Signs Of A Mole Problem

many molehills on a garden lawn

Before you do anything, you need to be sure that the issue you are facing is definitely caused by moles.

 Moles leave unmistakable traces of activity, and these may include:

  • Raised ridges across your lawn.
  • A distinct path of discoloured or dead grass.
  • Raised mounds of soil which indicate their entrance and exit tunnels.
  • Areas where the lawn feels lose or has sinking sensation underfoot.

How To Get Rid Of Moles In The Garden

Once you have established that your garden is definitely under threat from moles, then it’s time to choose your course of action.

There are lots of methods to either deter or completely eradicate moles, so let’s dig right in.

1) Make A Stink

closeup of a mole with funny look on its face

Moles are famously short-sighted, but they have a very acute sense of smell and hearing.2Salisbury, D. (2013, February 5). Evidence moles can smell in stereo. Vanderbilt University. Retrieved March 17, 2023, from https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2013/02/05/moles-smell-in-stereo/

One of the best ways to send moles packing is by laying something with a strong, foul smell in their tunnels.

We recommend choosing something biodegradable to avoid damaging your garden or killing garden-friendly animals.

Old, smelly cheese, fermented yoghurt, or gone-off milk are good contenders.

Some people also swear by sprinkling powdered red pepper, or coffee grounds, so it’s worth having a little experiment to see what’s most effective.

2) Make Some Noise

dog running about on a garden lawn

Moles are really sensitive to noise, and they will not want to stay in an area that has frequent loud sounds.3About Moles. (2022, December 16). The British Mole Catchers Register. Retrieved March 17, 2023, from https://www.britishmolecatchers.co.uk/about-moles/

Placing one or more radios in their entrance and exit tunnels on a station with loud, boisterous music will put those moles off from sticking around.

Also, encourage your kids or grandchildren to play loudly in the garden – they will undoubtedly be happy to oblige.

Setting up swingball or some mini football matches will make your garden a lot less welcoming to your furry unwelcome guests.

3) Mole Netting

mole netting under freshly laid lawn

This option is only possible if you are laying new turf, but if that’s something you are doing, then this is a method to prevent moles from entering your garden.

Mole netting can be bought at garden centres and online and is reliable and long-lasting.

You should place the net at a depth of around 10cm before sowing the grass or, if you are using roll-out turf, you can set the netting directly below that.

If a mole then tries to dig through your garden without success, it should, in theory, leave your garden permanently.

4) Electronic Devices

an electronic mole deterrent sticking out from mulch

As mentioned, moles detest loud noise, so some products have been specifically designed to drive moles away.

Most of these products produce a low-frequency vibration or sound that repels moles without causing harm to other animals or your garden.

For these to be effective, however, you will need to make sure you have enough set up around your garden; otherwise, the mole will just move to another, quieter part of your property.

5) Mole Repellents

a homemade mole deterrent created using a plastic bottle and bamboo stick

There are various mole repellent products which primarily do the same thing.

They essentially release smoke and castor oil fumes, and this is said to infiltrate the tunnels and ward off worms and other tasty mole snacks.

The hope is that this will send the hungry mole further afield to a place where he can find food, but it’s worth mentioning that this is really only a temporary solution.

What’s more, the mole may well leave your garden, but it may then head straight for your neighbour’s property resulting in potential disagreements and neighbourly disputes.

6) Plant Power

marigolds planted with lettuce as a pest deterrent

If you are keen to use a more natural repellent, then it’s worth planting some vegetative barriers.

There are several plants believed to deter moles such as daffodils and marigolds.

Daffodil bulbs are toxic, and so it stands to reason that moles will avoid these.4Daffodils – Beautiful but Potentially Toxic. (n.d.). Poison Control. Retrieved March 17, 2023, from https://www.poison.org/articles/daffodils

Marigolds are aromatic, and it’s thought that, like castor oil, its pyrethrins repel worms and other soil-dwelling mole delicacies, sending the hungry mole to look elsewhere for food.5Hughes, A., & Paur, J. (n.d.). The Effect of Pyrethrin on Earthworm Burrowing. Divine Savior Holy Angels High School. Retrieved March 17, 2023, from https://cpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/sites.uwm.edu/dist/8/202/files/2017/07/BurgHughesPaur_ew_DSHA-2i8rt40.pdf

7) Mole Traps

a mole trap stuck in garden soil

Sadly sometimes simply repelling moles just isn’t enough and if you’ve tried all of the previous options, then it may be time to consider setting traps.

There are various traps available and, when used correctly, they are considered a humane way to exterminate moles.

Mole traps should be placed about 10-20cm below ground level but not directly below the molehills.

You can brush away the soil from the mound and use a stick to ascertain where the tunnel is.

You should then carefully open up the tunnel whilst creating as little disturbance as possible and place the jaws of the trap so that it aligns tightly inside.

Set the trap, then carefully cover it, either with a bucket or a piece of turf or anything that will block sunlight from shining through.

a mole trapped in a metal trap

These traps do not require any bait and you should check them at least once a day.

It’s common for the mole to push soil into the trap unknowingly, and if this is the case, the trap will require resetting.

It is important to mention that although this will solve your current mole problem, the vacant tunnels are likely to attract more moles and you may have to repeat the process.

There are also live traps available, and if you are opting for these, you must check them twice a day; otherwise, the mole may starve or even die of stress before you can safely release it in its new home.

Entrapped moles should be released at least one mile away from where they were captured, and you must also make sure you have permission from the landowner to release it there.

Also, ensure that the environment in which you are releasing it to is one that can sustainably support the mole.

8) Hire A Hitman

gloved hand holding a mole

Probably the most sure-fire way to rid your garden of moles is to bring in a professional.

That said, this is quite an expensive option and should only be considered if all else fails.

Furthermore, as with setting your own traps, it provides no guarantee that a new mole won’t make its home in your garden.

Don’t Make A Mountain Out Of A Molehill

mole sticking out of a mound of soil

We hope this article has given you all the knowledge you need to help you towards making your garden a mole-free zone.

When all is said and done, aside from the disfigurement they can cause to your lawn, moles really aren’t the worst pests you can come across, and we implore you to use humane tactics before going straight in for the kill.

“Gardeners are increasingly seeing their gardens as places to support more biodiversity,” says Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly.

“A mole would signal that you have a healthy population of earthworms and other food to support moles.

“I see eradication as a last resort and some damage as a price to pay for a healthy ecosystem.”

It can take time and patience to find the method that works best for you, so try out the natural methods first and take it from there.

We wish you luck on reaching a resolution with your new, troublesome, furry neighbour and to reclaiming your lawn once and for all.

References

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