Garden Pests: How to Eliminate Moles and Grubs from Your Landscape

I am often asked about how to eliminate certain pests from the garden, such as moles and grubs. This month’s post was contributed by a fellow blogger who has some knowledge about this very issue. Here are some helpful tips.

What this article addresses: 

• How do I eliminate grubs and moles?
• How do I detect the presence of moles in his garden?
• What are some humane techniques to remove moles?
• When should I call a professional to eliminate moles? 
• What are some tips to deter moles from your garden?

Moles and grubs are the nightmare of beautiful gardens and perfect turf. An underground rodent, moles dig tunnels under the ground, forming mounds on the surface. Grubs live in the soil and feed on the roots of plants. Even if moles and grubs are not a direct nuisance to you, they can reap havoc on a garden.

How to Get Rid of Grubs:

Grubs are the larva of insects, especially Japanese beetle. This time of the year, grubs are found under soil surfaces, and feed on the roots of your lawn and landscape plants. Grubs are also a food source for moles; therefore, eliminating one pest can deter another.

Grub Removal Methods:

Milky Spore: Milky Spore is a bacterium, (Bacillus popillae), which is lethal to grubs of Japanese beetles. It is available in powdered form, and it works better when applied during late summer periods.

Nematodes: Beneficial nematodes (roundworms) are the natural predators of the microscopic world. One pouch of nematodes attached to a spray hose can be used to water your lawn and garden to kill grubs. It is most effective when applied after the soil heats up in the spring. Keep the lawn watered to allow the beneficial nematodes to work.

Note: Killing off grubs reduces the food source for moles and helps your lawn, but it does not guarantee that the moles will move on. 

Detecting Moles in The Garden: Mounds of soil visible around the garden, with soil collapsing partially in some places are signs that a mole is present. Before declaring war on this small mammal, wait a few days to see if the animal persists. Moles are known to feed mainly on grubs and earthworms, so if your garden is poorly supplied with food, the invader will quickly leave your property once it discovers there is nothing desirable to eat.

If more molehills become evident, you can make the decision to chase these rodents from your garden. There are several ways of accomplishing this, many which can be found in stores or on the Internet, including traps, firecrackers, natural solutions and ultrasound. Some of these techniques are easy to implement. 

How to Get Rid of Moles Naturally:

Once you have made the decision to get rid of the moles that disrupt your garden, you can choose one or more methods to deter them. Always consider respecting the environment and avoid inflicting bitter injury to these animals whenever possible.

Technique 1: Deterring Moles 

Use Plants that Repel Moles: Some plants are noted to repel moles. Marigolds and some flowering bulbs such as onion, garlic, crown imperial lily, hyacinth, daffodil, or Castor bean can keep intruders at a distance thanks to their aroma. Place these plants into mole hills to help repel the unwanted visitors.

Anti-Mole Ultrasound: There are commercially available solar powered boxes emitting ultrasonic vibrations that are inaudible to humans but will disturb the hearing of moles. Some also produce vibrations. These anti-mole ultrasounds offer the advantage of removing many kinds of rodents. Remember to place these devices in different places wherever there is evidence of moles. These ultrasound boxes are commercially available, at between 20 and 40 dollars, depending on the model.

Stick and plastic bottle method: This simple technique has proven to be quite successful according to user feedback. Place a stick into the molehill and cover it with a plastic bottle, neck down. When the wind blows it will bang on the stick and produce vibrations that moles dislike. With the constant annoyance, your mole visitor may very well become disgruntled and move on. This well known tip does have its disadvantages (such as aesthetics) but with its simplicity of installation and success rate it is certainly worth a try! A similar method, the use of pin wheels placed near a mole hole, have also proven to be a successful approach.

Technique 2: Mole Elimination

If all else fails, metal traps are available in different styles. Before handling, wear a pair of gloves to avoid leaving a human smell on the trap. Locate the most recent molehill and arm the trap with a tension rod or wrench. Carefully cover the hole and mark the location. This method has proven successful at a low cost. Tunnel Mole Traps are designed for humane mole capture with two doors that only swing inwards to let the mole in but not out. After catching the mole unharmed, it can be released into another location in the wild. Simply bury the trap in the mole tunnel or hill and let the device do its work.

When to Contact a Professional:

The call to a professional may be the last resort if you cannot get rid of the moles on your own. This expert is perfectly equipped to hunt for and eliminate moles in your garden. Cost depends on distance traveled and materials used.

Author Bio:Vicki J. Stabile is a gardening enthusiast, involved in gardening at her home’s backyard for the past five years. Vicki loves to share her gardening knowledge with others through her blog, Patio Clinic.

Guest Post: Top tips for getting your lawn looking just like new

One of the most important parts of any gardening plan is to make sure that the lawn is looking at its best. A good-looking lawn means that the main and most visible part of the garden is always looking at its best and that you are doing your utmost to keep everything looking great. The grassed area of the garden is the one which is most visible and one which most people will notice first. For those who are intent on getting your grass looking at its best, there are a number of ways in which you can ensure that your lawn restoration and repair needs are kept to a minimum.

Perhaps the first thing which you should pay attention to when it comes to making sure that your lawn is looking great is to take a hint from all of those signs which are so frequently displayed around parks and public buildings. Keep off the grass. It might sound like a simplistic solution, but people walking across your lawn can have a big impact on the health and the appearance of the grass contained within. If you are looking for the best possible results, limiting the time which people are allowed on the grassy areas can be the best bet. While it may not be possible (or desirable) to always stay away from the lawn, it is also important to remember that it is not a football pitch or a pathway. Keeping the sports to a minimum can keep the grass looking at its best.

A great way in which you can get the lawn which you want to get is to go right back to the beginning of the gardening process. By selecting the right type of grass, you can select everything, right from the shade of green to the amount of care which it will require. While it might not seem to be the case, there can actually be a big difference between the different varieties of grass and the different grasses all bring something different to the table. Some are sturdier and require less watering. Others will provide a very vivid hue and be perfect for showing off your lawn. When it comes to making sure that the lawn is looking just how you want it to, taking the time to carefully select the right type of grass can make a huge difference.

One of the biggest requirements for any plant is water. While it might seem that living in areas such as Britain (or on occasion Long Island) provides a rainy day every week, this can actually be a hindrance when it comes to the best garden design and garden maintenance. Because the rain is so frequent and so expected, the warm weather can lull lawn owners into a false sense of security and mean that they forget to water the grass as it is something which has to be done so infrequently. While overwatering can be equally as damaging, remember your lawn during the height of summer and should the country be blessed with a heat wave, remember to keep your lawn hydrated for the best possible appearance.

When it comes to getting the best possible lawn care, however, the best solution is often to turn towards the experts. Even if it is a very occasional service, having a professional take a once over on the grass which makes up your lawn can help make sure that you are on the right track when it comes to keeping your garden looking at its very best. For those in need of a great bit of grass care, expert help is ideal.

Bio: (About the Guest Author) Christine is a professional blogger who is engaged in organizing her household and raising her 2 kids. She has extensive experience in writing about different matters related to home maintenance. Currently she is sharing useful gardening tips and ideas.