how to repair a lawn after mole damage

^{Luckily repairing molehill damage is also easy to fix:}

• Remove excess dirt with a shovel
• Fill any sunken areas with a mixture of 50/50 sand and topsoil
• Lightly rake exposed dirt
• Apply grass seed at the recommended overseed rate
• Compact the dirt back
• Cover exposed areas with peat moss
• Water the lawn thoroughly while the seeds germinate

How to best repair the damage caused by moles?

Things You'll Need

• Mole traps
• Lawn roller
• Riding lawnmower or garden tractor
• Topsoil
• Grass seed
• Straw

How do you repair a damaged lawn?

Method 2 Method 2 of 3: Repairing Dead Grass Using Limestone Download Article

1. Remove as much of the dead grass as possible. You can do this by using a trowel, hoe, or small shovel to scrape the dead grass.
2. Sprinkle extra fine grind limestone over the area you’ve scraped. You can do this using the small shovel or trowel from the previous step.
3. Water the area lightly. ...
4. Cover with topsoil and grass seed. ...
5. Top with peat moss. ...

Are moles bad for your yard?

While there are some benefits to having moles in your yard, they can also cause damage to your lawn and even to yourself. The tunnels they leave behind will make your soil soft. You and others can trip or twist your ankle from the disturbed earth, as their tunnels can damage the roots of your grass and your plants.

Do moles hurt your yard?

Moles and voles themselves may go unseen in your ... lawn or affected area should be sprayed. Reapply after a rain or once the scent fades. Pouring a bit into their holes and tunnel runs won't ...

How do I repair my lawn after vole damage?

4 Steps to Repair Vole DamageRake to remove the dead grass and excrement.Fill pathways with topsoil.Apply fertilizer.Overseed areas that don't adequately recover.

What does mole damage to lawn look like?

Mole Damage Check your soil and lawn for their tunnels. They will look like raised volcano-shaped swellings in your yard. Surface tunnels or ridges also indicate mole activity.

Will rolling your lawn get rid of moles?

A lawn roller will kill moles because it prevents them from getting enough oxygen. Unless they have an escape route, they won't be able to breathe underground. Moles can survive without a lot of oxygen for a while, but they eventually won't survive if you use a lawn roller on all of their tunnels.

How much damage can a mole do to your yard?

Moles' burrowing habits can damage grass, flower beds and tear up tree roots, causing extensive cosmetic damage to lawns and gardens. Mole tunnels can be classified into two basic types, shallow and deep. Shallow tunnels create surface runways whereas deep tunnels create surface mounds.

Should you stomp down mole holes?

Stomping Tunnels Lawn moles live to dig and can easily reclaim damaged tunnels or dig new ones. Stomping the short feeding tunnels will do no good since they are only used to scout for food. Most are abandoned shortly after digging.

What is the fastest way to get rid of moles in your yard?

Fastest way to get rid of molesMole trap: A mole-specific trap is considered the most effective way to get rid of moles. ... Baits: Moles feed upon earthworms and grubs. ... Remove the food for moles: Moles feed on various garden insects, such as earthworms, crickets, and grubs.More items...•

What do golf courses use to keep moles away?

Aluminum phosphide, gas cartridges and grain baits containing strychnine are all used for mole extermination. But, trapping is proven as the most effective method to get rid of moles, as detailed on the extension website. Two of the most common types of traps are the Victor mole trap and Nash mole trap.

How many moles can live in a yard?

Moles are antisocial, solitary animals; they live alone except to breed. A mole typically travels more than one-fifth of an acre. No more than three to five moles live on each acre; two to three moles is a more common number. Thus, one mole will usually use more than one person's yard.

How long do moles stay in your yard?

How Long Will Moles Live in the Yard? In general, moles have small home ranges and the animal will rarely stay in the same area for a longer period of time. Their activity in a particular area may only last one or two weeks until there's no more food to be found.

What happens if you dont get rid of moles in your yard?

The Pests Stop Here! Moles: while some people think they look cute, they can cause severe damage to your lawn and landscaping. Moles construct intricate networks of tunnels and mounds in the ground and quickly kill or damage the plants, grass, and trees in your outdoor space.

Do moles burrow under concrete?

Although the creatures may seem innocuous, they can cause large amounts of damage. "Moles contribute to the freeze-thaw cycle under foundations, slabs and sidewalks," Loven explains. "Their tunnels allow water to accumulate and cracks to begin.

How does Dawn dish soap get rid of moles?

0:192:43How to Get Rid of Ground Moles With Dawn Soap - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHose. Step 1 pour four ounces of castor oil and one tablespoon of dishwashing liquid into the bottleMoreHose. Step 1 pour four ounces of castor oil and one tablespoon of dishwashing liquid into the bottle of your garden sprayer add water to fill the sprayer to the top and shake very. Well.

How do I know if I have moles in my lawn?

Some of the most common signs of moles in your yard are:Raised ridges that crisscross across your yard.Areas of discolored or dead grass.Raised mounds of dirt (molehills) that mark the entrance/exit of tunnels, usually less than 6″ tall and shaped like a football or volcano.Areas of loose or squishy soil on your lawn.More items...•

What does mole infestation look like?

Signs of a mole infestation in the yard can also include slightly raised, underground ridges or trenches going from soil pile to soil pile. They may even cause raised ridges in your mulch. In early spring, mole damage appears as raised tunnels going from one mole hill to another.

What does ground moles look like?

A mole is 4 to 7 inches long with paddle-shaped feet and prominent digging claws. It has an elongated head and snout, small eyes, and no external ears. The short black-to-brownish-gray fur has no grain, which allows the mole to move easily forward and backward in the tunnels.

What does vole damage look like in a yard?

If it's voles, you'll see patches of gnaw marks with irregular patterns about 1/16th to 1/8th inches wide. Gnawed stems may have a pointed tip, and the roots or tubers may also show the same wear. But voles don't need snow for cover, explains the University of Maryland Extension.

How to fix moles in yard?

Moles activity often looks like large raised veins spreading across your yard. These vein-like patterns are actually surface tunnels or feeding runways and moles can construct them at a rate of 10 feet per hour. Luckily, damage as a result of veining is relatively easy to fix: 1 Flatten all raised veins - you can use your foot or a dirt compactor 2 Scratch exposed dirt with a rake 3 Apply grass seed at the recommended overseed rate 4 Lightly compact the seeded area 5 Cover with peat moss 6 Water areas throughout the day - at least 3x a day

What to do when your yard is mole free?

Once your yard is mole-free, you can begin to repair some of the damage that was done and reclaim your lawn again.

How many molehills can a mole dig in a day?

A busy mole can easily dig 100 feet in a day and can produce more than 6 molehills a day. If left unchecked, your yard could be covered in molehills in just a week.

How to repair molehill damage?

Luckily repairing molehill damage is also easy to fix: Remove excess dirt with a shovel. Fill any sunken areas with a mixture of 50/50 sand and topsoil. Lightly rake exposed dirt. Apply grass seed at the recommended overseed rate. Compact the dirt back. Cover exposed areas with peat moss.

Why do moles eat grass?

If you do have a mole problem, it is likely because your soil is rich in earthworms. Mole activity increases when earthworms are present near the soil surface. The average mole must eat 80 to 100% of their body weight every day, and they must tunnel to get to the worms. As such, they can destroy your lawn in very little time.

How to fix veins on a lawn?

Luckily, damage as a result of veining is relatively easy to fix: Flatten all raised veins - you can use your foot or a dirt compactor. Scratch exposed dirt with a rake. Apply grass seed at the recommended overseed rate. Lightly compact the seeded area. Cover with peat moss.

What is the phone number for Seattle mole exterminators?

If you are dealing with a mole infestation in Seattle, Bellevue, Woodinville, Sammamish, Kirkland, or Redmond, call the Mole Patrol at 425.744.0371 or fill out our Request for Service form to get started with one of our Seattle area mole exterminators.

What happens if you get moles in your lawn?

The damage caused by moles can be both extensive and unsightly. This is especially true if you allow the moles free rein over your lawn. After time, the moles will not only continue creating eyesores in the form of mounds and tunnels, they will begin damaging the root systems of the grass as well as that of other vegetation in the area. To avoid further damage, you must reclaim your property from the moles. Fortunately, this is a job you can handle on your own.

How do I get rid of moles in my yard?

Set mole traps in active tunnels. Make sure the tunnels are active by caving in a small portion with your foot. Check on the tunnel a day later -- if the mole has redug it, it's active. Kill as many moles as possible before attempting to repair the damaged lawn; otherwise, your work will be for naught.

How do I fill low spots in my lawn?

Fill in any low spots in the lawn with topsoil. The weight of the lawn roller may collapse some tunnels, causing slight depressions. Fill these low-lying areas to allow proper drainage, ensure safety for anyone walking across the lawn, and make the lawn more attractive and easier to mow.

How do I use a lawn roller?

Connect a lawn roller to your riding lawn mower or garden tractor, following the manufacturer's directions. Drive your mower or tractor across the lawn -- the heavy roller will flatten irregularities and make the surface uniform. Pay particular attention to any wider areas of the lawn affected by tunneling, and be sure to go over individual mounds.

What happens after you remove moles from your lawn?

Even after ridding the lawn of moles, the lawn is left with the ridges and mounds formed as a result of surface tunneling. There are a few approaches to flattening these tunnels, depending on the severity of the damage.

What do moles eat?

They feed on worms, grubs, beetles, ants, slugs and larvae found underground through a system of tunnels. While ridding the lawn of some common pests, moles also disturb grass root systems, leading to dry or dead grass. Even after ridding the lawn of moles, the lawn is left with the ridges and mounds formed as a result of surface tunneling.

Can you flatten a lawn after rain?

You can wait to flatten the tunnels after the rain, but flattening the tunnels when the entire lawn is wet -- as opposed to only the tunnels -- increases the risk of soil compaction throughout the yard.

Can mole tunnels cause ridges in lawn?

Although mole tunnels might not always cause ridges in the lawn, the damage is often visible because the tunneling damages the grass roots. If you don't want to rent a lawn roller, you can make your own using a large barrel. For best results, fill the barrel partially with water or sand to add weight to the barrel.

Can you rent a roller for a lawn tractor?

You can rent rollers that you push manually or that drag behind a lawn tractor or all-terrain vehicle. This method works well on large tunnel systems, but you should only roll over the tunnels to avoid compacting the soil across the rest of the lawn, particularly if you have clay soil that is easily compacted.