how to repair lawn from 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 ...

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...•

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.

How do you level a yard after moles?

Spray the tunnels and mounds with your garden hose to wet the soil. 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.

What do you fill a mole hole with?

2:193:37DIY (mole damage repair) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipRunways you can recognize these because they're lines of raised dirt or grass. You'll want to fillMoreRunways you can recognize these because they're lines of raised dirt or grass. You'll want to fill these tunnels as well because they very easily become a trip hazard when people fall into them the

How do you fill a vole hole?

How Do You Fix a Vole-Damaged Lawn?Give the entire lawn surface a gentle rake to break up debris and excrement in vole runways and promote lawn growth.Fill in vole pathways with topsoil.Fertilize and overseed any areas of thin or chewed-down grass.Prune and fertilize trees or shrubs that voles have gnawed on.

What is difference between mole and vole?

A mole has a pointed snout, enlarged front feet, and eyes and ears so tiny that they are not visible. A vole, also called a meadow mouse, has rounded ears and body and is reddish or brown and black in color with a gray underside.

Does a lawn roller help with 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.

Can you mow over mole hills?

Any plant damage they cause is incidental to their lifestyle. Molehills on lawns should be removed before mowing and collapsed surface tunnels filled to maintain a level lawn surface. Mole activity is usually greatest in late winter and early spring.

Should I stomp mole tunnels?

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.

Will moles eventually leave my yard?

Unfortunately, moles aren't easily dealt with. Unless your yard is really showing damage, the best approach is to leave moles alone. They'll usually move on once they've eliminated their food source. You can keep your lawn in shape by flattening the runways with your feet or a lawn roller, or by raking out the tunnels.

What time of day are moles most active?

They prefer moist, loamy soil and are most active in the early morning or evening in the spring or fall; they also come out after a warm rain. Moles have the distinguishing characteristic of a hairless, pointed snout.

What does mole damage to lawn look like?

Tunnels Visible on the Surface Because moles uproot all grass and plants in their way, they'll leave paths on the surface of your yard with brown, dead, or no grass. Your lawn will look a bit raised in these areas as well, giving it a bumpy appearance.

How do you treat voles damage?

Preventing and managing vole damageRemove woodpiles and other debris from the ground that may be hiding places for voles.Keep grass trimmed short and bushes trimmed up from the ground.Bird feeders are another attraction for voles. Remove them or keep the ground very clean.

Do voles ruin lawns?

Voles in the Landscape As turf pests are concerned, voles are among the vertebrate pests most likely to cause turf damage. Notable damage to turf most commonly occurs during the winter season under snow.

Do coffee grounds repel voles?

Gardeners are aware of a number of substances that repel moles, and coffee grounds is one of them. If you spread the grounds around an active hole, chances are the mole won't come back to it until the grounds dissipate into the soil.

Do voles dig holes in lawns?

Holes in the Soil Vole tunnels in yards have openings 1- to 2-inches across, and they are usually hidden under spreading plants, shrubs, or mulch. Check for seeds or grass clippings near tunnel openings.

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

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.

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 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.

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 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 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 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.

Compact all the tunnels either by foot, a roller or driving over tunnels with a mower

Compact all the tunnels either by foot, a roller or driving over tunnels with a mower.

Lightly compact the seed into the soil (for best results, we want as much seed to soil contact as possible)

Lightly compact the seed into the soil (for best results, we want as much seed to soil contact as possible).

If desired, cover seeded areas with straw (this adds a layer of protection and keeps moisture in the soil)

If desired, cover seeded areas with straw (this adds a layer of protection and keeps moisture in the soil).

How do moles damage a yard?

Once a mole invades a yard, it can cause considerable damage almost immediately, especially when in pursuit of prey. In fact, a single mole can tunnel up to 18 feet per hour in suitable soil. A key to managing moles and curtailing their conspicuous damage is first correctly identifying their sign: 1 Volcano-shaped mounds of soil with no entrance or exit holes are pushed up from deep below the soil surface. 2 Raised linear ridge (s) of soil running through grass of lawns that ultimately become a complex network of multiple lines entering and exiting yard 3 Mounds and ridges are most common in the shaded portions of lawns and similar sites 4 Soil around ridges and mounds feels soft and spongy.

How to get rid of moles in my yard?

Place traps along long stretches of tunnels that moles most frequently use. Traps are not effective on mounds. Target long, straight stretches of tunnels or places where tunnels enter or exit the yard. Avoid tunnel sections with lots of bends ot twists.

How fast can a mole tunnel?

In fact, a single mole can tunnel up to 18 feet per hour in suitable soil. A key to managing moles and curtailing their conspicuous damage is first correctly identifying their sign:

How to replace excavated portion of trap?

Replace excavated portion with loosely packed fine soil. Force the jaws of the trap directly into the soil until the trigger pan rests on the repacked soil surface. Make sure the jaws are aligned as evenly as possible on either side of tunnel, with the points of the jaws about 1 inch below the bottom of the tunnel.

What is a raised linear ridge?

Raised linear ridge (s) of soil running through grass of lawns that ultimately become a complex network of multiple lines entering and exiting yard. Mounds and ridges are most common in the shaded portions of lawns and similar sites. Soil around ridges and mounds feels soft and spongy.

What is the damage caused by moles?

Seed pods and other vegetable matter make up a much smaller proportion of a mole’s diet. Therefore, the damage caused by moles is primarily the result of tunneling, not the direct consumption of plants. General biology: The eastern mole is a solitary animal except when mating, which occurs in late winter or early spring.

What is the best way to get rid of moles?

Trapping is the most effective and safe method of removing moles. Two commonly available trap types are sold at hardware and farm stores and can be targeted to capture moles in the same way. The key to successfully capturing problem moles is setting traps in the right places.