how to repair 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 treat and repair a mole-damaged lawn?

How to Treat & Repair a Mole-Damaged Lawn 1 Examine your lawn to determine the type of damage the moles are doing. 2 Rake over the mole hills, collapsing them and dispersing the piled soil into the surrounding lawn. 3 Apply a castor oil-based mole repellent to the mole tunnels and mole hills,... 4 Bury poisoned baits in the mole tunnels,...

How do you fix mole damage on a tunnel system?

Step on the tunnels and mounds to flatten them to grade. This method is only practical for light mole damage and isn't recommended for extensive tunnel systems. Tamp the raised soil with a hand tamper until the tunnels and mounds are even with the rest of the soil. Again, this is only practical for a small amount of tunneling.

Why repairing mole damage is important?

Repairing mole damage is essential to keeping your lawn healthy and attractive. 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.

How do you get rid of moles in 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. Spray the tunnels and mounds with your garden hose to wet the soil.

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

Does rolling your yard 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.

Should you flatten mole tunnels?

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 kind of damage can a mole do?

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.

What do golf courses use to get rid of moles?

Live-catch traps are a human and effective way to remove moles from your golf course. To use them, place them along active mole runways. To tell if a runway is active, press down on the edge and come back in 2-3 days to see if the moles have repaired the runway.

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 does an active mole tunnel look like?

Their tunnels are usually at least ten inches underground, unless they're scanning the surface in search of a mate. 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.

How deep in the ground do moles live?

Types of Mole Tunnels Tunnels that are deeper below the surface (between 6 and 24 inches deep) are typically shelter tunnels where moles will enter during severe weather conditions. Moles will also bear their young deep underground in these tunnels. Moles will dig deeper tunnels at a rate of 12 to 15 feet per hour.

Can you flood a mole tunnel?

5. Flooding Tunnels. Flooding tunnels won't kill moles, but it may aggravate them enough to make them move. The best way to use flooding to control moles to flood a single tunnel for just a few minutes, until the first 1 to 2 meters of the tunnel becomes so muddy that moles cannot run to the entrance.

What does mole destruction 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.

Can moles cause structural damage?

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. This is not something to be blase about."

Why do moles push up dirt?

The short, sharp, twists and turns are made as the animal searches for food. The holes coming up to the surface are created to push out excess dirt. They have little function other than that. During the winter when the earthworms go deeper, so do the moles.

What is a home remedy to get rid of moles in your yard?

For a homemade remedy, mix three parts castor oil and one part dish soap. Add four tablespoons of the mixture to a gallon of water. Soak the tunnels and entrances to evict the moles and soak the holes to evict gophers. Castor oil is one of the most effective home remedies to get rid of these animals.

What do moles hate?

Moles hate the smell of tar, and you'll block their escape. Some readers say it works to sprinkle dried blood, tobacco, powdered red pepper, or coffee grounds near tunnel entrances. Remember to re-apply after a rain.

Do coffee grounds keep moles away?

Coffee grounds have an overpowering smell that deters moles, so place them in a few of the tunnels or mounds to drive them off. You can also spread them over the top of your garden (this is what we did) as it's perfect for your garden and makes an excellent fertilizer.

How do you permanently get rid of voles moles?

0:332:01How to get rid of Moles and Voles in your lawn - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThen eat all your roots off of your desirable plants and such. So the way that you get rid of molesMoreThen eat all your roots off of your desirable plants and such. So the way that you get rid of moles is Ohio state recommends that you get out the old mold trap.

How to remove mole hills?

Rake over the mole hills, collapsing them and dispersing the piled soil into the surrounding lawn. This not only removes the hills, but also makes the mole tunnels less hospitable since you are cutting off sources of ventilation.

How to get rid of moles in tunnels?

Watch your lawn for new tunnels, applying more repellent and bait or placing live mole traps in the tunnels to eliminate the active moles. Continue to monitor your lawn after baiting or trapping the moles for signs of additional mole activity.

How do moles damage lawns?

Some moles burrow deeper underground than others, only producing mole hills to ventilate their tunnels. Other moles burrow close to the surface, creating raised tunnels through your lawn.

How to get rid of poisoned bait in mole tunnels?

Bury poisoned baits in the mole tunnels, selecting baits that are shaped to look like earthworms if possible. Make sure that you wear gloves while handling the baits, and bury them deep enough that dogs or other animals won't find them sticking out of the soil.

Does castor oil repel moles?

Though some mole repellents release smoke or send vibrations through the soil, for the most part they don't work well. Castor oil repellents are effective because the smell seeps through the soil and drives away moles, an effect that you won't get from smoke bombs or similar repellents.

Do moles eat earthworms?

While many people associate mole infestations with grubs in the soil, moles actually prefer to eat earthworms and can appear even if you don't have grubs in your lawn.

Is it safe to put razor blades in your lawn?

Avoid using folk treatments that involve putting razor blades, glass or other potentially dangerous materials in your lawn. Not only are these treatments not effective, but they can pose a serious danger to your family and pets as well.

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.

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 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.

What is the difference between a mole and a pocket gopher?

Mole mounds (left) are volcano shaped whereas pocket gopher mounds (right) are crescent-shaped and have a plug of dirt at the top of the tunnel.

How much do moles eat?

As such, a mole must consume nearly 100% of its body weight each day. Although they are often mistakenly thought of as plant eaters, moles are predators that use their exceptional sense of touch to capture invertebrates, such as centipedes, earthworms, grubs and other insects. 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.

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.

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).

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.

Is it illegal to use mole traps?

Some types of mole traps are illegal in certain states. Check your state and local trapping regulations before buying and setting mole traps on your property.

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 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.