how to repair your lawn after mole damage

[Solution] How to Repair Mole Damaged Lawn

1. Examine your lawn to determine the type of damage the moles are doing. Some moles burrow deeper underground than...
2. Rake over the mole hills, collapsing them and dispersing the piled soil into the surrounding lawn. This not only...
3. Apply a castor oil-based mole repellent to the mole tunnels and mole hills, using a...

Full Answer

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 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

Can moles destroy your lawn?

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.

How do I repair my lawn after voles?

Homeowners just need to take a few easy steps.Rake the debris and excrement from the runways to promote growth.Fill pathways with topsoil.Fertilize and overseed areas that do not recover.Prune and fertilize trees and shrubs that have been chewed by voles.

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.

Will grass come back after moles?

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. Luckily repairing molehill damage is also easy to fix: Remove excess dirt with a shovel.

How do I level my lawn after a mole?

1:063:19How to Repair a Lawn Bumpy From a Mole - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFollowing the manufacturer's directions drive your mower attractor across the lawn a heavy rollerMoreFollowing the manufacturer's directions drive your mower attractor across the lawn a heavy roller will flatten the irregularities. And make the surface uniform.

Will grass grow back after vole damage?

There is good news here: In most cases, the damage doesn't require a complicated fix. Unlike gophers, voles only eat the blades and stems of your grass, and not the roots or crown. So, the grass should grow back as the weather gets warmer.

How do you permanently get rid of voles moles?

How to Get Rid of Voles: 5 Effective WaysRemove vegetation. Voles don't like to feed out in the open. ... Protect young trees. Voles love to gnaw on the trunks of young trees. ... Use live traps. ... Use natural repellants. ... Contact a professional pest management company. ... Vole Poisons. ... Repellents. ... Traps.More items...•

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.

What do golf courses use to keep moles away?

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...•

How deep are moles in the ground?

Surface tunnels connect with deeper runways that are located 3 to 12 inches below the surface, but may be as deep as 40 inches. Deep runways are main passageways that are used daily as the mole travels to and from surface tunnels and its nest. Moles are fast diggers and can tunnel at a rate of 15 feet per hour.

What does mole damage look like in a yard?

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.

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 damage do moles cause?

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.

What is the fastest way to get rid of moles?

Mole trap: A mole-specific trap is considered the most effective way to get rid of moles. The animal gets trapped and killed in the trap. Both above-ground and below-ground traps are available for moles in the market. These traps come with instructions that need to be followed for faster and better results.

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 earthworms?

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.

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.

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.

How to tamper raised soil?

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.

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 make your own lawn roller?

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.

How to treat a nematode in the yard?

Apply the nematodes by spraying the areas of the most damage. Apply more nematodes to the area surrounding the problem spots, if desired. Water the yard again lightly afterwards, then every few days as needed. Feel free to treat the yard again late in fall, but before temperatures drop below freezing.

How to get rid of bald spots on lawn?

Sprinkle grass seeds over the area; 10 to 15 seeds per square inch is a good target quantity for a completely bald area; less will suffice if surrounding grass is still fairly healthy. Tamp the seeds down gently with your foot, then sprinkle no more than 1/4 inch topsoil over the seeds.

Why do my lawns look dead?

If random sections of your lawn look completely dead even though you water them regularly, your yard may have a grub problem. Grubs, which are actually beetle larvae, feed on grass roots, causing damage or even death to parts of the lawn. To make matters worse, grubs are tasty snacks for birds, raccoons, skunks and other neighborhood creatures that may dig up your lawn to find them. In some regions, an investation of moles is a good sign that you may be dealing with a grub problem, as these underground animals will feed on grubs.

How long do nematodes stay in the refrigerator?

Store the nematodes in the refrigerator for up to two weeks before application. Two applications, applied one or two weeks apart, are ideal. A hose-end lawn sprayer with an adjustable mix rate is also required. Mix the nematodes in water according to package directions, which may vary by brand.

What to do if grubs kill your lawn?

If grubs have killed off most of your lawn, reseeding large sections is the best option .

How to prevent grubs in lawn?

Water grass deeply but infrequently to help prevent grubs. Image Credit: Danil Bukharov/iStock/GettyImages. Water the lawn deeply and infrequently to encourage deep root growth and a thick lawn. Grubs thrive in areas with thin grass and moist soil, so keeping the lawn as lush as possible helps prevent grubs.

How do nematodes work?

Nematodes work by burrowing inside the grubs, destroying them from the inside out. Some companies offer nematodes that also seek out flea larvae, cutworms and other pests. Look for nematodes at home improvement stores, garden centers and through online vendors. Advertisement.