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Mole hills
AJ203
Posts: 15
In the past couple of weeks mole hills have started appearing in my veg patch. Any ideas how I can discourage the moles from taking up residence?
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AJ203 - I know a humane mole deterrent - it was told to me many years ago by a vicar and I swear it works.
When a hill appears or you see a current one is active carefully dig it out with a trowel to expose the tunnels. Then place a milk bottle in the hole, so the base is about half way up the height of the tunnels and firm it in. Use two or three bottles scattered about. I mean the old fashioned glass ones that the milkman brings, not the modern plastic ones.
It may take several weeks, but the moles will move on.
It works by the wind blowing over the tops of the bottles making a sound that reverberates down the tunnels that discourages the moles.
Used it again this year when a mole was tracking around the side of our clay pond. Could have been a disaster for the pond and mole, but within a couple of weeks, it was gone.
Some people swear that putting one of those little 'musical' noisy things you get in some birthday cards into the tunnel will send them packing. Not tried it myself - no moles here - yet
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Many thanks for the interesting advice! I'm just hoping the moles will choose to move on when I dig the ground over in the spring.
They will love it even more when you dig it up, it will be nice and soft and have some lovely juicy worms ready at hand. One year they went right along a long row of runner beans dad planted, upturned every one.
He became a dab hand at catching them after that!
The disruption of digging a pond didn't put mine off. They seemed to get more active rebuilding the damaged tunnels. They dug it up again every time I had it leveled off around the edge ready for grass seed. I've got lots of bulbs in there now for spring, so I really hope they don't plan on coming back.
Moles can be a serious problem. I reseeded a large patch in the paddock in the autumn, the grass was growing well when Mr Mole discovered it. The patch looks like the surface of the moon now! I did buy some mole traps, but haven't had the heart to set them up - yet!!!
Moles drove me to distraction especially when they started digging up my lawn in the summer. Like everyone I tried everything and to be honest nothing actually worked. In total desperation I decided to catch and kill. The thought of actually doing it made me pretty sick and being a life long veggie how could I have thoughts of murder? I questioned my sanity. So I gave moley another chance, again the lawn was destroyed. Enough was enough I got my 2 spades and followed the instruction and caught the mole bagged him and took him to the woodland.
I was surprised how small moley was and since June fingers crossed we are ok.
Yes Pansyface I let him go. I believe they do come back to their original base lets hope he's forgotten where he used to dig!
Oh what a relief - you let him go, I was reading your post with such anxiety. I have moles in my garden too sometimes but bank voles were far more of a problem this year, they damaged my shallot and onion crops quite badly.
Oh edd you do make me laugh Bank voles? never heard of them Night garden, I'm curious so will do a search.