Have you ever stumbled upon a mysterious mound in your garden, only to wonder if it’s a potential threat to your beloved plants?
Well, the truth about molehills might surprise you! Mole hills, those little piles of earth that seem to pop up out of nowhere, are a common sight in many gardens. While they may seem harmless, their presence can leave gardeners questioning if they’re doing more harm than good.
In this article, we’ll uncover the truth about mole hills and their impact on your garden. From understanding why moles create hills to learning how they can affect the health of your plants, you’ll walk away with a better understanding of these mysterious mounds and how to deal with them.
Key Take Aways
- Mole hills are raised, round mounds of soil with tunnels underneath them.
- There are three types of mole hills: tunnels, active hills, and abandoned hills.
- Moles can disrupt soil structure and drainage, leading to root damage and plant rotting.
- Moles primarily feed on grubs and insects, which can decrease the population of beneficial insects and introduce unwanted pests.
- Mole activity can reduce crop yields and damage ornamental plant roots.
- Ways to deter moles include removing insects, using scare tactics like sound-based deterrents, and installing physical barriers.
- Signs of mole infestation include mole hills, tunnels, and sightings of active moles.
- Managing an infestation can involve using mole traps, making the yard less attractive to moles, or using repellents.
- Benefits of moles include aerating the soil, breaking down organic matter, and controlling insect populations.
- Tips for caring for moles include avoiding disturbing their homes, providing food and water sources, and minimizing exposure to predators.
What are Mole Hills & Their Characteristics?
Moles are small, vocal creatures found throughout the world. They primarily live underground and go about their business relatively unseen.
When a mole is active in an area, it will leave behind the tell-tale signs of its presence in the form of mole hills.
”Mole hills are usually seen as raised, round mounds of soil with little tunnels underneath them.”
Here are some of the characteristics of mole hills:
- They tend to be rounder in shape when compared to gopher hills which are crescent-shaped.
- Mole hills are often accompanied by shallow tunnels, sometimes visible near the top layer of soil.
- The soil of a mole hill is almost always darker than other areas.
- They can appear in clusters, especially if the area has been populated by the same mole for a long time.
Mole hills can be both a nuisance to lawns and gardens and a sign of a healthy biological system in a given area. It is important to observe the signs of mole activity and understand how best to handle them.
Types of Mole Hills
Moles create several types of hills as they explore and construct their underground tunnels. The three most common types of mole hills are tunnels, active hills, and abandoned hills.
It can be helpful to understand the different types of hills moles create so you can better understand their behavior and control them if necessary.
Tunnels
Mole tunnels typically measure around 2-3 inches in diameter and are about 6-8 inches below the soil surface. These tunnels are used by moles to travel underground in search of food or for making nests.
Tunnels are rarely visible on the surface but can be identified by lightly pressing down on the ground and feeling a slight depression. Moles often use the same tunnel over and over again.
Active Hills
Active mole hills are usually more visible than tunnels due to the mounds of dirt they form. The height of an active mole hill depends on how deep the mole is digging; it can range from 3-6 inches.
Moles actively build their active hills when they’re searching for food, and they tend to move on to another area once they have exhausted their current food supply.
Abandoned Hills
Abandoned hills are inactive mole hills that have been left behind. These hills may have an obvious opening, but the mole has not been active in this area for some time.
Though the soil may look loose in abandoned mole hills, similar to active ones, the tunnel connecting the hill is blocked off. This is an indication that the mole has moved on and is no longer using this particular hill.
How Moles Affect Your Lawn & Garden
Moles are small mammal creatures that live underground. They are known for their subterranean activity, creating networks of tunnels and mounds of dirt known as molehills. This can have a huge impact on the wellness of your lawn and garden.
Mole holes disrupt the soil structure and drainage of your lawn and garden. This can lead to root damage and rotting of plants. The mole hills can also cause disruption to any irrigation systems or water features in your garden. It can also ruin the aesthetic quality of your lawn and garden.
Moles mainly feed on grubs, worms, and other insects that live in the soil. This means they can decrease the population of beneficial insects in your garden while also bringing in more unwanted pests into your yard. The moles also dig around plant roots, tampering with the health of your plants.
”Moles also eat the roots of ornamental plants and vegetables. This, in turn, can significantly reduce crop yields.”
In certain cases, you may be able to detect signs of infestation before your garden is impacted. It’s important to look out for signs such as constantly overturned soil, small shallow mounds of soil, or areas that seem lush and green.
In order to ensure the welfare of your garden or lawn, it is critical to take proactive measures to protect it from moles.
How to Deter Moles from Your Property
Moles can be pesky critters, often damaging lawns or garden beds. If you’re looking for ways to keep moles away from your property, there are a few steps you can take.
Remove Insects
Moles love to feast on insects and grubs, so if you remove the insect population around your property, you can also reduce the chances of moles visiting your yard. Begin by inspecting your lawn and garden beds for grubs and other insect larvae and using an effective insecticide to kill them off.
Use Scare Tactics
If you want to scare away moles without harming them, you can try using certain sound-based deterrents. Wind chimes, pinwheels, or whirlygigs placed in mole tunnels can make loud noises that will drive them away. Ultrasonic sound devices and castor oil repellents are also known to be effective mole deterrents.
Install Barriers
You can also install physical barriers that will stop moles from entering your property. Hard materials such as concrete, metal mesh, fine wire mesh, and plastic sheeting can all be used to block mole access. Make sure to inspect often and repair any damages caused by moles.
Replace Damaged Plants
If you’ve noticed signs of damage caused by moles, such as uprooted plants, shallow holes, and raised soil, you can replace these plants with sturdier species like ivy, vinca minor, or juniper. These plants are robust enough to withstand mole tunnels and should deter moles from returning.
Signs of Infestation & How to Manage an Infestation
Moles can cause a lot of damage to your lawn and garden, so it’s important to identify if you have a mole infestation before it’s too late. There are three main signs that you have an infestation: mole hills, tunnels, and active moles. In this section, we’ll discuss these signs in detail as well as how to manage the infestation.
Mole Hills
The most obvious sign of a mole infestation is the presence of mole hills. These are small heaps of soil that form mounds in your lawn or garden. The size and shape of the hill indicate how big the mole is and how active it is. Most molehills are about four inches high and about twelve inches wide.
Tunnels
Moles will also leave behind small underground tunnels in your lawn or garden. These tunnels are very narrow, typically about an inch in diameter. They can be hard to spot unless you regularly look for them, but they are usually visible during periods of heavy rain.
Active Moles
If you spot a small, furry animal on your property, it is likely to be a mole. Moles are usually solitary animals, so if you see one, it’s likely that there is an infestation. It’s best to contact a professional pest control service if you suspect that you have an infestation.
Managing an Infestation
If you find that you have a mole infestation, the most effective way to get rid of the moles is to use mole traps. These devices should be laid around your yard and baited with an attractant such as peanut butter. The mole will be attracted to the bait, and when it steps on the trap, it will be caught and humanely killed.
If you don’t want to use traps, you can also try other methods, such as making your yard less attractive to moles by reducing areas of shade or dense vegetation and planting certain plants that deter moles. You can also use ultrasonic devices to repel moles from your property.
Benefits of Moles Living on Your Property
Did you know that as annoying as moles are, they can bring you many benefits on your property? They keep the soil aerated, mixing in microbes and nutrients, which helps plants grow healthier. They also help to break down organic matter, such as leaves and fallen wood, which can provide some natural fertilization. In addition, they eat a large number of insects, such as grubs and larvae, keeping the populations of these pests down.
Moles are also important for the earthworm population. This is because they create tunnels that aerate the soil and act as homes for earthworms. Not only does this help the health of the soil, but the presence of earthworms can also contribute to improved drainage and naturally-enriched nutrients, making it easier for plants to thrive.
Finally, the presence of moles can also be beneficial for surrounding wildlife. Ground-dwelling animals, such as mice, voles, and shrews, will often use the tunnels created by moles for shelter and food. This, in turn, can help attract a variety of birds, frogs, and snakes to the property, creating an interesting and diverse wildlife community.
How to Care for the Moles on Your Property
If you are lucky enough to have moles living on your property, it is important to take care of them. Moles play an important role in the ecosystem, consuming insects and aerating the soil, which helps plants grow. Here are some tips for taking care of the moles on your property:
- Do not disturb their homes: Moles live in tunnels and burrows underground, so it’s important to avoid disturbing their homes. Avoid digging around their tunnels or using pesticides that may harm them.
- Provide food sources: Insects like earthworms, grubs, and larvae are the main food source for moles. You can encourage these food sources by avoiding chemical fertilizers and pesticide use.
- Provide water sources: Make sure the ground around your property has plenty of moisture in order to sustain a healthy number of insects. Watering your lawn regularly or installing a drip irrigation system is an effective way to provide water.
- Minimize exposure to predators: Predator birds, cats and dogs, and humans can all be a threat to moles. To keep them safe, cover entrances to their tunnels with mulch or soil or use exclusion fences to keep predators from entering your yard.
By taking the above steps, you can help ensure the moles on your property will thrive for many years to come.
FAQs
Many homeowners are curious about moles, their hills, and how to care for them. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about molehills:
1. What is a mole hill?
A molehill is a mound of earth that is pushed up from the ground by moles. Moles are burrowing animals that dig tunnels and create these mounds of displaced soil on the surface of your lawn or garden.
2. Are moles pests?
It depends on how you look at it. Moles can be considered pests because their tunneling can damage lawns and gardens. However, moles also eat grubs and other invertebrates that can damage plants, so in some ways, they can be beneficial to gardeners.
3. What is the impact of mole hills on my lawn or garden?
Mole hills can be unsightly and create safety hazards if left unchecked. They can also damage the roots of plants, and their tunneling can cause the soil to loosen, making it difficult for plants to establish themselves. If you have a lot of mole hills in your lawn or garden, it can be difficult to maintain the area.
4. What are some ways to control moles?
One option is to use mole traps, which can be very effective. However, it’s important to keep in mind that killing moles isn’t always necessary and may even create more problems in the long run. Making the area less appealing to moles by removing their food supply or using repellents can also be effective.
5. How do moles create tunnels?
Moless dig tunnels by loosening the soil with their front claws and pushing the dirt aside with their hind legs. They create a network of tunnels that they use to travel and search for food.
6. What is the difference between a mole and a vole?
A mole is a burrowing rodent that creates tunnels and mole hills. A vole is a critter that can cause damage to lawns and gardens by eating plants and their roots. While they may have similar impacts on your lawn or garden, they are different types of animals.
7. Can mole repellents effectively keep moles away from my lawn or garden?
Some people have had success with using mole repellents, but it’s important to keep in mind that moles are generally territorial and may simply move to a different part of your lawn or garden. Also, no repellent is 100% effective, and moles can become accustomed to certain scents over time.
8. Do moles eat my plants?
No. Moles eat insects and grubs, not the actual plants.
9. Are moles dangerous?
Generally not. However, they can potentially damage your garden and lawn if not controlled.
10. What do mole hills look like?
Mole hills are small mounds of soil that mark the entrance to the tunnels. Depending on the type of mole hill you have, the shape and size of the mound will vary.
Conclusion
So, there you have it, the truth about mole hills and their impact on your garden. While they may look like a nuisance, moles can actually provide some benefits to your soil and garden ecosystem.
However, if their presence is causing damage to your plants, there are humane ways to control their activity. By understanding the role that moles play in your garden and taking proactive steps to manage their activity, you can create a thriving garden that is free from the harmful impact of molehills.
