Are your making mountains out of
your molehills? Although lawn moles are underground creatures, the
benefits they add to your garden are clearly visible and far outweigh
the disadvantages.
Of the six
species of mole found in North America, the Eastern mole (or gray mole)
is the most common. Moles are about the size of chipmunks and weigh
from three to six ounces. A tiny creature, its total length is just six
to eight inches.
Many
gardeners and groundskeepers are under the mistaken impression that
lawn moles eat the roots of their plants and turf grasses. However,
moles are insectivores. Their primary diet is earthworms and grubs and
a single mole can eat more than 140 grubs and cutworms daily. They also
feast on destructive garden pests like snails, beetles, and millipedes.
In fact, at just over a quarter-pound, a mole can consume 45 to 50
pounds of worms and insects each year.
The greatest
harm that mole tunneling does to turf grass is by separating soil from
roots. Still, the mole’s digging actually improves soil
quality by turning and aerating the soil and mixing accumulated
nutrients throughout the excavation.
Moles
don’t continually dig each time they forage for food. Once a
tunnel system is established, it is infrequently extended. In fact, the
only signs of mole activity you might see are those when the mole must
repair its construction. When disturbed, moles may temporarily vacate
the area, but generally return within a week or two. In addition, when
a tunnel is abandoned, a new mole inhabitant will
“recolonize” using the handiwork of its predecessor.
For these
reasons, even the most effective method of mole removal, trapping, is
not a permanent solution to a “mole
problem”. Besides which, the three types of mole
traps that work with any success sound like relics from the Spanish
inquisition— harpoons, scissor-jaws, and choker loops. In
fact, numerous remedies have been used to try to control
moles Pickle juice, red pepper, razor blades, bleach, moth
balls, brambles, human hair braids and hair balls, vibrators,
ultra sonic devices, and poisons offer inconsistent and generally
ineffective results; many including environmentally unfriendly side
effects.
As in all
elements of lawn care, the best solution to a lawn mole problem is
applying practical gardening principles. Mole tunnels (except for the
hilled entrances) are typically deep enough to be almost invisible.
Over-watering your yard brings earthworms and other invertebrates close
to the surface, making it necessary for the moles to “move
up” in search of them. Reducing the amount or frequency of
watering may help both moles and their prey stay underground where they
are most beneficial to your lawn.
Another
solution to a lawn mole problem is to reduce the size of your lawn,
converting it to gardens, paths, and hedgerows. First, moles prefer
straight tunnel runs. However, more importantly, converting some lawn
to gardens, paths, hedgerows and patio areas adds eye-appeal, reduces
signs of damage, and in addition attract birds and butterflies to your
property.
Article
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hans_Dekker
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