Moles

August 8, 2020

I have written about the Hosta that sit on either side of our driveway up against the garage.  One of the two had really flourished.  It bloomed early and the plant was full and lush.  I did have some early pests gnawing on the leaves, but a sprinkling with Sevin took care of that.  You can imagine my surprise when I came out several days ago and the plant appeared to be dying.  The leaves had yellowed and turned brown.  I could not see any pests on the leaves and could not understand why it was dying while the others continued to do well.  When I checked on it yesterday it was completely gone.  All that was left was a small hole amid the mulch.  That is when I knew the cause.  Moles!

When I lived in Wichita, I had a mole invasion in my front yard.  I tried everything I could think of to get rid of them.  Some suggested the best way to get rid of moles is to set mole traps.  These are like underground mouse traps and will kill the moles, which can then be disposed of.  I was not too keen on killing the moles.  I did not want them dead, just gone. I finally hit on mole stakes.  These were battery powered stakes that sent constant vibrations into the surrounding ground.  This discourages the moles from setting up in your yard.  It worked for me because most of them left.  They moved next door to my neighbor’s yard.  I finally resolved the problem when I sold the house.

Melissa said they had problems with moles occasionally in the past.  I noticed them when we moved in that first summer but did not pay much attention.  Since I have been spending more time caring for the yard, I have seen more activity.  I asked my neighbor if he knew how to get rid of moles and he said his father always used the pinwheels you can get in toy stores.  He did not know if they worked, but his father swore by them.  I purchased five of them and placed them around the yard.  I am still seeing runs and now my Hosta is gone.  Time to buy some more stakes.

THOUGHTS:  I again checked online about getting rid of moles and found the only sure method is spring-loaded traps.  I do not like to kill things if I can find a way to peacefully coexist.  The squirrel in my bird feeder and the moles in my yard all have a purpose in maintaining proper ecosystems.  While they can be destructive, they provide a necessary balance.  Just as they adapt to the changes I have made in my yard and garden; I need to adapt my actions to their increased activity.  It is part of learning to live together.   You would think that would be a good lesson when interacting with people as well.  Change is coming and it starts with you.