How To Keep Moles From Digging Up Your Lawn
Moles are a frustrating backyard problem. They tear through soil, leave long ridges and mounds across your yard, and can ruin the health (and look) of your lawn in no time. They're not trying to be pests, they're just looking for food, but their digging habits can still cause a lot of damage. If your yard is starting to look like a construction site, there are steps you can take to stop them from tearing the place up.
Understand Why Moles Show Up
Moles don't eat plants or roots. They eat insects, especially grubs and earthworms. If you see mole activity, it usually means your soil has a strong insect population. Moles are drawn to soft, damp ground that’s full of food, so lawns with thick, healthy soil are the most appealing. This might seem like the solution is to get rid of the bugs then, but worms are often great for your garden, so that's not the fix you should aim for.
Start With Soil Management
One of the simplest ways to make your lawn less attractive to moles is by changing the conditions they like. Avoid overwatering, as moles love moist soil. Improve drainage where you can, cut back on heavy watering, and let your lawn dry out a bit. It won't harm your grass but will make life harder for moles. They’ll move on if they can’t dig comfortably or find enough worms to eat.
Cut Off the Food Supply
Grub control can help reduce mole activity. If you treat your lawn with a safe grub killer, you remove one of their main food sources. There are natural options, like neem oil or milky spore, that work over time. As mentioned, moles also eat worms, which are actually good for your lawn, so full removal of food isn't possible. But reducing it does help discourage them.
Use Repellents the Right Way
There are castor oil-based repellents made specifically for moles. These repellents don't harm them, but they make the soil taste and smell unpleasant. Apply these sprays or granules across your lawn and be sure to reapply after it rains. They're most effective when used consistently. For larger lawns, you may need to treat in sections, moving the moles gradually out of your yard instead of trapping them in a corner.
Try Strategic Barriers
Physical barriers take a bit more work to set up, but they're effective in small or high-value areas like garden beds or near foundations. You can bury a fine wire mesh or hardware cloth vertically into the ground around the space you want to protect. It should go at least a foot deep. This doesn’t remove moles from your property entirely, but stops them from digging into the areas you don't want them to destroy.
Remove Sheltered Entry Zones
Moles often start tunnelling near borders like fences, flower beds, and tree lines. Try to keep these areas tidy to discourage that behavior. Cut back thick plants, remove leaf piles, and keep mulch light. These spots offer good cover for moles to begin digging. If the edge of your lawn is clear and exposed, moles are less likely to choose it as a starting point.
Call in Reinforcements If Needed
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, moles just won't leave your lawn alone. If that’s the case, it may be time to call a professional. Wildlife control services can assess the tunnels and set humane traps. They’ll also check if your lawn has multiple moles or just one causing all the damage. A second opinion can save you tons of time and stop the problem before your lawn gets too dug up.
Dealing with moles usually takes a lot of patience. It's not a fight you'll win overnight, but with consistent effort, you'll make it somewhere they don't want to be. The more you understand what draws them in, the better your chances of keeping them out, so you can get your yard back and keep it that way.