Kitchen Garden Forum

My first three raised beds didn't have any wire in the bottom, anyone who has created raised beds knows what hard work it is particularly when starting with stony soil.

Those beds now have lovely soil with a hint of sand and lots of organic material.

Right now in two of those beds moles are swimming back and forth and whilst I would love you to tell me moles do little damage the soil is so lovely that any planting is moved as in an earthquake.

It's heart-breaking.

The only thing I can do is to empty each bed and lay ex-met down then put the soil back but I really-really don't have the back for this work.

A few years ago I bought a number of those electronic mole deterrents, this has been a perfect way to prove these devices are a nonsense. Moles are swimming around them.

I can't even set traps in the soil, the soil is so loose that the mole tunnels fall-in behind the mole.

Ricard
As moles love earthworms what about putting a short length of drainpipe horizontally into the soil. Stock it with a couple of dozen worms one evening and then set mole traps at the open ends. Just an idea!

My first reaction to anybody who has moles, having a very stoney garden, is to think "oh how lucky, ...all that lovely soil".
But I realise that,s it,a not like that at all if you are growing plants which are totally damaged by their excavations so you have my sympathy. I know there have been various discussions on this forum in the past about how to get rid of them but I don,t think anybody ever found a so,union.

Playing loud pop music is something that would drive me away from anywhere but unfortunately I don't think it would work for moles. Somebody I knew who suffered from them tried sprinkling the ground nearby regularly with Jeyes Fluid as deterrent because of the smell but I don,t know whether it worked or not.

Hi Primrose.

Yes, moles don't like Jeyes fluid and that solution works to some extent if you have a hole to pour it down.

Another solution that works is regular flooding, it drives the mole deeper or elsewhere though my planting will surely suffer in sodden ground.

Kill all the worms is another solution, the mole is only there for worms.

All sorts of deterrents are available though manufacturers and retailers seem unconcerned that their products don't work.

Hi Richard,

I don't think killing all the worms is an ideal solution we need worms more than you think

Regards

Arnie

Thanks Arnie.

That should have read, "Kill all the worms or poison the worms" was a solution recommended by an internet-expert.

I wouldn't dream of it Arnie.

Richard, employ a professional mole catcher! It's worth it.