“The first thing I ask customers when they are searching for a solution to a mole or vole problem is, 'Do you want to kill them or repel them?' It usually depends on how long they've been trying to repel the little monsters,” says our retail manager, Bill Darden with a maniacal grin. These rodents are a constant problem for all gardens no matter if you're beginning to experiment with a shady hosta bed or acres of vegetable farming. The root of the issue is really quite simple. Moles are led to tunnel through your yard and accompanying beds as they are attracted to Japanese Beetle grubs. “By protecting your yard against these larvae you kill two birds with one stone,” admits one of our nurserymen, John Earnest. We strongly recommend an organic alternative to pest control in Milky Spore. Available as a small granular substance, it can either be applied by hand or put in a lawn spreader. The bacterium contained in Milky Spore stays in the soil until it is consumed by passing grubs that digest it. It then consumes the grub and is redistributed into the soil. The more grubs you have, the more quickly it spreads. It is safe for children and pets, and won't harm the environment. One to three applications are needed over a period of one to two years, depending on which form of Milky Spore you choose. After the first two years, you don't need to worry about it for ten to fifteen years.
Voles follow behind by making use of the mole tunnels; however, they are just as destructive if not moreso as they burrow into the surface dirt surrounding a hosta or rose bush to eat the tender roots. Our number one selling product to deter these varmints is Volebloc, also known as Permatill. This is a permanent solution, as it never breaks down. When planting, dig your hole as you normally would, line the entire hole with Volebloc or Permatill, place your plant in the hole, backfill, place more Permatill over the top of the rootball, and finish covering with soil and mulch. Permatill is extremely sharp so voles won't tunnel through it. It is a safe and organic method to controlling the critters; although this product requires use for each and every plant in need of protection.
For those of us who are less forgiving or tolerant of these pests there are more volatile products on the market. Ramik is a popular rodent poison commonly used to kill mice; however, by sprinkling a few handfuls in known mole and vole burrows your living problems will quickly turn into instant fertilizer. Many of our customers have been sharing techniques with us such as soaking Ramik pellets in apple juice and leaving a dish near the entrance holes or using mouse traps with peanut butter under a flower pot. Be sure to check under your pot at least every morning; a local farmer and Strange's customer boasts catching over sixty voles using the trap, peanut butter, and pot system. That's a lot of voles! But use diligent caution when working with poison, as it is obviously extremely lethal to pets.
One last solution we have researched here at Strange's is the popular Mole Plant, also known as Gopher Spurge. “These poisonous annuals were selling like crazy over the spring,” says our perennial supervisor, Megan Lacey. “Unfortunately we are unable to order any more until they become available through our nursery provider, but it may be possible to order a selection online.” Per Gilbertie's Herb Guide, Mole Plant has stems that contain a sap which is poisonous and caustic. Growing as a single stem, it bears yellow flowers in clusters and when spaced forty feet apart as a border plant, it is extremely effective in deterring moles. It is also used in folk medicine as an antiseptic and purgative. Follow this link to the web site of Sand Mountain Herbs to order seed packs.
We also strongly recommend these products and carry them at our 12111 West Broad Street location:
Bonide's Mole Max
St. Gabriel Laboratory's Milky Spore
Enviro Protection's Mole Scram
Shake-Away's Rodent Repellent Granules
Written by Ginny Gregory.
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