You must be troubled a lot by ground moles as a gardener. You work so hard and spend a lot of time making it look great. But moles draining all your hard work and ruining your plants and lawn could be such horrible things.
You might have tried so many ways to get rid of ground moles, but with little or no success. So today we will talk about vinegar, not to mention the benefits that are well known and easily available in almost every household.
Using vinegar is not only cost-effective but also an eco-friendly and natural method to rid your lawn of ground moles. So today in this article we will know how to get rid of ground moles with vinegar.
What Are Ground Moles?
Ground moles are small burrowing mammals that feed on insects found in the soil.
It is known to cause damage to lawns and gardens by digging underground tunnels and mounds.
Although many methods are used to get rid of moles, like traps or repellents, vinegar can be used as a natural and environmentally friendly alternative.
What Attracts Moles to the Yard?
Moles are attracted to the yard mainly because of food.
Moles are insectivorous animals that primarily depend on insects as a food source found in soil like earthworms, beetles, or grubs.
Moles are also attracted to the yard in search of safe shelter from predators. It is easier for moles to make a safe shelter in moist soil and yards that have long shrubs, thick vegetation, and tall grasses.
To discourage moles from taking up residence in your yard, keep vegetation trimmed and remove any unnecessary brush piles.
How to Identify Moles in the Yard?
Identifying moles in the yard could be a bit challenging, as they live underground and do the damage from below. Here are some tips for identifying ground moles:
Ground moles create tunnels and mounds of soil as they burrow through the ground. Look for raised soil in your lawn or garden as a sign of mole activity.
Another way is the presence of dead roots and plants in your garden. As moles feed on insects and move along the roots, they cause damage to the plants or grass above the soil.
Does Vinegar Kill Moles?
There is no scientific evidence that vinegar kills ground moles.
Vinegar can kill insects by burning their skin due to its acidic nature, but it cannot penetrate the thick protective layer of mammals like moles.
The only way it can kill moles is if it drinks enough vinegar. The acetic acid in vinegar can damage the moles’ digestive system, making it difficult for them to survive.
How Does Vinegar Get Rid of Ground Moles?
Vinegar is a versatile household item that can be used for various purposes.
It can help get rid of ground moles and other pesky animals. It can also help eliminate these pests from gardens and lawns.
Vinegar has a strong odor and an acidic nature that is unpleasant for moles, causing them to avoid areas where it has been applied.
The strong smell in vinegar comes from tartaric acid, and the acidic properties come from acetic acid.
The acetic acid causes a burning sensation that can burn the skins of insects in the yard, whereas the pungent smell that comes from the tartaric acid creates an unpleasant smell that causes moles and other rodents to run away from the garden.
To maximize its effectiveness, use vinegar that has a higher concentration of acid, like apple cider vinegar.
White vinegar has slightly less acid content, which might not be as effective in repelling moles out of your yard.
Reasons Why Vinegar is Effective in Repelling Moles
There are different methods and products available to get rid of moles. But the question that might come to your mind is: why use vinegar to get rid of moles?
So before diving into the topic of how to use vinegar to get rid of moles, let us see the reasons why we should choose vinegar to get rid of moles.
1. Safest Way
Vinegar is non-toxic and extremely safe to use, especially around children and pets. Even if it is ingested accidentally in a small amount, it will not cause harm.
Apart from being a natural disinfectant, it also acts as a cleansing agent. You can also use it to clean pet stains and remove odors from carpets and upholstery.
2. Vinegar is cost-effective
It is a natural product that is readily available and used in various household tasks. It is relatively cheaper, making it a cost-effective option to get rid of moles.
3. Eco-friendly
One of the major reasons you may consider using vinegar to get rid of moles is its property of being environmentally friendly.
It is a natural method to use without polluting the environment or causing harm to plants or soils.
Unlike other methods like poison or other traps, it will not harm moles or other predators.
4. Easy availability
Vinegar is easily available in many varieties at any grocery store. It is a part of every household item due to its multipurpose property.
5. Easy to Use
Using apple cider vinegar is very easy to use to get rid of moles. You just need to make a mixture of vinegar and water and spray it on the area affected by moles using a spray bottle.
6. Effective way
Vinegar’s acidic behavior and pungent smell make it effective at deterring moles from your garden and keeping other insects at bay.
7. The Humane Way
If you are looking for a humane way to remove moles without killing them, then this is a great method to show a compassionate way to eliminate ground moles.
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How to Get Rid of Ground Moles with Vinegar
1. Identifying ground moles
The very first thing you should do is look for signs of ground moles. You can either look for raised tunnels or soil mounds as a sign of a mole infestation.
You can also locate the brown patches of dying soil as a sign of the presence of a mole in the garden.
2. Preparing the Mixture
Make a mixture by mixing one part vinegar with three parts water in a spray bottle.
3. Apply the mixture
Spray this mixture on as many active areas of ground moles as possible and apply it to the affected area.
4. Repeat the process
Repeat this process for a few more days. Ground moles will be eliminated completely in a few days with this process.
5. Catch the Mole
Finally, when moles emerge from the molehills, use a shovel to catch them by placing the shovel on top of the rodent and applying pressure to keep it from escaping.
Capture the mole, place it in a plastic bag, and seal it.
How to Get Rid of Ground Moles Naturally
There are some natural ways to get rid of ground moles. Here are five such methods you can try:
1. Modifying the Lawn
Ground moles prefer moist, loose soil with dense vegetative growth.
By modifying your lawn or garden to make the soil less attractive to them and encourage dense leafage, you may discourage them from setting up residence.
For example, reducing soil moisture, removing dense foliage, keeping your lawn short, or removing their food sources can make the area less attractive to moles.
2. Eliminating the Food Source
Moles rely on small insects and earthworms for food to survive. Identifying and eliminating these food sources can ultimately reduce the number of moles in the yard.
Nematodes and insecticides can be used to kill the pests in the garden.
3. Plant bulb barriers
Plants like fritillarias, daffodils, and alliums can act as barriers against moles. The bulbs of these plants have natural toxins that repel moles from the ground.
Planting these plants around the ground and along the edges of your garden will keep moles away.
4. Keeping the lawn tidy
A tidy lawn can eliminate the habitat of moles. Keep your lawn well maintained and free from debris like fallen leaves, wooden stacks, regular mowing of your lawn, and other habitats for pests.
Keep your lawn less watered to discourage pests from making it their home.
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5. Digging out a trench
Although this method can be time-consuming, it can be effective in the long run to keep the moles from burrowing their way into the yard.
To get rid of ground moles, you must dig a trench that is two inches deep and six inches wide.
Then fill the trench with rock or line it with wire to stop moles from invading the lawn area.
6. Creating an artificial draught
Moles like moist, loose soil with plenty of earthworms and insects to eat. They find it easy to burrow and tunnel through these soil conditions.
You can create an artificial draught by reducing watering and increasing soil compaction.
7. Vibrations
Moles are sensitive to noise, which makes rodents under the ground irritating. This makes them stop their activity of digging around and move to a quieter place.
While slight vibrations may not cause much impact and drive them away, making constant vibrations can be very effective.
You can use a lawn roller or a vibrating tool to create a vibration below the ground that can disrupt their activity and drive them away to a quieter area.
You can also use a high-frequency vibration method like an electronic sonic repellent or mole vibratory repeller, which creates sound waves and vibration to drive them away.
Smells to Get Rid of Moles
There are some smells that moles do not like. This can be helpful in driving them out of your garden.
However, it may be noted that these smells alone cannot be effective in getting rid of moles, but using this method in combination with other techniques like mole traps, modifying your landscape, and mole repellent can be more effective.
1. Castor oil
Castor oil can be used as a natural mole repellant. Combine one part castor oil and two parts liquid dish soap in a large bucket.
Spray the mixture on the ground and into the mole hole. The smell of castor oil will drive away moles.
2. Garlic
Garlic is another natural mole repellent. Crush the garlic cloves and place them in the mole holes, or sprinkle the garlic oil around the lawn. The smell of garlic will drive away moles.
4. Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus oil or leaves have a strong smell, which moles avoid when sprayed in their areas. You can mix eucalyptus oil with water and sprinkle it on the ground or in an area affected by moles.
5. Fritillarias
Fritillarias are flower bulbs that have a strong scent. Planting these flowers around the perimeter of your property can help keep moles at bay.
6. Mint
Mint is another strong-smelling mole repellent. Mint can be used in several ways to get rid of moles in your garden.
First, you can plant mint around the perimeter of your garden.
Secondly, you can use it by crushing the mint leaves and placing them in the mole holes or tunnels, and it will keep moles away.
Lastly, using mint oil mixed with water and spraying it in the areas can deter moles from your garden.
7. Allium
Allium species such as onion and chive are other things that have strong smells and moles don’t like. You can plant alliums around the perimeter of your garden to deter moles from your garden.
Conclusion
We have discussed how to get rid of ground moles with vinegar, but this method is not effective enough to keep the moles away in the long run.
Vinegar has a strong smell due to the presence of tartaric acid, which keeps moles away. It should be used in conjunction with other methods for the best results.
Flooding tunnels, installing physical barriers, using traps, eliminating their food source, keeping your lawn tidy, and modifying your landscaping are other effective ways to get rid of moles.
It is important to consider humane methods of deterring moles, as they play an important role in the ecosystem.
By following these steps, you can protect your yard from mole damage while also respecting the environment.
FAQ
What is the fastest way to get rid of ground moles?
A mole trap is considered to be the fastest and best way to get rid of moles from the yard. There are various mole traps available on the market, and you will get instructions on how to use them.
You can follow the instructions and place them in the active mole area.
You need to have a regular check to see if the moles get trapped, and then you need to dispose of them properly. It is also advisable to change the positions of mole traps from time to time.
How do you get rid of moles permanently?
You can use several methods to get rid of moles permanently, like trapping, using some effective repellents, and planting barriers.
When choosing one, trapping is the easiest and fast way to get rid of moles permanently.
How long does it take for vinegar to kill mole?
Utilizing vinegar along with other methods, as already discussed, can help get rid of moles. It may take from a few days to a few weeks to get rid of moles from your garden.
What chemical kills moles?
A gel containing Warfarin, 3-(alpha-Acetonylbenzyl)-4-hydroxycoumarin and a worm-shaped bait containing Bromethalin are both accessible for public use.
What time of the day are moles most active?
Moles are most active in the early morning or late afternoon or evening. Moles are nocturnal animals that sleep during the day and stay active at night to avoid the sunlight.
How do I get rid of moles humanely?
You can use a few methods to get rid of moles humanely.
- Live Trap: You can use live traps to catch moles without killing or harming them. You can release them to some other places far from your property.
- Using Repellents: There are some repellents that you can use and that are available on the market to get rid of moles humanely, like castor oil, vibration methods, mole-repellent plants, etc.
- Habitat modification: Habitat modification means eliminating mole shelter, making it less favorable, and moving out of place. This includes reducing soil moisture, removing dense vegetation, and eliminating their food source.
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