Lawn Moles and proper Lawn Care
|
Article by: Linda Paquette Are your making mountains out of your molehills? Although lawn , How to Tell If You've Got a Rodent Problem moles are underground creatures, the benefits they add to your garden , Kick Start Your Landscape With Winter ing Tips are clearly visible and far outweigh the disadvantages. Of the six species of mole found in North America, the Eastern mole (or gray mole) is the most common. Moles are about the size of chipmunks and weigh from three to six ounces. A tiny creature, its total length is just six to eight inches. Many gardeners and groundskeepers are under the mistaken impression that lawn , Hills and holes: Not part of your landscaping design? moles eat the roots , Household Helpful Tips of their plants , How to Tell If You've Got a Rodent Problem and turf grasses. , Water Conservation in the Yard However, moles are insectivores. Their primary diet is earthworms and grubs and a single mole can eat more than 140 grubs and cutworms daily. They also feast on destructive garden , History Of The Filbert (Hazelnut) pests like snails, beetles, and millipedes. In fact, at just over a quarter-pound, a mole can consume 45 to 50 pounds of worms and insects each year. The greatest harm that mole tunneling does to turf grass , Preformed Watercourse and Waterfall Ideas is by separating soil , How to Buy Used or Surplus Circuit Breakers from roots. , Decorating a Bedroom using Color Psycology Still, the mole's digging actually improves soil , Mini Roses Are Going To Change The Look Of Your Home quality by turning and aerating the soil , Top Five Reasons To Fail At Growing Gourds and mixing accumulated nutrients throughout the excavation. Moles don't continually dig each time they forage for food. , Preformed Watercourse and Waterfall Ideas Once a tunnel system is established, it is infrequently extended. In fact, the only signs of mole activity you might see are those when the mole must repair , Plant Now for Colorful Spring Blooms its construction. When disturbed, moles may temporarily vacate the area, but generally return within a week or two. In addition, when a tunnel is abandoned, a new mole inhabitant will "recolonize" using the handiwork of its predecessor. For these reasons, even the most effective method of mole removal, trapping, is not a permanent solution to a "mole problem". Besides which, the three types of mole traps that work with any success sound like relics from the Spanish inquisition— harpoons, scissor-jaws, and choker loops. In fact, numerous remedies have been used to try to control moles Pickle juice, red pepper, , Mini Roses Are Going To Change The Look Of Your Home razor blades, bleach, moth balls, brambles, human hair braids and hair balls, vibrators, ultra sonic devices, and poisons offer inconsistent and generally ineffective results; many including environmentally , Water Conservation in the Yard unfriendly side effects. As in all elements of lawn , Gardening the organic way care, the best solution to a lawn , Benefits Of Gardening For Kids mole problem is applying practical gardening , the organic way principles. Mole tunnels (except for the hilled entrances) are typically deep enough to be almost invisible. Over-watering your yard , The American Arborvitae Grows well in Quakertown Pa. brings earthworms and other invertebrates close to the surface, making it necessary for the moles to "move up" in search of them. Reducing the amount or frequency of watering may help both moles and their prey stay underground where they are most beneficial to your lawn. , Planting Summer Flower Bulbs Another solution to a lawn , Driveway Cracking? How To Concrete Resurface Quickly and Easily mole problem is to reduce the size of your lawn, , Mexican pine furniture care and maintenance tips converting it to gardens, , Plan before buying rose bushes paths, , Essential Electrician Services and hedgerows. First, moles prefer straight tunnel runs. However, more importantly, converting some lawn , Plant Now for Colorful Spring Blooms to gardens, , Decorating a Bedroom using Color Psycology paths, , Plan before buying rose bushes hedgerows and patio , Incentive can help address common problems areas adds eye-appeal, reduces signs of damage, and in addition attract birds , Preformed Watercourse and Waterfall Ideas and butterflies to your property. , Winter Gardening About the Author Linda is author of The Lawn Care section of Lanwmowers-Guide.com |
  
|
mygarden.net.au Gardening | Landscaping | Climate Change | Home Improvement | How To DIY | Home Garden | Interior Design | Home Security | Home Finance | Forum | DIY | Add Your Link |