Are Moles Bad for Your Yard? Everything You Need To Know

by Derrick | Last Updated: August 4, 2021

Moles are attracted to the food sources that your yard provides them. As mentioned above, moles mostly eat grubs and other insects they can find in your garden. Their primary food source can be earthworms, ants, grubs, and mole crickets, as well as any other lawn insect.

The bigger the lawn you have, the more likely you are to have moles digging through it, as they like having large, uninterrupted spaces. Yards like that will also have more food for them to search for.

Benefits of Moles in Your Yard

It can be argued that moles actually help your yard, which is only if you don’t have an excessive amount of moles ravaging your yard. One or two moles won’t destroy your yard.

When moles dig underground, they actually work to aerate the soil, making it better for the plants in your garden. It keeps the dirt turned, which also can prevent mold and other harmful bacteria from settling there.

Moles will also eat any grubs they can find in your garden. These pests will eat the roots of your plants, so moles will help keep your garden healthy, which is especially helpful when it comes to beetles and other insects above ground as well. 

Moles love to eat Japanese beetles, which will eat your rose blossoms. 

The moles in your yard will also provide a free fertilizer already mixed into the soil beneath your plants. While it won’t necessarily be enough to fertilize your garden completely, it will add nutrients to your plants. 

Downsides to Moles Being in Your Yard

If moles are so great, why do people hate having them in their yards so much? While there are some benefits to having moles in your yard, they can also cause damage to your lawn and even to yourself.

The tunnels they leave behind will make your soil soft. You and others can trip or twist your ankle from the disturbed earth, as their tunnels can damage the roots of your grass and your plants. You’ll know this is happening because you’ll see dying plants and grass following a particular path around your yard. 

Their tunnels can also attract voles. While moles are typically loners, having a vole or two can lead to an infestation of them if left unchecked. Moles don’t eat plants, but voles do. Moles can disturb the roots of your plants, but voles will eat both the roots and the plants on the surface. 

How To Remove Moles From Your Yard

If you’re having a problem with moles in your yard and you want to remove them, there are a few ways you can do that. Below are five simple solutions to try and get rid of the moles in your yard. 

• Use a repellent. There are several repellents you can use to remove moles from your yard, with the most popular choice for moles being caster oil. Sprinkle the repellent in areas that are heavily used by the moles, which will repel them from your yard and keep them out. You will have to reapply your application of the repellent to ensure its continued effectiveness.
• Adopt a cat. Having an outside cat will stop moles from entering your yard since they are natural predators for moles and other rodents. The cat will also keep any populations of voles out of your yard. You may run into the problem of your cat bringing you the dead moles as “gifts,” but this won’t be as frequent once the moles realize your yard isn’t safe for them.
• Set traps. Moles are typically the most active in the spring. The best time to set traps for moles is just as spring is about to start or the moment you notice moles tunneling through your yard.
• Set out mole poison. Like traps and repellents, it’s best to set out mole poison in areas heavily trafficked by the moles. It’s also helpful to place it in the late days of winter or early spring days. You’ll also need to reapply any poison you set out to ensure it remains an effective method of mole removal.
• Don’t overwater your yard. Overwatering your yard will cause an increase in the number of grubs and other water-loving insects in your yard. It also makes the soil perfect for moles because it allows them to move through the dirt much more quickly. Keep your lawn relatively dry. Most of the time, your grass will be perfectly fine with just an inch of water a week.

What To Do if Moles Have Ruined Your Grass

If moles have ruined your lawn, rake over the tunnels and apply a repellent to the area and keep an eye on the sites that you raked over. If they were frequently used tunnels before you raked them, the moles might return to them after you collapse them. If that’s the case, you may need to set traps or even call an expert to take care of them.

Some people have had some success killing moles with marshmallows, something to try before purchasing expensive baits and/or traps.

Summary

Moles have good and bad qualities for your yard. It’s essential to recognize the balance they can provide while also ensuring you don’t develop a mole problem in your yard. Hopefully, this article has given you everything you need to know about whether moles are bad for your yard.

Sources

• Live Science: Facts About Moles
• DIY Network: What You Need to Know About Moles And Voles
• Hartley-Botanic: MOLES ‘CAN BENEFIT GARDENERS’
• Custom Turf Inc.: Everything You Need To Know About Moles In Your Yard
• Today’s Homeowner: HOW TO DEAL WITH MOLES IN YOUR YARD
• SFGate: How to Treat & Repair a Mole-Damaged Lawn
• The Old Farmer’s Almanac: HOW TO IDENTIFY AND GET RID OF MOLES
• Tomcat Brand: HOW TO GET RID OF MOLES IN YOUR YARD
• Call Northwest: What Attracts Moles to Your Yard?