Has the sound of small creatures digging through your garden kept you up at night? These are likely moles (or gophers), and there is a way to keep them away from your beloved plants. There are six plants that repel moles for real and take your mole problem off your shoulders.
In the garden, mole activity will create havoc. This is not because they eat worms or grubs but because their little mole tunnels are sometimes used by other burrowing rodents.
Moles, for the most part, are absolutely harmless to your plants. But mole tunnels will become unsightly when there are plenty of them.
Although many home remedies are available to remove moles from the garden, these are only temporary solutions.
In fact, there is no certain way to get rid of mole animals for good without taking aggressive measures.
The effects of their actions surface overnight when the lawn erupts in a range of brown molehills. Molehills are not as noticeable in beds and boundaries, but moles can be just as destructive here, destroying the soil and roots of your precious plants.
Harming these little animals might be inconceivable, so how can you discourage moles and make them go somewhere else?
Simple.
We repel them with scents that they despise.
Let’s dig in.
6 Plants that Repel Moles
The use of a natural mole repellent to prevent moles could be your solution to clear all the moles in your garden within the next month. Not only is this alternative safer for the environment (as well as for pets and children), it is also healthier for moles.
Instead of killing them, a natural repellent will simply hold them at bay.
Natural mole repellents can be as easy as planting vegetative barriers in the zone where we don’t want garden pests (for most of us, a little everywhere). Mole repellent plants like this include Daffodils, Marigolds, Pink Agapanthus, Alliums, Fritillarias, Castor beans, and Mole plants.
While mole plant and castor bean plant (which contains castor oil, another good mole deterrent) can be used to repel moles, some mole-repellent plants here are considered poisonous and should be avoided around pets and children.
1. Daffodils
Daffodils are great for repelling moles because moles hate their scent. While not all of the Narcissus genus is a mole deterrent, some daffodil varieties do emit liquids that serve as an effective natural pest control against burrowing animals like ticks, fleas, and other parasites (including moles).
By placing daffodils around your yard, you can help create an environment that keeps the little critters away.
Daffodils are hardy and can be planted in any sunlit spot. Plant them according to package instructions, whether you use fresh or potted daffodil bulbs that have been stored from the previous season. Bulbs should be buried a few inches deep – just deep enough so they won’t easily dry out or be disturbed by animals.
Once planted, keep the area around them free from weeds and give your daffodils a thorough watering so that they can establish root systems in their new home.
Daffodil bulbs also store food for years to come without needing to repurchase each year, as most annuals do. However, do check the soil’s moisture level in your area to help prepare them for any drastic seasonal changes.
2. Marigolds
Marigolds are a popular garden flower choice, and they can help deter the presence of moles in your yard. Marigold flowers contain pungent oils that give off strong odors and act as natural pest repellents similar to daffodils but without annual planting or replanting work!
They thrive best when planted in direct sunlight, with well-draining soil around them so their roots aren’t ever left sitting too long underwater – create little hills on either side if needed for extra drainage.
Once planted, Marigolds are surprisingly resistant to drought as long as their roots remain intact. It’s also important to keep weeds away from them so that they won’t be choked out or invaded by pests seeking a meal.
Once in bloom, the vibrant flowers will not only look beautiful but emit odor moles that other pest critters don’t enjoy. With consistent care, Marigolds can last for many years, and you should have no trouble keeping moles away from your lovely garden!
3. Pink Agapanthus
Pink Agapanthus is a great plant to use for natural pest control, as its heavy scent deters moles. It has also been used in traditional medicine to cure human sinus infections and other ailments! When planted around the perimeter of your yard or garden, it can create an effective barrier against these unwanted pests.
If you’re looking to try out this mole-repellent beauty flower, planting it is quite easy! As with most flowering plants, prepare a partially sunny and well-drained area first.
Make sure to loosen the soil by adding good quality compost or manure for healthier growth of your flowers. Then plant one pink Agapanthus rhizome 2—4 inches deep in the ground during springtime and moisten the soil. Once planted, it should bloom in a matter of weeks!
To keep your Agapanthus healthy and vibrant throughout spring till autumn, water them once or twice per week (depending on how dry or humid summers are). And while mulching is optional for indoor pots, covering up ground-planted rhizomes helps to lock moisture within the soil afterward and prevent weeds from growing around their roots.
4. Alliums
Alliums are onion-like mole repellent plants and have a strong smell that moles loathe. They won’t just keep away the pests, but they can also add beauty to your garden or yard with their colorful blooms in shades of purple, pink, or yellow. Even more attractive is their ability not only to make spaces look livelier all year round but also to keep harmful insects away from your garden.
Alliums can be grown either by planting bulbs or seeds, depending on the variety you choose. To plant Allium bulbs, a basic guideline is that they should be planted 2-3 times as deep as their height and 3 inches apart for optimal spacing during growth cycles throughout winter months in most climates.
In hotter climate zones these hardy plants may tolerate up to 6 inches of well-drained soil between each bulb.
For those planting Alliums from seed, it’s best to start the seeds indoors in hopes of getting an earlier and more successful harvest due to their slow germination rate when planted outdoors during colder temperatures.
5. Fritillaries
Fritillaries are another great option for repelling moles due to the strong pungent scent they emit. These spring-flowering bulbs can help keep unwanted visitors away, as their flowers produce a powerful smell that animals detest.
Fritillaries also come in a variety of colors, providing you with both an aesthetic and practical way to protect your garden from moles or other small critters.
Fritillaries should be planted from fall through early spring when the soil is cool yet moist for better establishment throughout the following Spring season. Planting two inches apart will prevent overcrowdedness and will also provide good air circulation. Discard any diseased or moldy bulbs before planting, as this could cause an infection to spread throughout the rest of your garden.
Fritillaries should be deeply dug into soil with extra care taken not to pierce or break their skins lest they suffer rot under warm spring temperatures. Stake taller-growing varieties before covering them in compost for better stability during the blooming season later on in Springtime, among other harsh weather conditions like heavy windstorms that would topple over delicate fritillary stems.
6. Mole Plants
Mole plants are another great choice for repelling moles in your garden. Their strong, aromatic scent is unpleasant to the animals and gives them cause to think twice about living on or near it.
Additionally, mole plants trap any earthworms that come their way since they have sticky hairs. This helps further deter moles since they have to work twice as hard for food if you plant this around your yard and garden.
Mole plants are easy to grow but must be planted in the right kind of place with ample sunlight and airflow that ants usually avoid while still providing them enough moisture so their new roots can establish quickly – moist soil is alright when it comes to mole plants, especially during the cooler months of spring.
To plant it, dig a mole hole slightly deeper than what is stated on the package and fill it with soil until nearly full– if you’re planting your own bulb or rhizome, then make sure that one side of the bulb is exposed while planting as it helps them grow quicker.
FAQ
How many moles are there?
Seeing a mass of molehills does not mean that you have an outbreak of these little animals. Moles do not get along with each other and are usually solitary species, excluding the mating season.
There are never more than three or five moles on an acre of land, but it’s uncommon for there to be more than one in most gardens.
The mole will create a big active tunnel – about five meters per hour. The caves on the surface are not far below the surface. Therefore, the soil where they are involved can feel soft and spongy.
The primary tunnels are more than a meter down.
Moles are not a hibernating species. They are generally closer to the surface in the winter and higher in the summer.
They love damp soil where earthworms are present, which is why they unexpectedly emerge when the soil is cold and moist in late autumn.
During the summer months, areas of the garden, which are constantly watered, are more vulnerable to mole activity.
What to do with the molehills?
While molehills are an annoyance, they are a valuable source of fine-grained soil.
Scoop them up and use them to level depressions in the grass, overhanging beds, and margins, or in raised beds in the vegetable garden.
Mix with sharp sand and use it as a lawn dressing or grass seed to patch the grass in the spring.
What is another non-lethal alternative to deter moles?
Other than these mole repellent plants and castor oils, there is another fine, non-lethal alternative – sound. Ground moles do not like earth vibrations or noise.
Both represent possible threats and predators. The more frequent and active the motion, the better the effects would be to drive it away. If you prefer a low-tech option, pinwheels mounted around and in beds vibrate the soil and generate motion and noise.
They can even be held away by a tiny radio switched on in the backyard. (Although if you’re close to neighbors, it could irritate them, too).
Solar-powered sonic pest security operates by emitting waves through the ground. But the use of solar-powered sonic repulsing systems is a more powerful high-tech approach.
These lightweight, solar-powered units can be mounted throughout the landscape. They emit frequencies and waves across the earth, which serve to repel both moles and voles.
These are the exact ultrasound devices I used that really made a huge difference. If you read nothing but this in the article, this is the most important. Ultrasonic repellent is better than any plant.
The best thing – installation is as simple as setting it on the surface!
Finally, mole traps are a common tool used to deter moles. Although, they do need to be placed effectively.
Final Thoughts
There is no one magical plant that does all the work. However, by mixing two or three plants (and/or castor oil and sounds) that repel the moles mentioned above, you can create a mole-free area.
It’s just a matter of mixing the right things to repel the moles. You should also practice good lawn care to help to ward off garden moles. If none of this works, I advice you to hire a mole control service to stop all mole activity in your garden.
If you liked this article, you might like an article on how to exterminate Mealybugs (common garden bugs).
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