You look out onto your gorgeous lawn on a beautiful summer day. It’s lush, green, and well-watered. Then you see it. You wonder how an ungainly mound of soil pokes out from underneath your lush, green carpet. What’s going on? Probably yard mole damage. Our lawn mole removal expert discusses the two main signs of yard mole damage and what you can do to repair it.
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Mounds
Mounds represent the more recognizable sign of lawn mole damage. Yard moles create mounds when they burrow deep or tunnel under solid objects, like tree roots or sidewalks. This tunneling action pushes extra soil to the surface. Moles can tunnel up to 100 feet per day and make six or more molehills!
Large mole mounds may reach 6 to 8 inches in diameter and be as high as 6 inches tall. You’ll notice conical mounds because they are the color of brown soil rather than green grass. It’s hard to miss this sign you need yard mole removal.
Rarely will you see a mole coming out of a mound it creates. Moles are too busy trying to find their favorite food, either earthworms or grubs. If you see one mole mound or molehill, you’ll start to see a few more throughout the warmer months if you don’t implement lawn mole removal quickly.
Burrows
Burrows happen when lawn moles search for food near the surface of your yard. Yard mole removal is vital for protecting your garden because moles gravitate towards your lush garden as a food source. This is especially true if you use earthworms to aerate the soil to get more oxygen to the roots. Moles love to munch on earthworms, not your plants. However, they damage plants because they dig up earthworms near the roots of your fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
Yard moles dig two different types of burrows: feeder burrows and travel burrows. Feeder burrows may look jagged and don’t follow a certain direction because these creatures are searching for food. Travel burrows tend to appear straight and long because lawn moles use these to get to and from their underground homes.
Burrows differ from mounds in that they look like long, narrow tunnels just under the grass. They look like raised veins, much like veins underneath your skin. Burrows are the second sign you need lawn mole removal. Moles can burrow at a rate of 10 feet per hour, so they’re quite the digging menace for your yard!
Repairing Mounds and Burrows
Repairing damage caused by yard moles takes two different forms. You’ll need lawn mole removal first, otherwise your damage may come back.
Fix molehills by removing excess dirt with a shovel. Fill the sunken area with a 50/50 mixture of sand and topsoil. The sand will help prevent earthworms and grubs from taking hold. Rake the exposed area and compact the soil while topping off with peat moss to encourage grass to grow. Overseed and water the bald spot until you have a lush area again.
Burrow damage is easier to fix. Flatten all the raised veins, either with your foot, a shovel, or even a compactor. Scratch any exposed dirt with a rake to loosen it and overseed as needed. Water the seed regularly to make sure it grows back.
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Lawn Mole Removal by Animal Remover
Animal Remover can take care of lawn mole removal quickly and efficiently. Do you see signs of damage in your yard or on your lawn? Contact Animal Remover or call (513) 324-9453 for more details on yard mole removal!