To say I’m cross is a bit of a understatement. I should have seen it coming. After all when I planted, I used my homemade compost heaving with worms. I marvelled at TF clearing up the empty chicken run after a tunneller had kicked more earth into it than I had imagined. I was inspired by the cracked open hazel nut to share my harvest. Finally I extended my planting program to supply my family’s increasing needs. I feel like I’ve been writing a story, albeit it not a best seller, and now all the story lines are pulling together.
I have planted 30 sweetcorn, 10 runner beans, four courgette plants and several rows of broad beans, using the homemade compost. Each and every plant has been undermined by the mole. I don’t mind sharing, but I don’t want to lose every plant I have planted. No harvest.
I even saw the earth moving as it worked its way around the sweetcorn bed, on Saturday.
Even if the mole does leave town my vegetable patch, then the ground is riddled in tunnels, if I repack around the plants, the next time I water, I’ll just be washing the new soil down the tunnels. I will need to follow all the tunnels and squash them. I’m pretty sure that dangling their roots in empty tunnels, or disturbing their roots, is not doing my plants much good. I need to act quick.
I’ve already been passed the number for the village “no mole, no fee” mole man.That sounds like the last resort, so if anyone has experience of deterring moles, please I’d be really grateful. I really would. What worked and what didn’t?
Ooooh…I would be infuriated. In our neighbourhood we have cats that come and dig up all my seedlings, and cutworms…there is nothing as satisfying as squishing a fat little cutworm, but the cats…well, what’s a girl to do?
I’ve never had to deal with moles…I pray to god I never do!!!
Good luck!
We have a few neighbourhood cats, but I have to say, I’m quite fond of them. Probably helps that I feed them when the neighbours are away. They also catch mice, rats, rabbits and more, so I don’t have to worry about them. I tend to protect the seedlings until they are big enough to cover the bare earth.
As for the moles… cute…but they are devastating my plants!
This may sound crazy but my father has always told me to put those pinwhees, you know, the kind you can get at the dollar store, all around the garden. Somthing about their vibrations makes to moles stay away. Also, plant onions around the perimeter of the garden.
Ow, I’ve got onions and I’ve been thinking I’m too late to plant them, but I might as well put them in. I love colourful wind operated decorations around the garden and now I have a good practical excuse. Thank you for the advice. I looked at traps today, and just couldn’t bring myself to buy them. I would much prefer to deter.
We call our house ‘Mole End’ because of our love for Wind and the Willows. What we didn’t know how prophetic this name would be. But our three kitties dispatch them on a daily basis and leave their headless gifts at the back door.
Why do they take the heads off?!! One of our cats used to bring headless rabbits through the cat flap. Its hard to show appreciation, when you just want to say “Yuk”. Tempted to ask you to send over your kitties, but I am, believe it or not, quite fond of moles.
Great book. Not so keen on the film adaptations.
Wow! I’ve never encountered them and was wondering what trouble they would cause. now I see. what a bother!
hope the suggestions work. nothing like not getting to appreciate the fruits of your hard work.
thanks for visiting my blog
Moles are cute and interesting little creatures, but they can cause such havoc!