We've got the control tips you need to stop that molehill from becoming a mountain!

Although moles can provide your Bettendorf garden with a few benefits, like soil aeration and grub and earthworm control, They can be more of a hassle than they're worth. Many gardeners would rather not have to deal with moles in their gardens, and many others still don't want to go to extremes to remove them, including the ordeal of upheaving a molehill. If this sounds like you, here are some of the best ways to get rid of moles and stop them from coming back.

Why Do Gardeners Not Like Moles?

Moles have a bit of a bad reputation for wreaking havoc in plant and veggie gardens, as well as lawns everywhere; their movements underground disturb root systems, and they also have a nasty habit of inviting a bunch of their animal friends over unannounced! While moles themselves don't eat much in the way of plant matter, their tunnels are primed for smaller rodents, like voles, to hop by and help themselves to your perfect plant collection. The molehills they create also clash with most garden aesthetics and can ruin your perfectly-manicured lawns and garden beds, making enjoying and maintaining your landscape incredibly difficult.

How Do I Get Rid of Moles in My Iowa Garden?

Moles are carnivorous and diabolical diggers that are attracted to soil rich in organic material, and love nothing more than hunting insects underground. Moles are also fast, territorial, and can dig 32 times their body weight. Still, as impressive as all of that sounds, they may be destroying your garden and can become a chronic problem, especially as they attract a wide range of other rodents through their deep tunnels that feed upon your garden's seeds, roots, bulbs, and tubers. Mole removal can involve some pretty extreme measures, but there are also a ton of natural and cruelty-free ways to tackle these pests. Here are some of our personal recommendations for the best ways of getting rid of moles:

Using Plants to Get Rid of Moles in Your Yard

Believe it or not, there are several plants that will repel moles naturally, which is great news if you're looking for a long-term solution or just not into trapping. Plants like Allium (ornamental onion), marigolds, daffodils, fritillaria, and garlic are proven natural deterrents, while more poisonous plants like caper spurges (mole plants) and castor beans are also effective at getting rid of moles and other harmful rodents. Be careful not to let household pets get close to these last two options, however, as they are highly toxic!

Other Mole Prevention Methods

One of the best ways to get rid of moles and stop them from moving into your yard is to remove their food source. Because moles dig around your yard looking for grubs and earthworms, eliminating these will mean your moles will look somewhere else for their daily insect meal quota. Moles also absolutely despise castor oil, so you may find success scaring them away by using products like Molemax around your landscape. You can also try digging a trench around your garden and filling it with a wire mesh or rocks to stop them from digging their way in. This method is quite time-consuming, but it is also one of the best long-term solutions for mole prevention. Of course, if DIY mole removal isn't your thing, you can always call a pest control expert if things are getting out of hand. Many of these expert methods are very time-consuming and tricky, and moles are very smart, so it's ok to ask for some pro help to get your garden back to normal! If you're desperate to get rid of moles in your Bettendorf, IA garden, come see us at Wallace's Garden Center today for products and advice you can count on. You know what they say: "don't make a mountain out of a molehill," so let our experts give you the advice you need before things get out of hand this spring!