Moles ! AAARGH !!

Moles! AAARGH!!

Why are they completely tearing up my yard right now?

Here’s the deal. A mole’s absolute favorite food is grubs. Think of it like me at a Chinese buffet — forget the fried rice, push the General Tso’s aside, and do not get between me and the wontons.

Moles are the same way. When grubs are plentiful, that’s all they want. During cold weather, however, grubs overwinter deep in the soil, and moles will only dig so far. When they can’t reach their favorite meal, they go after whatever else they can find to grub on (yes, that was intentional).

What Should You Do?

Here in Zone 8, mid-March is when grubs start moving closer to the soil surface. That makes them easier to control — and easier for moles to reach. At the same time, young grubs are hatching, and they’re much easier to eliminate when they’re young (not pretty, but they’re bugs — deal with it).

The best control is a product called Grubs Away.

Science Lesson of the Day

Grubs feed on grass roots and, in high numbers, can seriously damage your lawn.

Grubs Away contains Imidacloprid, a systemic insecticide. That means:

• It is absorbed through the grass roots
• It moves throughout the plant
• When grubs feed on the grass, they ingest the chemical
• Result: the grubs die

No grubs = no buffet = no moles.

“But It’s Not Mid-March — I Need Help Now!”

For immediate control, repellents and smoke bombs can be used in active mole tunnels.

Yes, smoke bombs sound extreme. And yes — they work.

How to use them effectively:

• Mash down all visible mole tunnels one day before treatment
• The next day, identify fresh tunnels
• Place smoke bombs only in the fresh runs

Mole-Hill Mash Day can even be a family event. Fire up the Big Green Egg, invite the grandkids over, and let them help stomp the tunnels. Just be sure to deploy the smoke bombs after the kids go home 🙂

Recap

• Moles – BAD
• Grubs – BAD
• Grubs Away – GOOD