Lawn Moles and Proper Lawn Care

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Lawn Moles and Proper Lawn Care - Read the following do it yourself/diy article to discover more about Lawn Moles and Proper Lawn Care and more about Lawn Care. - Information and article directory provided by S&S Designed Landscaping and The Landscape Design Site.
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Lawn Moles and Proper Lawn Care

Are your making mountains out of your molehills? Although lawn moles are underground creatures, the benefits they add to your garden are clearly visible and far outweigh the disadvantages. Of the six species of mole found in North America, the Eastern mole (or gray mole) is the most common. Moles are about the size of chipmunks and weigh from three to six ounces. A tiny creature, its total length is just six to eight inches. Many gardeners and groundskeepers are under the mistaken impression that lawn moles eat the roots of their plants and turf grasses. However, moles are insectivores. Their primary diet is earthworms and grubs and a single mole can eat more than 140 grubs and cutworms daily. They also feast on destructive garden pests like snails, beetles, and millipedes. In fact, at just over a quarter-pound, a mole can consume 45 to 50 pounds of worms and insects each year. The greatest harm that mole tunneling does to turf grass is by separating soil from roots. Still, the mole’s digging actually improves soil quality by turning and aerating the soil and mixing accumulated nutrients throughout the excavation. Moles don’t continually dig each time they forage for food. Once a tunnel system is established, it is infrequently extended. In fact, the only signs of mole activity you might see are those when the mole must repair its construction. When disturbed, moles may temporarily vacate the area, but generally return within a week or two. In addition, when a tunnel is abandoned, a new mole inhabitant will “recolonize” using the handiwork of its predecessor. For these reasons, even the most effective method of mole removal, trapping, is not a permanent solution to a “mole problem”. Besides which, the three types of mole traps that work with any success sound like relics from the Spanish inquisition— harpoons, scissor-jaws, and choker loops. In fact, numerous remedies have been used to try to control moles Pickle juice, red pepper, razor blades, bleach, moth balls, brambles, human hair braids and hair balls, vibrators, ultra sonic devices, and poisons offer inconsistent and generally ineffective results; many including environmentally unfriendly side effects. As in all elements of lawn care, the best solution to a lawn mole problem is applying practical gardening principles. Mole tunnels (except for the hilled entrances) are typically deep enough to be almost invisible. Over-watering your yard brings earthworms and other invertebrates close to the surface, making it necessary for the moles to “move up” in search of them. Reducing the amount or frequency of watering may help both moles and their prey stay underground where they are most beneficial to your lawn. Another solution to a lawn mole problem is to reduce the size of your lawn, converting it to gardens, paths, and hedgerows. First, moles prefer straight tunnel runs. However, more importantly, converting some lawn to gardens, paths, hedgerows and patio areas adds eye-appeal, reduces signs of damage, and in addition attract birds and butterflies to your property. This Article Was Written By: Hans Dekker
Hans is author of The Lawn Care section of www.lawnmower-guide.com Article Source: http://www.the-landscape-design-site.com/diy Please Rate this Article # of Ratings = 2 \| Rating = 4.5/5 Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Lawn Care Articles Via RSS! Additional Articles From - Home \| Lawn Care Greens Equipment: Update Golf Course Mowers and Tractors with a Toro or Kohler Small Engine Rebuild - By : Ben Anton Greens Equipment: Update Golf Course Mowers and Tractors with Briggs & Stratton - By : Ben Anton Lawn Care and Fertilizer Tip to Create a Great Lawn - By : Jeanette Joy Fisher Making a New Lawn From Seed or Sod - By : Philip Swindells Quick Lawn Care Tips For Achieving the Perfect Lawn - By : Darryl Scott Lawn Disease And What To Do About It - By : Hans Dekker Moss on Lawns - By : Doug Green Free Landscaping Ideas Free Landscaping Pictures Directory Pictures Of Backyard Landscaping Buy Landscape Fabric Backyard Landscaping Ideas Front Yard Landscaping Ideas Landscaping Plan Landscaping Plans Lawn Care