Add Pretty Yard Decorations And Moles Will Flee From Your Property

Some burrowing pests do more damage to your yard than others, and it may be hard to tell which is which. Squirrels dig holes to bury nuts, gophers eat garden plants, bunnies leave small holes, and voles eat vegetables. Others aren't there to munch on the fruits of your labors, but they do create aesthetic problems by leaving their trails through the yard. Battling one likely culprit — moles — can seem like a full-time chore, but there is a method of mole control that's harmless to children and pets. Vibrations caused by moving yard decorations may make moles flee your yard.

If you see volcano-shaped mounds in your yard connected by what look like underground tunnels, you probably have moles. These five- to seven-inch-long mammals can tunnel a foot in a minute, eating ants, grubs, and other beneficial insects. They live completely underground, so you probably won't spot them, but if you see a creature with long, sharp claws on its front feet with a long pink nose and tail, it's probably a mole. They are at best a nuisance — not a pest — because of their burrowing, but they won't eat your garden plants or lawn, and their burrowing actually aerates the soil. At worst, moles eat the earthworms that keep your yard healthy.

When you visit the nursery or your local big box store, you'll see lots of variations on yard decor with pointed prongs on the bottom for you to stick into the soil. They're colorful, shiny, or reflective and are meant to add a personal touch to your yard. But if you're looking for yard decorations to discourage moles, only one thing matters, and it isn't how pretty it will look in your petunia patch. It must move, and the movement must be transferred into the ground, where the vibrations it causes will be noticeable to the critters that find the vibrations unsettling. Decor with paddles, like miniature windmills or pinwheels with multiple moving parts, works best, especially when it's oversized. If you're searching online, look for kinetic yard art.

Homeowners who don't find yard art appealing have a couple of other choices. Sonic, solar-powered mole repellers, some claiming to cover 8,000 square feet, use vibrations to keep moles out of the yard. They're discreet but not particularly attractive, and you'll probably need more than one if you have anything but the smallest yard. Moles can also be trapped or poisoned. A more humane but more labor-intensive solution is to create an underground barrier that moles can't dig through with wire mesh or to mole-proof your yard using a DIY solution made from household products. Note that evidence that vibrations will deter moles is anecdotal — there's no scientific proof that it works. If it doesn't work for you, you'll at least have some pretty yard decorations to spice up a boring garden.