controlling ground moles

[goaliedad]

Any ideas on how to control common ground moles? Our school's baseball field has an area that is torn up. On guy is claiming lime is the answer- I've never heard of lime helping with moles. I know someone out there has the answer. Thanks in advance.

 

[Nasty135]

GoalieDAD, My local LESCO fertilizer company uses and recommends MERIT for insect control and I need to use it this year because the moles are taking over... /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Merit granular 0-0-7 insect control 50lb bag @ $60 covers 15K sq ft.... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif a little pricey but they swear by it while I swear at it.... At that price it should be self broadcasting...

Also milky spore is a good product and has to be cheaper? than merit... I'm not sure on this one but my wife had used it in the past for SPOT treating only...

 

[Highbeam]

I was told that the moles eat the bugs, worms, grubs and such. I was then told that to eliminate the moles, you eliminate their food and they will move on to greener pastures.

I then went out there with diazinon, a strong killer of the abover mentioned bugs, and the moles moved to my neighbor's yard who then diazinoned his yard and the moles moved down the road. It was almost a joke to see the hills pop up. In all likelihood, the moles didn't like the diazinon either. The xhemical also took care of cranefly larvae and other undesireable pests.

It works well. But then there is an occasional turkey that you have to kill and then you need to get creative with traps and such. Never heard about lime helping.

 

[ToadHill]

Highbeem was right on. The moles are after gurbs, the white inch long larve that can be found right under the grass. They are the larve of Jap Beetles and June bugs. Merit or Diazinon will kill the larve and the moles will move on. You may have to check on the availability of both these products. in some areas of the country Merit is a resttricted use pesticide and can only be applied and sold to a licensed applicator.
If my memory serves me correctly diazinon in no longer available, you can use up existing supplies but it is no longer on the market.
Some guy on Long Island used a product he mixed up with diazinon that looked like food for the geese and spread it on a golf course killing thousands of geese. The EPA banned it's sale. They should have gone after the idiot who misused the product, but they used it as an excuse ban the product.

 

[EastTexFrank]

Now believe this one if you will but my M-I-L swears by "Juicy Fruity" chewing gum. When she told me that the first time she had me rolling around the yard. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif She used to dig down to the tunnel, chew a stick of gum and place it in the tunnel. It seems that moles and gophers love the stuff but it binds up their digestive system.

Personally, I think diazanon is a better bet. I'd hate to have to explain to the neighbours what I was doing out in the yard with a shovel and a pack of "Juicy Fruity" gum. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[scott_vt]

Goaliedad,
Yep, Im on the same wagon as everyone else! Eliminate the grubs and you should be in good shape. We use Grubex around here, it seems to work well /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

scotty

 

[Nasty135]

Frank, That sure would be worth the price of admission /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Give the kids a large pack and a small spade and make a game of it ... Would keep them busy for an afternoon and if it worked "SWEET" /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

JUICY FRUIT smells just like the japanese beetle grub, sushi for moles, just kidding I never smelled one /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Other than the moles spear traps or a corgy dog or maybe jack russell terrier ,rat terrier , Don't some breeds of dogs hunt instinctively on this level?

 

[Highbeam]

Yes, diazinon is no longer in production so I stocked up on it since it is also great for ants, spiders, caterpillars on my fruit trees, etc. I love the stuff and now have to ration it. The hardware store has alternatives now that claim to kill all the same animals but they are not as good. Oh well.

I was laughing while picturing you sniffing the grub. They are ugly buggers and thousands of them surface and die when you poison them. So many surface that my neighbor slipped and fell on their guts while mowing his sloped lawn after applying the poison.

 

[SPIKER]

they actually eat worms mostly according to the profesional people but also dine on the grubs as mentioned. anyhow I wish they would leave my yard, can hardly walk around the place. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
mark

 

[6or7dazeaweek]

I think Milky Spore is the way to go since it's organic and supposedly lasts 20 years. So the actual price when using Milky Spore is higher to start with but when you consider the stuff lasts for years, the initial cost should not be a factor.

I was going to apply milky spore last year but I was a little short on cash at the time. I'm all set to apply withing the next 6 weeks weather permitting.

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Jon