You can repair mole damage in your yard by pushing ridges back with a shovel or raking down molehills. If the damage is extensive, overseeding and fertilizing might also be necessary.
For this article we interviewed a horticulture specialist who offered advice (and also some personal experience) on how to deal with mole damage and prevent new infestations.
If you’re out of time or energy to fix your lawn by yourself, LawnStarter is here to offer a helping hand. Book one of our pros to repair your lawn and give your property a fresh start.
1. Assess Damage
The first step is to understand the damage you see. Once they’ve invaded your turf, moles can cause a big mess. A single mole can excavate an 18-foot tunnel in only an hour. Here are 4 signs of moles in your yard:
Mole ridges: Raised ridges that form linear soil trails are typically a sign of mole presence.
Dustin Blakey, county director and horticulture advisor at the University of California, explains: “Moles are carnivores, feeding mostly on worms and insects. Their damage is usually in the root zone, creating runs as they search for food with a motion that’s something vaguely like swimming if the soil is loose.”
Molehills: Mounds of dirt shaped like small volcanos with no exit holes. Blakey adds that molehills may not always be present: “They (moles) can also make molehills, but in some places, these are not common.”
Blakey explains that in Arkansas, where he used to be an Extension agent, “mole damage is more subtle” and gophers are the real troublemakers. He says, “Gardeners should find out which they are dealing with since control of either is very different.”
Gopher damage typically shows up as horseshoe-shaped mounds of soil next to a hole in the ground. See our article on How to Get Rid of Gophers to understand the types of damage these lawn invaders can cause.
Soft, spongy soil: Because the mole tunnels underneath the ridges are hollow, your soil can feel soft and spongy around them (and around molehills as well).
Patches of dead grass: Moles can damage the grass roots (or expose them) while tunneling and scavenging for grubs, worms, and other underground insects. Consequently, areas of dead or wilting grass may appear on your lawn.
Make sure to get rid of moles as soon as you identify them. Or you can contact a licensed pest control company or a wildlife removal service to get rid of them for you.
2. Press Down Raised Tunnels
The earlier you deal with mole damage, the better. If the soil is still loose, you can simply press down the mole ridges with a shovel and water them in.
Blakey explains, “If you get to it right away, you can just press the surface runs down immediately and water them. The damage will be minimal. If you let them hang around, the grass on the runs can dry out. An active mole will probably come right back and do some more damage or reopen a tunnel.”
After pressing the tunnels down, go over them with the roller attachment on the back of your mower or apply pressure with your feet to flatten the soil.
3. Rake Mole Mounds Flat
“With mole hills, you just do your best to remove (them), maybe put some of the dirt back into the hole if you can,” Blakey says. “Again, if you get it right away, the grass under the pile will be fine and the spot is pretty small that will need repair or regrowth.”
You can remove molehills by raking them down or removing them with a shovel. As you did before, apply pressure on the loose soil with your foot, or you can use your mower’s rear roller attachment to compact the soil.
4. Water The Flattened Tunnels and Mounds
Once you’ve pressed down the tunnels or flattened the molehills, water them in.
If, after watering, you notice sunken areas on your turf, lightly rake them and cover with topsoil. Apply pressure over the area once again to make sure the sunken parts are all leveled.
5. Add Seed or Sod
If you notice areas with dead grass or bare spots after removing and watering molehills, take this opportunity to:
- Remove dead grass: You can remove the patches of dead grass by hand if the area is small. For large sections with dead grass, check out other ways to remove lawn grass.
- Overseed the lawn: To overseed your lawn, you have to rake the area to remove debris and loosen the soil. This will optimize the contact between seed and soil, improving your chances of success.
If the damage is too extensive and you had to remove entire sections of the lawn, you may consider laying sod. Check out our article for more information: How to Lay Sod (Step-by-Step Guide).
| Note: If moles caused extensive damage to your lawn and you have a large area to overseed, you can take the opportunity to aerate your lawn before overseeding if the soil is dense or compacted. If you don’t want to do this task by yourself, you can always book a professional lawn aeration service. |
6. Add Compost or Fertilizer
“If you need to encourage recovery, a little nitrogen fertilizer during the growing season and adequate water in that spot will encourage regrowth,” Blakey says.
See our guide on How to Fertilize Your Lawn for more information. Alternatively, you can also topdress your lawn with compost to aid its recovery.
7. Water Lightly but Often
While the new grass is still germinating, water your lawn lightly but often. Go for daily watering sessions (up to 3 times per day, or just enough to keep the seeds moist) until the new grass is as tall as the established grass.
You should see new grass growing within 5 to 30 days, depending on your grass type. At this point you can resume your regular lawn care routine (mowing, watering, and fertilizing).
“The kind of grass and the temperature determine how long recovery may take,” Blakey explains. “If it’s warm and you have Bermudagrass, nitrogen and water will mean (a) quick recovery. A bunch-type grass will be slower.”
See Related: How to Care for New Grass
| Pro Tip: If you have a serious problem with moles, Blakey offers a clever tip: “If you have an irrigation system, make sure you aren’t over-watering. Maybe even a slight deficit (in) irrigation would be good.” “Reducing water will eventually reduce the invertebrate population in the soil,” he says. “Less food means less risk. That can also make the soil harder to push through for moles hunting for dinner.” |
FAQ
You can get rid of moles by setting traps or by contacting a licensed wildlife removal or pest control service to help you out.
Blakey explains that as long as moles are present in the lawn, there will be damage: “Moles that continue to damage turf basically mean no recovery is possible … They will just keep damaging (the lawn).”
Yes, but only if they leave a sunken spot on your lawn. If so, add topsoil to level the area before overseeding.
When to Call a Pro
Need a hand restoring your lawn after mole damage? Book a lawn care pro near you. We at LawnStarter can mow, aerate, and fertilize to bring your lawn back to life.
Sources:
Dustin W. Blakey, county director and horticulture advisor at the University of California Cooperative Extension. Personal interview.
“Controlling the Eastern Mole.” By Dustin Blakey, county Extension agent – Agriculture, and Rebecca McPeake, associate professor and Extension wildlife specialist. University of Arkansas.
“Moles: Damage Management.” Updated version of “Managing Iowa Wildlife: Moles,” originally authored by Kurt Johnson and James Pease. Iowa State University.
“Management of Moles.” By Victoria Wallace and Alyssa Siegel-Miles. University of Connecticut.
Main Image: Many molehills on the lawn. Photo Credit: Макар Мосин / Adobe Stock
