- 1. Assess Damage<\/a><\/li>
- 2. Press Down Raised Tunnels<\/a><\/li>
- 3. Rake Mole Mounds Flat<\/a><\/li>
- 4. Water The Flattened Tunnels and Mounds<\/a><\/li>
- 5. Add Seed or Sod<\/a><\/li>
- 6. Add Compost or Fertilizer<\/a><\/li>
- 7. Water Lightly but Often<\/a><\/li>
- FAQ<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
1. Assess Damage<\/h2>
![\"Moles](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AdobeStock_815573493.jpg?wsr\")
Photo Credit: AlexGo<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure> The first step is to understand the damage you see. Once they\u2019ve 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<\/a>:<\/p>
Mole ridges:<\/strong> Raised ridges that form linear soil trails are typically a sign of mole presence. <\/p>
Dustin Blakey, county director and horticulture advisor at the University of California, explains: \u201cMoles 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\u2019s something vaguely like swimming if the soil is loose.\u201d<\/p>
Molehills:<\/strong> Mounds of dirt shaped like small volcanos with no exit holes. Blakey adds that molehills may not always be present: \u201cThey (moles) can also make molehills, but in some places, these are not common.\u201d <\/p>
Blakey explains that in Arkansas, where he used to be an Extension agent, \u201cmole damage is more subtle\u201d and gophers are the real troublemakers. He says, \u201cGardeners should find out which they are dealing with since control of either is very different.\u201d <\/p>
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<\/a> to understand the types of damage these lawn invaders can cause.<\/p>
Soft, spongy soil:<\/strong> Because the mole tunnels underneath the ridges are hollow, your soil can feel soft and spongy around them (and around molehills as well).<\/p>
Patches of dead grass: <\/strong>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.<\/p>
Make sure to get rid of moles<\/a> as soon as you identify them. Or you can contact a licensed pest control company<\/a> or a wildlife removal service to get rid of them for you.<\/p>
2. Press Down Raised Tunnels<\/h2>
The earlier you deal with mole damage, the better. If the soil is still loose, you can simply press down the mole ridges<\/strong> with a shovel and water them in.<\/p>
Blakey explains, \u201cIf 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.\u201d <\/p>
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.<\/p>
3. Rake Mole Mounds Flat<\/h2>
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/rake-mole-hills.jpg?wsr\")
A person is raking a molehill on a lawn with several other dirt mounds visible. Photo Credit: knelson20<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure> \u201cWith mole hills, you just do your best to remove (them), maybe put some of the dirt back into the hole if you can,\u201d Blakey says. \u201cAgain, 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.\u201d<\/p>
You can remove molehills by raking them down<\/strong> 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\u2019s rear roller attachment to compact the soil.<\/p>
4. Water The Flattened Tunnels and Mounds<\/h2>
Once you\u2019ve pressed down the tunnels or flattened the molehills, water them in<\/strong>. <\/p>
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.<\/p>
5. Add Seed or Sod<\/h2>
If you notice areas with dead grass or bare spots after removing and watering molehills, take this opportunity to:<\/p>
- Remove dead grass: <\/strong>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<\/a>.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Overseed the lawn: <\/strong>To overseed your lawn<\/a>, 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.<\/li> <\/ul>
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)<\/a>.<\/p>
- Overseed the lawn: <\/strong>To overseed your lawn<\/a>, 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.<\/li> <\/ul>
- 2. Press Down Raised Tunnels<\/a><\/li>