How to Get Rid of Moles Without Harming Them: 3 Simple Tricks

Many amateur gardeners face the same dilemma: moles are frustrating, yet brutal measures are out of the question. What is needed are ways to protect the garden without harming the animals. This article is all about three tried-and-tested, fairly straightforward ways to get rid of moles without injuring them, along with a few facts that may put the annoyance of molehills into perspective.

Why moles are not really the villains

Before looking at the practical methods, it is worth taking a quick look beneath the turf. Moles are protected in many countries. Their diet consists mainly of grubs, larvae, slugs and other soil-dwelling organisms. A lawn covered in molehills may look disastrous to its owner, but underground these animals can perform useful work.

• Moles loosen compacted soil.
• They eat pests that damage roots and lawns.
• Their tunnels improve air and water circulation in the soil.

The frustration usually comes from the visual disruption caused by the heaps of earth and from beds being undermined. Many people instinctively turn to traps or even poison, only to regret it later. Increasingly, garden owners are specifically looking for gentle methods that simply encourage the animals to relocate.

“Moles can often be disturbed so effectively by smells, plants or vibrations that they choose another territory of their own accord.”

Trick 1: Strong smells, from dog hair to garlic

Moles are almost blind, but their sense of smell is exceptionally acute. This is the basis of the first set of methods: certain odours make their habitat unpleasant. The soil is not poisoned; it is merely made less attractive.

Put dog or cat hair into the molehills

Many gardeners swear by pet hair. They collect fur left over from brushing a dog or cat and place it directly into molehills.

A common approach is:

• Wearing gloves, carefully open the hill without disrupting it completely.
• Push a handful of hair into the tunnel.
• Loosely cover the opening with soil again, without compacting it.

The reasoning is that the smell of a possible predator signals danger. The mole feels unsettled and may, with a little luck, retreat to quieter ground.

Garlic, coffee and more: an odour mix to deter moles

Anyone without pet hair can use strongly scented kitchen ingredients instead. Gardeners frequently report success with a blend of garlic and coffee grounds.

A practical version:

• Mix two to three crushed garlic cloves, or some garlic powder, with dry coffee grounds.
• Place the mixture in opened tunnels.
• Cover it with soil and replenish it every one to two weeks.

The scent spreads through the tunnel network. If the mole is disturbed in several places, it will usually seek another territory, especially if undisturbed areas are available nearby.

“Whether using pet hair or garlic, results come only when several molehills are treated and the measures are repeated over a period of weeks.”

Trick 2: Plant barriers – flowers that moles avoid

For longer-term peace on the lawn, certain plants can be used to create genuine exclusion zones. While these plants are decorative for people, their scent can be distinctly unpleasant to moles with their sensitive noses.

A floral border around lawns and beds

The following are particularly often recommended:

• Fritillaria imperialis (crown imperial)
• Daffodils
• Hyacinths
• Ornamental and edible onions

Planting the bulbs in a wide strip around lawns, vegetable plots or flower borders creates a type of scented barrier. Moles tend to dislike the smell and are inclined to direct their tunnels elsewhere.

The benefit is that these plants add colour to the garden and continue working once established. They need only the usual care given to any other bulbous flower.

Toxic Euphorbia and why care is needed

The plant commonly called “mole plant”, botanically a species of Euphorbia, is also often mentioned. Its sap and smell are said to deter the animals effectively. However, this can quickly create a problem: many euphorbias are toxic to pets and children, while their milky sap may irritate skin and eyes.

“Anyone with animals or children in the garden is better off choosing harmless bulb flowers rather than highly toxic species.”

Elder as a natural ally

Elder can be used in two ways. Fresh branches pushed into the ground near molehills disturb moles directly in their tunnels. Some gardeners also make a liquid feed from the leaves:

• Chop around 1 kilogram of elder leaves.
• Pour over 10 litres of water.
• Leave the mixture to steep for several days, stirring occasionally.
• Pour the liquid, undiluted, into and around the tunnels.

Its powerful smell is intended to make the territory unappealing to the animals. This method requires a little more effort, but suits naturalistic gardens well.

Trick 3: Vibrations and sound in the soil

Moles are sensitive to tremors. They use subtle vibrations to detect potential danger. When artificial signals continually travel through the ground, many animals experience this as ongoing stress.

Solar stakes with sound and ultrasound

Retailers sell so-called mole or vole deterrents, usually stakes inserted into the ground. At regular intervals, they emit vibrations and low tones or ultrasound, often powered by solar panels.

Experiences are mixed:

• Some garden owners say the number of molehills falls significantly after a few weeks.
• Others notice no effect, apart from the molehills moving to different locations.

Devices with a wider range need to be installed less frequently, but cost more. Depending on the area, several smaller models may be needed. Anyone trying this approach should allow a few weeks and move the devices slightly from time to time to prevent the animals becoming accustomed to them.

Make simple noise sources yourself

Those who do not want to spend money can make their own sound sources. Traditional options include:

• Bottles placed at an angle in the ground, allowing the wind to howl through them.
• Metal rods with loosely fitted tins that rattle in the wind.

The vibrations travel into the soil through the metal. Such constructions can, however, be irritating for neighbours, so people living in built-up areas should check first. In a rural garden with more space around it, they can be a simple and inexpensive addition.

How to get rid of moles without harming them

In hindsight, many people realise they reached for traps too quickly when they first encountered a mole. Today, they are more likely to use a combination of smells, plant barriers and vibrations before considering more drastic measures.

A sensible plan might look like this:

• First, find and roughly mark all fresh molehills.
• Use scent-based deterrents in several hills in succession, such as pet hair or a garlic mixture.
• At the same time, plan a strip of bulb flowers around the lawn and plant it in the next suitable planting season.
• Optionally, test one or two vibration sources, especially in areas where molehills persist.

Those who consistently combine several methods and keep at it for weeks can often shift the animals’ activity towards the edge of the garden, or beyond the boundaries of their property altogether.

What molehills reveal about your soil

As irritating as the piles may be, they offer free clues about the condition of the soil. The earth in a molehill is generally loose and well aerated. Many gardeners put it straight to use:

• As a fine growing medium for filling window boxes.
• To level uneven areas of lawn.
• As an addition to seed compost.

Anyone who takes the time to inspect the soil can quickly see whether it is mainly clayey, sandy or rich in humus. This can indicate which plants are likely to thrive, or whether compost, sand or other additions would be worthwhile.

Legal and practical limits when dealing with moles

Moles are protected by nature conservation laws in many regions. They must not be killed without a valid reason. Anyone using traps is often operating in a legal grey area, and is unlikely to feel better if the animal does die.

Gentle deterrent methods focus on prevention rather than destruction. They demand more patience and some experimentation, but spare the animal and often the gardener’s conscience as well. Children and pets also remain safer when toxic substances are avoided.

Those who accept that a certain number of molehills around the edges is normal, while protecting only prominent areas such as the front garden or a play lawn, will generally find a workable compromise between a tidy garden and consideration for the unseen residents beneath the turf.