Had problem with moles for years. Tried lots of remedies with no luck. Couple years ago I put a lot of lime on our lawn. Sort of forgot about the moles because I wasn't seeing any. That is the last remedy I tried. Maybe the lime did the trick. Anyway I am going to put more lime down.

I'll be interested to see if there's a reason this works. Your grass happy with the lime? Moles are persistent survivors, that's for sure.

Moles eat grubs, etc. The lime changes soil chemistry. Grubs move out since soil is no longer to their liking. ERGO,the moles follow.

My Dad lives in the Upper Midwest and has had limited success with lime. He also uses GrubEx and pulls a water filled roller behind his tractor over any tracks that come in from the woods behind or the neighbors.

Sam, my outdoor kitty prefers moles.
Often a star-nosed mole, minus some brain matter, appears in my garage.
No need for lime or other chemicsls.

Forgive my ignorance, but I was expecting to read about a trip to the dermatologist. DURP!

What form is the lime that you apply in and how are you applying it?

I have a pasture that is failing, largely in part I believe to moss, or the moss is at least a symptom of the issue. I spread quite a bit last year and really saw no results. It was a very fine powder form. I believe I spread about 3-400 lbs over about an acre, maybe a little more. Seemed like the wind took enough of it. I've heard of it in small pellet form and was considering trying that.

I hate moles.

I'll try the lime then grubex if that yields poor results.

Thanks for the tips.

I used the Grubex and it does work, but you have to use it twice a year and with the amount of property I have that is very costly.
I never tried the roller, but I do have a utility diesel tractor that weighs about 3000lbs that I run over their trails with. They did get out doing that.

quote:

Forgive my ignorance, but I was expecting to read about a trip to the dermatologist.

Yeah I was hoping a thread about spies. Know what you mean.

quote:

Originally posted by Mara5:
Moles eat grubs, etc. The lime changes soil chemistry. Grubs move out since soil is no longer to their liking. ERGO,the moles follow.

^ Fact. This is why.

Castor oil works great for me, moles hate the stuff.

quote:

Originally posted by BRL:
What form is the lime that you apply in and how are you applying it?

Pelletized lime is best. It dissolves faster in rain, and does not cake up like powdered lime.

I used the pelletized and spread with fertilize spreader. Don't know if the lime is the reason they left but I am putting down more. Did not bother the grass. The grubex is too expensive and I stopped using it long ago. My lawn is too large. I tried castor oil but no luck. If you try the lime don't expect good results the first year. Like I said the lime is the last remedy I tried.

good tip - I'm going to try the lime

quote:

Originally posted by Wishbone:
Castor oil works great for me, moles hate the stuff.

Tough to get them to take it though, you need a very small spoon. Also try sprinkling salt on them.

Of course, you could take a more direct approach:

Link to original video: https://youtu.be/fIMfir6r1Rc

quote:

Originally posted by BRL:
What form is the lime that you apply in and how are you applying it?

I have a pasture that is failing, largely in part I believe to moss, or the moss is at least a symptom of the issue. I spread quite a bit last year and really saw no results. It was a very fine powder form. I believe I spread about 3-400 lbs over about an acre, maybe a little more. Seemed like the wind took enough of it. I've heard of it in small pellet form and was considering trying that.

In a previous career I spread lime quite a little bit. It was not uncommon to apply 3 tons per acre, nor was it uncommon for the soil to actually require > 5 tons. This lime would be incorporated into the soil, which in a pasture you can't do.

You would be wise to investigate spreading ag lime ( pennies on the dollar when compared to palletized lime) then disk and plow it in and reseed. The toughest part will be convincing someone to come spread a half a spreader load.

quote:

Originally posted by reflex/deflex 64:

quote:

Originally posted by BRL:
What form is the lime that you apply in and how are you applying it?

I have a pasture that is failing, largely in part I believe to moss, or the moss is at least a symptom of the issue. I spread quite a bit last year and really saw no results. It was a very fine powder form. I believe I spread about 3-400 lbs over about an acre, maybe a little more. Seemed like the wind took enough of it. I've heard of it in small pellet form and was considering trying that.

In a previous career I spread lime quite a little bit. It was not uncommon to apply 3 tons per acre, nor was it uncommon for the soil to actually require > 5 tons. This lime would be incorporated into the soil, which in a pasture you can't do.

You would be wise to investigate spreading ag lime ( pennies on the dollar when compared to palletized lime) then disk and plow it in and reseed. The toughest part will be convincing someone to come spread a half a spreader load.

County extension office would be a place to start to get expert opinions on what's going on - they're there to help. Pictures and a soil sample will help.

Sounds like A) need to aerate the grass. B) if you truly need lime, 3-400lb ain't shit. For an acre, I'd start w/half a ton of pelletized or 1 ton of ag (the white powder you likely spread). pell-lime is considered better in most cases.

If you get it just right adding lime can change the PH of the soil enough to discourage the grubs. However it can actually attract earthworms... normally a good thing, but moles actually prefer earthworms to grubs.
Because of this most scientific research I have seen says lime won't work.

All the grub killing insecticides I have looked at have to be watered in, and they kill everything, including earthworms.
I don't have the water pressure or the means to apply the recommended 1 inch of water to activate them on my large yard. The company I emailed said the poison would rapidly lose effectiveness if not watered in, in 24 hours, and would fail to work.

SO, now I'm thinking I can buy some Grubex or other, and then wait for it to start raining, and go out and spread it in the rain and hope for one inch of rain! My neighbors already think I'm crazy so that isn't a concern. LOL!