Asked on Mar 27, 2014
Voles attaching my Garden again - now what?
by
Tim Saiers
+23
I believe I had Voles in my garden last year and they most of my crops including onions from underground. I see holes in the garden but can't catch them. Now they are back and the onions I just planted are starting to disappear. Any ideas how to get rid of these creatures.
20 answers
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You poor fellow, I know just what you are going through. Voles ate my beets, carrots, swiss chard and hosta last year. I've spent the winter doing research. First of all clean up all mulch or clutter that might offer protection to the rodent. Dig a trench on either side of your planted rows and sink a row of close knit chicken wire, tight enough not let rodent pass through. Bury it. Might be a good idea to have it high enough so you can see it when you hoe. A friend of mine has given me a P3 Mole Chaser http://www.p3international.com/products/p7901.html which is suppose to be effective on voles, moles, shrews & gophers. Wish me luck and good luck to you too.
Libby Yuewhoo
on Mar 27, 2014
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A few years ago we had many underground tunneling visitors to our church garden. They actually caused the pavers to raise up! I read about Juicy Fruit gum being effective. They can't resist the smell, but can't digest it once they've eaten it. I broke the sticks into tiny pieces, and put them into the main entrances to their tunnels. There were few to no tunnels the next year. I continue to use it if I see anything remotely like a tunnel. There has been no damage for two years now.
Julia Brown
on Mar 27, 2014
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You can use mouse snap traps, tucked under an overturned flower pot that has been propped up on one side.
Douglas Hunt
on Mar 28, 2014
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Moles dig the tunnels and voles use the mole runs to get to and eat the plants. You can save your hostas in the future if there is a single root by putting in water and within a couple weeks you will have new roots and a revived plant-I have saved many. As Libby suggested, many used chicken wire or hardware wire to make baskets to plant their bulbs and other plants. I suggest using rock too and dig a hole twice the size, put rock in the bottom up to the bottom of the plant and then rock around the edges and fill in with dirt. I find this to work and have been doing this with new plantings. Julia is right and i was told a long time ago by an old timer that Juicy fruit gum works. He actually chewed it for a minute and put it in the hole because he loved the gum LOL Now there is another trick too which if you have cats who use the kitty litter-shove the cat crap down the holes. I know, gross, but it has worked for me in the past but now that I have dogs they think cat crap is a treat and go digging for it- Ugh! Eliminating the food source for moles is important because moles do serve a purpose by eating grubs and giving my dogs something to do (to my dismay). I also realized that sometimes the moles do a good thing and loosen my hard clay soil, then my dogs dig the holes to get to the moles, and so with that I have a bigger bed with better soil. LOL I also use castor oil in my water cans which is a repellent for moles and voles. Some add dishwashing liquid along with it. Castor oil works and this is what is in the sprayers you buy at the garden centers. It is environmentally safe. I never knew anything ate onions except certain larvae and bugs. You may also have ground squirrels which are a whole other critter to deal with. How large are the holes?
The Garden Frog with C Renee
on Mar 28, 2014
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I have an extreme vole problem in my area, too. Voles wiped out a whole bed of iris last year. I use Mole Max which is a granulated product or you can get it in liquid (used, mainly, to spray a lawn) and it is effective. It contains castor oil which has been mentioned and they will move away from an area if you use it. However, you have to reapply about every six to eight weeks. The used kitty litter is another option if you have indoor cats but I don't. For my veggies and herbs, I have resorted to container gardening until I can get some raised beds that are fortified with plenty of wire.
Bonny McDaniel
on Mar 28, 2014
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Moles hate euphorbia. Plant some in your garden. But they are invasive.
Joyce Pinkava
on Mar 28, 2014
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Feral cats do a real job on voles. They have the patience to just sit at the hole and wait. My JR terriorists are also very effective if you don't mind having a system of canals in your lawn.
Sally Roesner Fuhr
on Mar 28, 2014
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My cats will catch those stripey little chipmonkey critters and eat all but the tail. They leave that in front of my porch for me I guess. I could imagine them gagging on that!
Sally Roesner Fuhr
on Mar 29, 2014
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there is a product out there that contains Cayenne pepper and other natural products you spray around the garden but not on the plants all . you have to mix it ... it smells not too good but dissipates after awhile it kept the moles and voles out of my garden when they were chewing my tomatoes. you only have to respray after a good rain
Warren Searfoss
on Mar 30, 2014
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I would go out and get a big, bad kitty cat!
Jessica C
on Mar 30, 2014
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I have 5, beloved, idiot cats that dont't hunt. :) Bringing in a wild cat? How are you going to care for it in the winter? Voles are field mice. Poison 'em with mouse poison. Moles'll eat the grubs in your lawn, but then you have mole trouble. Then come the voles to eat everything organic you have. I use those little green balls 'o mouse poison. I get them in bulk at the Southern States.
Christine
on Mar 31, 2014
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not poison...... it just smells that bad plus the pepper drives the moles and voles away doesnt hurt them
Warren Searfoss
on Apr 02, 2014
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For above ground, there is a product called "Liquid Fence". I get mine from the local feed store or you can make some. It is rotten eggs and garlic. The smell goes away soon for humans because we don't have a good sense of smell. Maybe try running some garlic through the blender and putting it around your garden. You always need garlic for cooking.
DORLIS
on Aug 26, 2015
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If you would put some granules of Mole Maxx into the planting holes when you set out your onions and other plants, and continue every thirty days or so to sprinkle some more around the plants, they should leave them alone. I've been using it for over three years and, now, the voles stay at the other end of the yard because most of my garden has been treated with the Mole Maxx...see if your garden center carries it.
Bonny McDaniel
on Aug 27, 2015
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thanks, I will give this a try. Nothing else is working. The voles just keep destroying my crops.
Tim Saiers
on Aug 27, 2015
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CATS ARE GREAT! HARLEY HAS BEEN WORKING ON CATCHING ALL THE MICE, VOLES, MOLES THAT ARE TUNNELING UNDER MY WALKWAY. HE SPENDS LOTS OF TIME WATCHING FOR THEM.
DORLIS
on Sep 08, 2015
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is there a way to know if it is voles or moles? we have ...springy mushy areas in our new yard and my nephew thinks it is moles ... i just want whatever they are gone.... do u think predator urine would drive them away ?
Tina Hill
on Feb 08, 2016
- See 1 previous
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my son who is an exterminator, came by this past week and set some live traps up. These are available in stores. He followed the tracks and put them at each hole, which we have many. He then put a rock on it so other critters can't move it.. put down "Nice" (from Walgreens) granola bars along the paths.. Now we wait.. lol.. other then a shotgun in the holes... lol
Barbara Null
on Apr 01, 2016
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thanks for the idea Barbara. So far , nothing is working.
Tim Saiers
on Apr 01, 2016
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they went away… when I stuffed used kitty letter in the paths….and used peppermint oil they disappeared. First I stuffed used kitty litter… then sprinkled peppermint oil … tromped down on the ground really well….and so far no more critters….. gone for about 6 weeks…. if they come back I'll repeat the process…. I know the used kitty litter is gross…. if you don't have a cat… ask someone who does…. You can get peppermint oil… really strong stuff…. at GNC health Food… Walmart might carry it…. I got mine … fairly inexpensive at Swanson Health Foods online… which is where I buy all my health Food items. It's worth a shot…. Good luck! JAC
Jacusa
on Apr 02, 2016
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