<< VELVET UNDERGROUND


fireworks and are inserted into the run where the smoke they produce is unpleasant to the moles. Unfortunately, however, with these and indeed most other smelly deterrents, it is likely that once the smell has subsided the mole will return.


Traps are available from some garden centres or online stores. In order for these to be effective you must set them carefully, and because the moles are very aware of human scent it is essential that you wear gloves when setting them up, so you never actually touch the trap with your hands. The trap needs to be correctly set or else there is a risk that the mole could suffer a lot before it dies. Some gardeners find traps work well but I must admit I know many who have found that they don’t seem to do the job, as it is very difficult for a non-expert trap setter to get it right!


Perhaps the most effective means of control is to hire in help by employing a mole catcher. Many of these specialists have worked with moles for many years and are adept at trapping them. Since they often charge only on the basis of moles caught, it need not be too expensive a process either.


Moles do eventually decide to go elsewhere, and although this does not imply that your garden will then remain free of moles, if the problem has been very bad one year it may not be quite so severe the next.


It is sometimes said that the plant caper spurge (Euphorbia lathyrus) will deter moles. I have never found that this has any effect whatsoever, but it does


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34 < Boxmoor Direct < February 2017 <


seem to work for some gardeners and as the plants are fairly attractive it is worth giving it a try!


Some gardeners report success with ultrasonic devices that can be inserted into the ground. Once again, I am afraid that it seems the majority of you


find these ineffective and indeed I will never forget once seeing a molehill which appeared directly around the base of one of these gadgets in a friend’s garden - so they are not a method I recommend.


If all else fails, and attempting to look at this problem in a positive light, it is worth bearing in mind that incredibly finely turned soil can be useful and many gardeners I know, including the wonderful ‘grand father of gardening’ Geoffrey Smith, used the soil as a medium in which to grow an excellent crop of seedlings!


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