I just measured mine and they are 1/2 " squared. I bought some originally that is 1/4 " and that is too small for roses. I cut it 12" deep and 4 feet around. I put it in the ground so that about an inch is above the ground. I do not put anything on the bottom. This means that when a rose is planted inside a section that the length is 4 feet before making it a circle, there are only a few inches between the rose and the hardware cloth. The roots will go through, but there is too little area for a gopher to come up over the cloth and squeeze down between the rose and the cloth. The word hardware cloth is really misleading. It is 10 times stronger than chicken wire (well, maybe not 10 times), and needs to be cut with a wire cutter. I think there are people around who have workshops or who know their way around hardware places. But me, I cut it by hand and find it difficult to do. Sammy

I see a lot of suggestions about using coffee grounds for mole control and many people may think it works when they put some down and the moles stop using that are for a while, but in reality coffee grounds will not deter moles. Many people report that earthworms really like coffee grounds (they like any form of organic material) so putting down some coffee grounds will attract more earthworms and moles most favorite food is earthworms so the moles will move in to eat at this now abundant chow line. Your mole moves around in search of food, and may even leave your yard for a time if the food supply there drops low enough. It might be that the presence of moles in your soil indicates that you have a good healthy soil since they will not go where there is no food, and the food they eat only exists in a good healthy soil. kimmq is kimmsr

I finally remembered. After last month, I'll do anything for lucky stuff. Stupid fluffy cat has cost me $550. Son cost me another $200+ (he's still replacing wallet, drivers license, buying Tiles for his wallet, laptop... and oh mom, don't forget, I want an aviator jacket for my birthday. That was ok, since it'll save me having to go buy something and mail it. But sheesh! $$$$). Last, they want me to cough up $$$$ before my upcoming surgery. I told them I could do it in payments. Oy. I could use a lot of luck right now.

Thanks for the comments. My cat is an indoor cat, but my neighbors have too many (outdoor) cats - not spayed or neutered, always having litters, always see signs outside - "free kittens" - etc,. so I am surprised at the mole explosion. We have many (admittedly adorable calico) cats running around our yard. "...Our yard is filled with moles, voles, chipmunks, groundhogs etc, and as a result also hawks, foxes, and a host of other creatures. I'd suggest living with an appreciating nature..." Same here, and I do! In addition to the cats, we have a ton of hawks in the area. I live in a rural suburb, so I am very used to co-existing with nature, and actually love the elements of it that help me out lol. I've had everything from turkeys to bobcats, foxes to coyotes, the usual assortment of deer, skunks, racoons, etc., even a mountain lion sighting in the area. Also, my same neighbors have chickens, so I have almost a personal hawk patrol flying over my yard. Perhaps they are too interested in watching the chickens (and perhaps cats, lol??) to go after the moles and voles this year. So again, some puzzlement and consternation. I've done the water down the hole thing too, usually as an impulse when I'm watering as opposed to any planned attack, and I give up on that quickly. The water never seems to back fill, and I'm on a well, so yeah, I get over my momentary determination to drown the critters pretty quickly haha. Gawdinfever you may have hit the nail on the head. For the past 25 years, I have been extremely careful with the leaf mulch I use every year (50ish oaks on an acre property, who wouldn't use free leaf mulch??) I am usually out there in December after the ground has frozen, long after my neighbors have finished their yardwork for the season, spreading leaf mulch with my frozen hands. Sometimes even on top of a light snow! Actually, thanks to climate change, there have been years where I haven't spread mulch till January. I don't want to give these guys any reason to snuggle down for the winter! HOWEVER.... last year my husband got a lawn tractor, and instead of me shredding leaves with my shredder one little barrel at a time, he helped me immensely and I had more mulch than I could use. I saved it over winter, and while the pile has drastically diminished after spreading more in spring, there is still a somewhat large pile of shredded leaves sitting over on that side of the yard. I guess I didn't think about the fact that the critters like them in other seasons of the year too. Duh. It's one giant mole-tel lol!! I will have to definitely get rid of that pile pronto. I may just have to chuck it into the woods - way too early to spread in the beds. Ugh, it will kill me to waste that! Interesting, Ken (and somewhat worrying that I know exactly what you were saying lol). Perhaps my problem isn't as big as I thought - or maybe I'm grasping on to that idea to save my sanity lol. I had thought traps were useless and/or too expensive on a larger property, but maybe I'll try a few and see. Guess it can't hurt. Thanks everyone. Please keep the ideas coming if there are more! :) Dee