Robert - this is interesting, particularly since I lost 2 roses to voles this weekend - even though one was planted in a hole lined with wire cloth. But isn't it invasive? Also, since it's a biennial, do you keep replanting or just let it reseed itself?

George

No room for anything like that here, but my hero is my next door neighbor's cat. I walked outside yesterday afternoon and he was in my driveway with one in his mouth. I'd seen him earlier staking out what apparently was an entrance hole. He ran off over to his yard with the vole still in his mouth--I guess he thought I was going to take it away, LOL. I saw my neighbor later and he said the cat had caught 4 yesterday. He says the cat plays with one a while and then their dog snatches it up and finishes it off. What a team. I've got to reward that cat so he'll keep patroling my yard.

Barbara

Is this the plant you're using?

I'm also desparately looking for something, I've even considered taking up some of the black snakes we see crossing the road, but I'd really rather have a plant solution.

Here is a link that might be useful: ?another euphorb

I tried the gopher spurge several years ago but didn't have enough plants out to tell if it was working.

I happened across a product on HGTV that I've been trying and it "seems" to be working well. I did part of the garden with it and I haven't seen any mole activity (and hopefully vole)in that area since putting it out about a month ago. There's plenty of activity in untreated areas so I'm assuming it's working. Another benefit is the armadillos don't like it either. I bought more this week to do the rest of the garden and am finding it available locally.

Here is a link that might be useful: MoleMax

Gopher's Purge-I like that name better than Gopher Spurge which is the one I have known it by. I had no luck with it in a former garden but I can tell you it can spread around like a plague though it is not hard to weed out-you will be weeding if you keep it-very hardy stuff..

patricia

Patricia, thanks for the warning about the gopher plant. I already weed more than I care to, thank you very much!

Kaye, I have added the MoleMax site you linked into my favorites, to go back and check on it later. Would you mind emailing me later on and let me know how it is working for you through the summer? We have a lot of moles in our neighborhood, and I have not found anything that works well so far. Those sonic mole-repellent "thumpers" don't work for us here, and they use up a lot of AA batteries, too!

Thanks everyone!
Allison

I think I had heard Gopher's Purge when it should have been Gopher's Spurge...anyhow....

Ann, I think what I'm using is something a bit different. From the link, I think it says hardy to zone 7, and I know my dad has this in zone 5. I'll try to post a picture of it later this week.

Since I've put some of it near my Cl. Eden, I've not seen any signs of mole holes...I'm gradually adding it everywhere I see mole holes...if nothing else, it "softens" the look under the roses.

Robert

Kaye - how are you applying the Mole Max - I've been using it as well, sprinkling it around plants that are being attacked - but it doesn't seem to do any good at all.

George

George, I saw Paul James using it in his garden near Tulsa. He suggested applying it to area of the garden to "move" the moles, etc. from the area. I've broadcast it in a whole area of the garden and that's where I'm not seeing any signs of the moles. Plenty in other areas, so I'm adding more areas today. My plan is to "move" them from the garden into the surrounding areas.

Allison, yeah, I tried the "sonic" thingy with a solar battery and it seemed to help in the area it was in for a while..then they got used to it..gave up on that one.

I sure could smell the castor oil in the product when I first applied it..I don't find it that offensive but hoping the critters do. I did buy concentrated castor oil to spray the garden with..but never applied it. This is certainly easier to apply.

This got me thinking about products for garden varmits-I do wonder if part of the problem is the tendency to 'lump' and use the same product, but Voles(and gophers) are herbivores and Moles are carnivores and I would not think they would react to the same things. Just wondering...

patricia

I use my toy rat terrier to de-mole my yard. She can find them with her nose and dig them out of the ground lightening fast. She has probably done in more than 30 since I've had her.

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Here she is on the job.

I've tried everything, including Mole Max. Didn't work for me. Maybe we have bionic voles here.

Barbara

the spurge doen't work at all! but it is a beautiful plant! I can send seeds!
The ultra sound thing doesn 't work, they get used to it,
I tried human urine, dog's hair..
Must buy a dog!

Something else I have heard that works to keep away voles/moles is hellebore. I realize these take significant shade, and I'm hoping to underplant some of the larger roses with them.

I'm still not convinced that the euphorbia does NOT work....it may be coincidence, but, I'm still going to put it wherever I find significant mole activity.

Robert

I use Perma Till now. I lost some roses to voles George. Made me so mad. Perma Till is very small, like gravel, and you surround the rose plant when planting. I'm sorry for your troubles Robert and George! I feel your pain. You two need a red clay bed, I think it's very hard for them to tunnel through dry red dirt!

Carla

newbie here but just wanted to mention something I read on another forum. Many of you seem to be having good luck with the Mole Max and castor oil is it's active ingredient. A guy on the pests forum posted that back east the pro. golf courses use castor oil mixed with water and spray it about every 6 weeks or so. It's not a one time application but they do hate the smell so it keeps them away. Might be cheaper than buying the Mole Max too but just another idea for you all to try. We have huge mole problems too. DH just found one caught in a trap this past weekend. They haven't found my roses yet but I can tell you I won't remain calm if they should! I have a bottle of castor oil I plan to use on the yard soon!
Good luck everyone.

I'd like to clarify one point - the enemies here are the voles, which are herbivores; moles are carniverous and do not eat rose roots or roots of any other plant, they feed on grubs and insects. They do make unsightly tunnels and tear up the lawn, which is obviously why golf courses hate them.

Castor oil may be effective against moles - but I can tell you I have tried it without success in controlling the voles. I have tried every known solution: poison, mothballs, vibrating stakes, castor oil, molemax and have found that the only reasonable solution is to plant everything in holes lined with wire mesh (thank you, Kaye). However, even that is not foolproof, as witnessed by the rose I lost last weekend which was planted this way.

George

Where would a rosarian spray castor oil? On the ground around a plant? Because in the heat of summer, I could see oil as being highly problematic. I see a registered product called Scoot Mole Evacuator listed for lawns. I'd never use it on roses in the summer. I see it's registered in California for eastern voles. What good is that in California.....

Here is a link that might be useful: Purdue list of castor oil animal repellants

GardenParty,
I think your form of mole control is the very best! I love those little rat terriers! They are so cute, and so smart. We have a neighborhood rat terrier that I really love, but she is an indoor lap warmer... if she ever gets loose and wants to come over and play, she can have all the moles she wants from my place!

Allison

Thanks Allison! She's my little garden buddy! I have two others, but they are not so much into gardening (:
- Lois

I have a mini black Schnauzer (about 20 lbs) that de-voles and de-chipmonks and de-mouses my yard. Raleigh stalks them like a cat and doesn't even dig! It isn't unusual for him to catch a couple a week. Rescued from the animal shelter, full-blooded schnauzer and he doesn't even shed. I'm braggin'!

I love rat terriers too. I have a friend that just adopted 4 rat terrier puppies. Talk about cute, they are little bundles of energy, and smart little things.

bloominganne

Robert, I'd be wary of adding barn cats to your menagerie with your lovely pigeons!
-Steph