go to a yuppie nursery ....

recycle or buy 30 one gal pots ...

and a huge sack of promix.. or whatever derivation they sell ... enough to fill the 30 pots..

pot them up .. they like water.. but they arent waterlilies ... a bucket of water is not equivalent to a pond. ...

and plant them in September ... when the heat breaks .. and you figure out what to do about the voles...

its been in the high 80's with humidity in the high 80's here for three days ... and i am not stupid enough to go out there and dig holes [and you arent either]... i am sure spending a few bucks is better than digging holes in the heat ..

prewet the potting media before potting ...

ken

Are you hoping the gravel will be a deterent to the moles?
I have had them burro right through my gravel drive way,i hope it will work for you.

I agree with Ken, wait til fall when it gets cooler out side,they will do just fine in one gallon pots, you can even over winter them in the pots and wait til spring if you want.

Carol

Carol
How thick was the pea gravel in the driveway? Did the voles dig through the gravel or soil underneath it? Just curious because I was thinking of using the pea gravel also.
Pam

the east coast peeps are pro's when it comes to vole protection..

IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING ... that caging is the only remedy ...

EVERYTHING you can dream up has been tried.. and failed ...

and we are sure you have voles ... yes?????

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: bump a rooney

If you use caging, then you need openings in the wire big enough to let, say, a S&S sized spring bullet to pass through when it sprouts in the spring. An opening that big in the wire mesh is big enough for a vole to pass through also.

woodthrush,
Well, i had a fire pit at one time that was a very large area,all filled in with pea gravel,seating area,and burning.
They burrowed under that,AND,we have a gravel drive way now (being replaced this week end with cement )and they burrow under that.

Wicked little creatures they are!

Carol

Well, I was HOPING the pea gravel would be a deterrent for the moles/voles. And yes, Ken, there are tunnels. And to beat it all, there are two kinds of voles here, pine voles who do the damage below the ground, and meadow voles who do the damage above ground. And even better than that, THE MOLES ARE PROTECTED BY THE NC WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION!!!!! What the heck is up with that! Who is protecting my hosta? I have a hosta dog, too, but he sleeps in the house, so, that doesn't do me much good, huh?

What about a product called VoleBloc? Anyone use it? It is available locally, but probably pricey.

I did call my local nursery and asked about some one gallon pots, and the sweet little old man told me he would have me about 50 in the morning. So that's a start.

talynnp,
Sorry for your BIG problem,i wish we lived closer, i would give you the pots you need.I think you will be happy potting them til you can come up with something else.
Good luck to you.

Carol

Talynnp,(what does this mean?)
I am the VOLESTER! I have tried pea gravel but the smooth surface is not as effective as a 'Chat' or 'Grit' type of stone that has jagged edges. The more jagged the better as it is thought to discourage the voles from digging through it. I would much rather tunnel through marbles that broken glass! I AM THE VOLESTER! BE THE VOLE! BE THE VOLE!!!! Mix it in the surrounding soil and top off the plant ball as well. I would still recommend pots in the ground if you have a major problem. I have tried it all and pots are best!

THE VOLESTER
aka. Denny

lol BE THE VOLE!

Hey Volester, what do you think about Volebloc? It is made from slate and I think it does have the jagged edges. But how long could I leave the one gallon pots in the ground before the plants get root bound? And by the way, talynnp is short for my three names ;-)!

I have found success with crushed oyster shells a/k/a chicken grit. I get them in a feed store pretty cheap.. $11/50 lb bag. I make large saucer shaped holes and line the holes with it, backfill, plant and add more shells around the top of the crown. I think the shells eventually break down and add nutrients to the soil.

I don't know long term results, but my thinking is that by the time the shells break down, the rootball will be large enough to withstand some nibbling.

Vole bloc is very expensive. I looked at it once. It looked like it would work fine. shredded sharp stone particles.

Talynnp,
I think your money would be spent wiser by having a Voodoo Princess shake a chicken beak at your Hostas! But seriously, I have people ask me about the Hosta getting root bound. Gee what a problem to have ,maybe it would be better to just have the voles eat the Hosta as babies to avoid them having to be root bound! But seriously. (I mean it this time!)It is easy to dig a larger hole once the Hosta gets too big...Sometimes I will move the original Hosta to a bigger pot and start a baby in the gallon. I put gravel in the bottom of the pot first then mix about half of the original soil with compost and pearlite and add a touch of cow poop for pizazz! If it is in a heavily populated vole area IE. the edge of the woods or where a lot of leaves accumulate in the winter, I will sprinkle some fine grit over the top of the crown. I have had a lot of folks try this and have saved a many Hostas and a truck load of tears. I am THE VOLESTER! BE THE VOLE! BEEEE THE VOLE!

DennrayyRick.

Denny,
Do the plants need more watering when they are planted in pots? I never water my hostas but I'm thinking if they are in pots they are going to dry out quickly. The edge of the woods is where I'm having the problems too.
Pam

Pam,
I find that I use much less water because I am watering the Hosta and not the thirsty tree roots that will eventually invade it. The same holds true for fertilizing. The edge of the woods used to be a "NO PLANT Zone' for me but now I have a beautiful Hosta collection all along the edge. And the best thing of all is They Come Back Every Year! Enjoy the Hosta.... BE THE VOLE!

DEnrayrik

Denrayrick aka THE VOLESTER you are TOO funny!!!