moles,molehills

[Dorts]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

Spoil from mole activity is very loose and 'puffy' - a condition which is unsuitable for germinating seeds. After settling through the action of weather there seems to be little problem in seeds germinating.
Jim

So one would think Jim. I agree that initially the soil produced by the mole is of a consistancy which is not ideal for seedlings. But reality is that nothing much appears on these piles of earth in the way of weed-seedlings at all.
We have a lot of Mole activity here in our fields and there are large mole hills which after 3 or 4 years are still weed-free. Whereas other areas where soil has been disturbed are usually covered in weeds in a very short time, just from seeds blown in by the wind, or from nearby grasses. There does seem to be something going on that deters germination.

Large mole-hills are usually created from soil of a depth where there is probably little in the way of viable seed, which could account for a certain lack of weed seedlings. But this doesn't account for this soil remaining weed-free for some years. So it may just be down to the soil structure that, whether new and 'puffy' as you say, or old and hard, is not suitable for seeds to germinate.
My old Head Tutor obviously knew something.
Dorts.

[Janec]

After saying we haven't seen any since middle of last summer, in the garden today is one new molehill and the start of another.

[Billabong Karen]

Originally Posted by Janec

After saying we haven't seen any since middle of last summer, in the garden today is one new molehill and the start of another.

That's because the moles are all WABBERS and are down in their little tunnels with their laptops, reading our posts, determined to prove you wrong Janec.

[Carol ann]

Revolving stool and a 12 bore.
When I had my stables I had 2 brilliant cats that used to dig them out.