moles,molehills

[earth-thrower]

The moles are once again really active in my area,with alot of new molehills present.I thought the population may have reduced,as a result of the last two severe winters we have had,but it appears not.Also spring/summer was extremely dry in some areas.Are everyone elses local moles doing well?

[stevet95]

I am yet to see any where they usuaully are but given time I'm sure they'll show up.

[Jim Ford]

Plenty of action round here.

It's interesting to ask children who haven't seen a mole, to say how big they think they might be. They usually suggest guinea pig, rabbit or cat sized!

Jim

[Dorts]

Moles very active here at the moment. Very large mole-hills. Can cope with it in the fields but a thourough nuisance on the lawn.
Dorts.

[2dogs2000]

They seem to be doing very well around here too.

[robje29]

Moles are very acvtive beside a garden centre down the road from me, tempted to bin up the soil for my garden

Rob

[Dorts]

Originally Posted by robje29

Moles are very acvtive beside a garden centre down the road from me, tempted to bin up the soil for my garden
Rob

As a lad I worked on a large estate in Surrey while doing my various Horticultural Courses. Some good fine soil was needed for some purpose, and I went off and collected a wheelbarrow-full of mole-hill soil. The Head told me to throw it away as 'nothing will germinate in soil from mole-hills'.

I wondered about this, but soon noticed, as he pointed out, that you never see any seedlings on mole-hills, even after a couple of years. They remain free from any plants until the soil is gradually re-colonised by the nearby grasses.

Exactly what causes this I don't know, and have yet to discover. Though this idea could easily be dis-proved by sowing some seeds into mole-hill soil ( along with a control), to see what happens. Something I've never actually done!
But I see no problem in putting such soil on flower beds.
Dorts.

[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

[Janec]

We had a mole (or two), in the garden until middle of last year when it disappeared. I wondered if the dry weather had done for it.
My hubby wasn't too upset (he's in charge of mowing the lawn), but I found it interesting, and managed to see most of it once when in came up in a flower bed and dragged a big worm down.
There are lots of molehills in the local town on the cut verges but no sign of any in our garden.
"They" say you should always kick a molehill as they sometimes turn up buried coins/treasure. This is probably an urban myth and will probably get you into trouble if it's not your lawn

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Janec

"They" say you should always kick a molehill as they sometimes turn up buried coins/treasure. This is probably an urban myth and will probably get you into trouble if it's not your lawn

Actually I found that to be true many (very many) years ago. I investigated a molehill in the park once and found an old (pre decimal) shilling in it. This was in the days when you could get an ounce of sweets for less than a shilling. I can see it now - all bright and shiny in the dark damp earth!

Jim