Moles Bothering My Peonies
Question:
I have my grandmother's peonies (100+ years old) and planted them about 8 years ago in a nice sunny location. They thrived the first 2 years, at least most of them did. Then all of a sudden, they started doing poorly, so I moved them to a different location, mostly sunny, but got a little shade during the day. They seemed to acclimate OK, but this last summer the ground moles have peppered the area around them, causing them to sink further into the ground than what they would like. What should I do to them, to keep the moles from bothering them? I hope I can make them healthy again.Thanks for your help!
Hardiness Zone: 5a
Shirley from Southwest Michigan
Answer:
Shirley,As is the case in any pest-control situation, multiple strategies are usually needed in order to see some success, but one of the more effective mole repellants I have read about recently is to spray castor oil or products containing castor oil on the soil around infested areas. Apparently the castor oil does not harm the moles, but it does give them a good stomachache and encourages them to forage for food elsewhere. It supposedly works on voles, too. You can find these types of products at feed supply stores, garden centers or online, but it's just as easy (and likely cheaper) to make your own. Add a 6-ounce bottle of castor oil to 2 gallons of water and 2 tablespoons of dish soap. Use a garden sprayer and apply it to the soil around the base of your peonies just before it's forecasted to rain (the rain will actually help it soak into the soil). Just one ounce of this particular recipe is said to cover 1,000 square feet for approximately 6 months so you may need to cut it down to suit your needs. I have never used this remedy myself (I've never had a mole problem), but I have seen it mentioned multiple times in several different gardening resources and others have told me that it's quite effective. If you try it, let us know if it works.
Ellen
About The Author:
Ellen Brown is our Green Living and Gardening Expert. Click here to ask Ellen a question! Ellen Brown is an environmental writer and photographer and the owner of Sustainable Media, an environmental media company that specializes in helping businesses and organizations promote eco-friendly products and services. Contact her on the web at http://www.sustainable-media.com
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