Good news and bad news day on the growing front!

[greengas]

As I am an optimist i will start with the good news, I have recieved a letter today from the council to say I have reached the top of the waiting list and have to make 1st 2nd and 3rd choice of plot. I am over the moon and buzzing with excitement. I did not even know I had the letter as the mother in law is up and put the post in a different place! I can not wait to get started good times ahead.
Now the bad news I went in to the garden when I got home from work to find mole hills amongst my carrots and beets. I have been straight up to wilkos and bought a sonic mole repeller(dont know how succesful it will be).
I do have a question which i posted on another thread can I bury mothballs where I am growing root veg? I dont want to poison myself for the sake of a couple of moles!

[Two_Sheds]

can I bury mothballs where I am growing root veg? I dont want to poison myself for the sake of a couple of moles!

I wouldn't, personally, because of the risk to wildlife inc. beneficial insects.

[greengas]

Thanks TS I know that I may lose some beneifical insects but what about my own health?

[SlugLobber]

Are they actually disturbing the veg? If they weren't , I'd be inclined to use them as free labour, aerating the soil and all that!

[greengas]

Sluglobber I thought they disturbed the root system as my raspberry bush is looking brown! I wonder if I am over worried by all this and should just let them tunnel away or are they causing serious damage beneath the surface?

[snohare]

Bad luck, Greengas ! The only good thing here is that it shows you have good, worm rich soil.
Re: Mothballs
That may answer your question about toxicity - bad stuff, napthalene, one of the nasties they look for in contaminated brownfield sites that were once gasworks. It might not kill you, but it'll not do your kids any good (epigenetic damage).

Moles are a pain, they will create havoc if they get into the habit (as they will) of creating their molehills and lodges in your garden. Have you tried the old milk bottle in the molehill trick ? (Only works in windy places.) How about those bulbs you can buy mail order that they hate the smell of ? They really do work.

[greengas]

Thanks snohare think i will give them a miss then, like I said I have the sonic thing from wilkos and will try the bottle in the hole trick. I believe the wind catches it and creates a humming noise which the moles dont like. I will also google those bulbs and see what I can find. Thank you everyone for the advice i really apprieciate it.

[terrier]

As for sonic mole repellents, I've read a lot about them on various forums and the general concensus is that they are totally useless I've found in my patch, the moles stick to the same runs so the crop damage is very slight and, as Sluglobber says, think of the benefits, they aerate the soil and give you lots of free quality potting soil from the molehills.

[greengas]

Thanks I have just ordered some sork anti moole bulbs, I wont use them after all the advice if the problem persists though i may have a change of heart!

[greengas]

Sorry to be a pain in the backside but I have another question. I have chosen my 3 choices of plot today and have to wait for the others on the list to choose there plots. While up the site which is about 1/4 mile from my house I noticed that there were mole hills in a couple of the unused plots, my question is when I get it I will be putting in raised beds is there anything I could line the bottom of the beds with to stop the moles coming up through the ground in that area? I thought about some kind of membrane or stone! Does anybody think this will work?

[Sanjo]

Sorry to be a pain in the backside but I have another question. I have chosen my 3 choices of plot today and have to wait for the others on the list to choose there plots. While up the site which is about 1/4 mile from my house I noticed that there were mole hills in a couple of the unused plots, my question is when I get it I will be putting in raised beds is there anything I could line the bottom of the beds with to stop the moles coming up through the ground in that area? I thought about some kind of membrane or stone! Does anybody think this will work?

I would have thought a heavy duty membrane would keep the little perishers out, but then you wouldn't be able to utilise the soil already inside your raised bed and would be restricted by the depth of sides you would be using. It depends what you are intending to grow of course. Shallow rooted stuff would be OK but not broccoli or brussels etc. (Unless, of course, you are intending 2' sides?)Sanjo

[greengas]

I thought I would update you all on mole battle.
Firstly the sonic mole repelant does not work as a mole came up underneath it
Secondly whoever said they make there runs and you will end up with a couple of hills once they are settled could not be further from the truth! My raised beds and courgette area look like a mine field
And last but not least I am still waiting for my sork anti mole bulbs from greenfingers I hope they hurry up and more to the point work as it is starting to get me down

[vicky]

There is a bit of folklore saying Euphorbia works well as a mole repellant, if any friends or neighbours have any it appreciates a prune this time of year too.

[greengas]

I dont believe it working night shift tonight so thought I would have a stroll around the garden before coming in. What do I see tearing through my florence fennel which has just started sprouting out the ground a bloody mole hill They are getting more active and popping up everywhere I think it must be down to the rain and all the worms

Please please please greenfingers let my package arrive tommorow!

[greengas]

Just woke and gone for stroll in garden to find molehills of huge size which have now destroyed two rows of carrotsSork bulbs have arrived but not from greenfingers, ordered some from garden oasis 4pm yesterday here today

I will now go out and plant them and keep you all informed whether they work for me or not!
My only other option if this fells is getting a profesional in but I imagine that would cost me an arm and a leg.

Edit: Sork bulbs planted now we will have to see if they work!

P.S I feel like Bill Murray in caddy shack.