Have you ever stepped on your lawn only to find that the ground was soft and almost looks like you have tunnels running through it?

If that has happened to you then you may have a mole problem. Don't worry though, the moles aren't after you, they are after tasty grubs and worms that are under the lawn.

Moles can wreak havoc on a yard, and can invade a lawn or garden almost overnight, which is actually when they do most of their tunneling. Sometimes several may be active in the same area. Moles are blind but what they lack in sight, they make up for in smell. This sensitivity to smell is what makes it a bit easier to control them.

We carry several repellents that are unpleasant to a mole's nose. Our favorite is Bonide's MoleMax Granules because:

• It's very effective at repelling moles.
• Just 3 or 4 applications per year will send moles, gophers, voles and other pesky varmints packing - Guaranteed!
• It's safe to use in areas where children and pets play.
• 10 lb. bag covers 5,000 square feet of lawn.

These options are also effective ways to eliminate moles from your yard:

• We sell a mechanical trap called “Easy Set” Mole Eliminator that is pushed in the mole's run (tunnel) and then activated by stepping on it.
• Moletox Baited-Gel. Made from real worms and laced with poison. Comes with a plastic syringe that you use to apply the bait in the underground run.

When using a mechanical trap or baited-gel, you need to find out where moles are located. The "active run" is the tunnel moles use to go back and forth from one main home base out to all of the finger bases searching for food. Place the traps and/or bait in these active runs. To know if a run is active, step on a one foot section of the raised tunnel to push it back to ground level. If you see the tunnel raised back up within 24 hours, you know it is being used. This is where you want to target your mole elimination products.

Taking steps to defend your lawn against moles will save you time, money and effort in the long run. If you have questions about what's happening in your lawn or garden, stop by your local Earl May Garden Center. We'll be happy to help!