What Attracts Moles To Your Yard?

Moles can wreak havoc on a yard, damaging it and simply making it look bad. The visual damage is bad enough, but the prospect of them reproducing for months is even worse. So, what attracts moles to your yard?

Moles are attracted to yards with loose, moist soil that is densely populated with bugs, as they can eat their body weight worth of insects. They love shade and plants that attract bugs, which provides more food sources for them. Moles are most active from spring until the early fall, when they regularly reproduce and hunt for food. 

It’s worth planting marigolds, daffodils, and crown imperial flowers in your yard. These plants can repel moles and insects alike. Follow along as we explore what attracts moles to your yard and highlight how to get rid of them. 

Why Does My Yard Have Moles?

1. Bugs

Moles eat everything from grubs and beetles to earthworms, ants, and crickets. Unfortunately, this means that nearly every homeowner’s yard can attract moles. Moles make their way from yard to yard in search of food, like bugs, and stick around as long as possible.

They are quite voracious compared to other animals of their size. Moles can eat between 60% and 100% of their body weight per day. Naturally, yards that are densely populated with bugs especially attract moles. 

One of the best ways to reduce the bug population in your yard is to reduce standing water. This sometimes involves grading your yard if need be. Otherwise, you can eliminate plants that attract bugs and treat your yard with insecticides, thus removing the moles’ food source. 

2. Loose Soil

Loose soil is good for plants in many cases, as it lets roots grow freely. However, it can also attract moles, as it’s easy for them to dig through loose soil. This makes it attractive to hunt bugs in your yard without facing too much resistance. 

It’s hard to stop the soil in your yard from loosening if you don’t put much effort into landscaping. Rain, wind, and yard work, such as mowing the lawn, can eventually loosen the soil. One way to keep moles out of your yard is to change the density and consistency of the soil in your yard.

The best way to do this is to compact the soil with a roller or hoe. You can also use a wheelbarrow, which makes it easier to evenly compact the soil. However, you don’t want to compact the soil too much, or else you can damage plant roots. 

3. Excessive Soil Moisture

Moles love few things as much as they love moist soil. Much like loose soil, moist soil is easy to move through, so moles seek it out. Moisture also brings out many of the bugs that moles love to eat, such as lawn grubs and earthworms. 

That’s why you may notice mole activity right after it rains. Unfortunately, it’s hard to control soil moisture if you live in a rainy climate. However, you can at least make an effort to avoid overwatering your lawn whenever possible.

For example, you can run your sprinkler system for less time than usual to avoid oversaturating the lawn. It’s also a great idea to aerate your lawn to improve soil drainage. That way, your lawn won’t stay damp for nearly as long. 

4. Shade

Like loose soil, shade can attract moles to dig through your yard. Shady locations offer moles comfort as they search for food and areas to mate. The shadier the ground is, the cooler it will feel beneath the surface, and that’s what moles want. 

You can’t always ontrol how shady your yard is. For example, there’s nothing you can do about the position of the sun throughout the day. Sometimes, the sun will cast large shadows onto your lawn from behind your home. 

There’s nothing you can do about that, but you can at least minimize how many structures, plants, and decorations cast shadows. For example, you can remove large decorations or even an old shed that typically leaves a big section of your lawn in shadows. This will help your lawn get more sun and make the underground feel less cool. 

5. A Sparse Garden

If your lawn is infested with moles, it may be because you don’t have many aromatic plants. Moles have a strong sense of smell, and certain odors naturally repel them. Some plants repel moles whereas others repel the insects they love to eat. 

Without such insects, moles won’t be nearly as drawn to your yard. Plants like lavender, lemongrass, marigolds, and rosemary can repel insects. Conversely, plants like cosmos, milkweed, dill, and sunflowers may attract insects that moles eat. 

Introduce crown imperials, daffodils, garlic, marigolds, alliums, chives, and radishes to your garden. They are all quite aromatic and some of them even feature bulbs that are toxic to moles. This is also a great way to make your lawn look better. 

6. The Time Of Year

You don’t have to worry about moles all year in most climates. Moles typically only stay active and dig through the yard between spring and the early fall. Granted, this is a large chunk of the year to worry about moles, as you only get a break during the fall and winter.

However, moles don’t simply leave during winter. Instead, they tunnel deeper into the ground to stay as warm as possible. You won’t necessarily notice any activity until the temperatures rise and their food sources re-emerge. 

That’s why it’s a great idea to invest in mole traps right before or when spring arrives. That way, you can start mole season at an advantage and quickly reduce or eliminate the population. Nontoxic mole-repellant sprays can also get rid of moles without harming them, and they can stop the problem from getting worse. 

7. Your Neighbor Has Moles

Moles often move from one yard to the other as they blow through their food supplies. This also happens because moles reproduce and need to cover more ground to find enough food. Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do to delay the problem if your neighbor’s mole population continually increases.

You can take steps to make your lawn less appealing, such as compacting and aerating the soil. Otherwise, it’s worth speaking to your neighbor and encouraging them to hire a pest control service. That way, you won’t have to worry about the mole population getting so big that it spills into your yard. 

Summing It Up

Bugs, loose soil, and shade attract moles to your yard as they provide the perfect tunneling and dietary conditions. They also love moist soil, so you are at risk of moles if your lawn isn’t aerated and has lots of standing water. Plants that attract bugs can also attract moles, especially between the spring and fall when they’re most active. 

Related Guides:

• Six Signs You Have Moles In Your Yard (And How To Get Rid Of Them)
• How To Get Rid Of Moles In The Yard With Juicy Fruit Gum