Landscaping / Gardening tips

[SisterLucy]

Okay.  I'm in need of help. 

I have an entire community of moles.  My yard is a disaster.  I thought of "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" when I mowed it this afternoon. 

We tried the spring trap a year ago but that didn't seem to do much good and it probably scared me more than anything when I had to set it. 

Does anyone have any tried and true methods of "mole removal?" 

SL

[Butterfly]

SL, I know that Marilyn was having a problem with moles also.  I'm wondering if she ever found a way to get rid of them.  Fortunately, I have not had to deal with that where I am now.  We had them in Danville when we were there, but they tunneled over to the neighbor's and we didn't have to do anything except collapse their mound tunnels.

[Guardian Angel]

I've used both the traps and the pellets.  That was a few years ago.  It's too sandy where we are now for them to tunnel......The best method I ever had to rid the yard of moles was our Collie.......he dug and dug and dug until the moles got tired and left...........

[nancyo]

I've never had to try it but have read more than one article mentioning moth balls dropped into a few spots along their runs.  I suppose the vapors are trapped underground so would spread down most of their tunnels.  Only thing I always wondered about was any effect the chemicals in the balls would have on grass roots, etc.

[Peaceful]

We have had good success placing castor beans every 12 to 15 inches along the tunnels. Pls read more about it first, it may not be a choice for your environment. I was thrilled with the beautiful plants they produce that last right into the fall season. Check with Bob's Market if you're in Danville, they have a lot of good info that may help.
Good Luck!!

http://landscaping.about.com/cs/pests/a/mole_control_4.htm

[Guardian Angel]

Banana peels help to feed roses and also keeps them resistant to disease.   Just flatten the peel and bury it under one inch of soil at the base of a rosebush. 

[Peaceful]

This is first year my poppies bloomed and they were magnificent. Any suggestion as to what to do with them now so they don't look so unattractive.

[Guardian Angel]

There are several good sites that tell you how to care for them.  Just type Poppy Care into your search engine and choose one.....Good Luck.

[Butterfly]

When my first husband and I bought our first home on John St., the driveway was lined with poppies.  They looked beautiful........... until they got so top heavy they all fell over...  

[Guardian Angel]

I got a package of poppy seeds in the mail...free.  I am going to plant them in one of my beds out back and see what comes up next year......

[Guardian Angel]

Newspaper weeds away

Start putting in your plants,work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not get through wet newspapers.


Squirrel Away!

To keep squirrels from eating your plants sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the
squirrels won't come near it.

[Guardian Angel]

Gardening Rule: When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.

[Butterfly]

[Guardian Angel]

I got this tip from Marilyn......

Watch rummage sales for a bowling ball.  You place a bowling ball (holes side down) on a birdbath stand for a garden "globe".   The duel or multi-colored balls are best.  You can polish them with car wax to make them shine.   

[Butterfly]

I saw a book at Michael's Craft Store that had a "gazing ball" on the cover.  It was actually a bowling ball that had been covered in pieces of glass and tile to make a mozaic design.  The great thing about using the bowling balls is that they won't fall off the stand in a stiff wind, where as the regular gazing balls often get broken because they are so light and fragile.