The Seasoned Gardener

Mole Control Requires Understanding of the Critter

Many people struggle to control moles in their lawns and gardens.  Moles are not rodents.  They are carnivorous animals whose main food source is earthworms and soil borne insects.  They also feed on grubs, which is the basis for one of the most often quoted errors for mole control.  Eliminating grubs from your lawn will not assure that you will eliminate moles as well.  Well intended garden center and nursery staff members have told consumers for years that grub control equals mole control.  Based on the diet of common and star nosed moles, this is not the case. 

Moles are territorial animals.  They occupy two different types of tunnels in your lawn.  The most visible are their feeding tunnels which are shallow and which criss-cross lawns creating unsightly mounds which conflict with lawn mowing and enjoyment of your lawn.  These feeding tunnels are where moles encounter their food sources includng grubs and earthworms.  A secondary tunnel system, indicated by small volcano-like mounds is the actual living tunnel for the mole.  This deeper tunnel connects to the feeding tunnels so that moles can range widely to feed.

Mole control or more accurately, "mole management" can employ repellents, traps and poisons to eliminate this pesky critter from your lawn.  Traps are effective if placed in active feeding tunnels.  To determine if a feeding tunnel is active you can stamp down the mounds in your lawn and then re-inspect them the next day to determine which ones are active.  Place traps in the active areas, and hope for the best.  Spring traps and spear traps work well, and if you get one you'll know it.  Poisons also work reasonably well if applied in active feeding tunnels.  Mole poisons are most often compounds containing arsenic or zinc phosphide which are highly toxic materials formulated in a bait which moles like.  Look for brand names like Moletox.  Usually control is quick.  Be sure to place poison baits in areas where pets and children absolutely can not access them.

Repellents also work well for mole control.  Repellents simply cause the mole to relocate, leaving your lawn area alone.  Bonide's MoleMax repellent is a castor oil granule which repels the mole through smell, taste and irritation.  One trick to effective mole control using a repellent is to leave an exit for the mole.  This is accomplished by treating only a portion of the lawn at a time leaving an escape route for the mole to use to leave your lawn.  If you apply the repellent to the entire area, you are likely to "surround" the mole making his or her departure doubtful.

Some plants also act to repel moles.  Castor bean plants, from which the castor bean meal in repellents is derived are effective, as is the "mole plant".  However, both plants are toxic to children and animals and should be well understood before planting. 

If your are successful in removing moles from your yard, be sure to apply a repellent product around the edges of your property on a regular basis.  This will close the door on moles revisiting your lawn and keep them away for good. 

SG   

It's Time to Think About Applying Drench Products

Not too long ago, using a drench product to prevent insects was primarily a greehouse or growing operation option.  However, since about 3 years ago, applying a soil drench to trees and shrubs has become a popular and effective way to deliver long lasting insect protection easily and safely to larger trees and shrubs. 

The first true consumer drench product was Bayer Tree and Shrub Insect Control which was introduced in about 2004.  This product is mixed in a watering can or bucket according to the height of the tree or the number of shurbs you want to treat.  The mixture is applied at the root flare of the tree (not at the drip line) and is absorbed by the tree, eventually making it "bugproof" for up to a year.  Bayer worked hard to pitch this technology to dealers and consumers.  The product got a lift when it was recommended by Michigan State University for control of the Emerald Ash Borer, a very destructive pest which appeared in the Detroit Metro area in 2002, and which has since destroyed or caused to be destroyed over 16 MILLION ash trees. 

In late 2006 the patent on Bayer's "Merit" the active ingredient in their drench product expired, opening the door to a number of additional manufacturers to produce the active ingredient - Imidacloprid - at a lower cost.  This has made this fairly expensive product a much more palatable price lately.  The active ingredient is available in Bonide Product's Annual Tree and Shrub Insect Control for significantly less than last year's Bayer retail price. 

The best time to apply drench type systemic insecticides is in the fall.  This is a little counterintutive to most gardeners, but simply put, if you apply it now, it will be stored in the roots of the tree or shrub until it makes its way back to the crown of the tree in the spring as the sap rises.  This moves the insecticide to the tips of the branches and into new leaves and shoots to provide protection during the growing season.  I have used these products successfully in both southern and northern climates and I have to tell you, it works. 

You can find these products at garden centers and home stores almost all year long.  Don't apply the product to frozen soil or to soil which is saturated, as it will not be effectively taken up if you do. 

Drenches provide excellent control of aphids, certain borers, leaf miners, Japanese Beetles, and many other tree destroying pests.  Unfortunately, Merit is less effective on caterpillars that turn into moths and butterflies so it is not an effective control for Gypsy Moth or Eastern Tent Caterpillars. 

So next time you're in your local garden supply outlet look for these new products to provide your trees and shrubs with a bug free year next year. 

SG

Remember "Shimmer?"

If you watched Saturday Night Live in 1976, you may remember a classic skit with Gilda Radner and Chevy Chase featuring “Shimmer” the combination floor wax and dessert topping whose clean floors “never tasted better.” 

The idea of having a garden product doing two or more things in the garden at the same time is not new.  Weed and Feed products, for example do two separate tasks with one application.

Dual-purpose products offer gardeners the opportunity to do multiple tasks in the garden with a minimal number of applications, trips to the garage, or to the store. 

Some newer multiple use products are coming out of the Bayer Advanced products line.  One new product I especially like is Bayer Advanced All in One Rose and Flower Care.  This liquid concentrate has one big thing going for it in the fact that it is a drench and not a spray.  Drench products are mixed with water and applied around the roots of plants to deliver the control they offer.  Bayer All in One Rose and Flower Care provides three critical plant care components in one application, insect control, disease control, and fertilizer.  In effect, this product is like liquid “Roses for Dummies” allowing a single application to address the multiple functions necessary for great looking flowers. 

Another multi-use product I like which is beginning to appear at nursery and garden stores is a combination mulch and weed control product.  I admit I’m a little concerned about the effect of an herbicide in planting beds, especially around tender newly planted annuals, but the manufacturer assures us that the weed control capabilities don’t interfere with planting. 

Potting soils incorporating fertilizer, water absorbing materials, and even insect control are common now in garden centers.  Again, the “For Dummies” mentality yields a good quality product for gardeners.  Anyone who travels during the garden maintenance season can see the value of this product.  These multi-purpose potting mixes are available from a number of manufacturers. 

There are also a number of excellent tools, which serve multiple purposes in the garden.  These include carts and wagons, which also function as sitting stools for gardeners and a variety of hand tools with interchangeable blades or accessories to allow multiple tools to share the same handle, rather like a Swiss Army Knife of hand tools.

I expect more multi-function products to appear in stores in the 2007 season.  I’ll keep you aware as I find out more.

SG

I was skeptical...

I have always been skeptical of Miracle Gro products as more hype than substance.  This is strange since for much of my life I've worked for companies including Scotts/Miracle Gro selling just such products to retailers across the country.  Recently though, my wife brought to my attention her overwhelming satisfaction with the Miracle Gro potting soil she used this spring to plant up some window boxes and planters around our townhouse in northern Illinois. 

I took a closer look and I have to agree, the results are exceptional, especially compared to the planters we have where we did not replace the soil this year. 

We used the Miracle Gro Potting Mix (1 cu. ft. size) with Moisture Control.  The soil was (according to my wife) easy to use and not too wet and heavy.  She put drainage holes and gravel in all of the planters and used an assortment of annuals in each.  Although watering has not been as urgent this summer as last summer, we water regularly.  The difference started to become obvious in the last 3 weeks as the summer heat accelerated the growth of the annuals.  Plants in the fresh Miracle Gro soil (right) literally "took off" when compared to their old soil sisters (left).  The plants are healthy and colorful with blooms, buds and dark green foliage. Both planters were planted on the same day, and have received the same supplemental fertilizer, watering and exposure.  They are about 15 feet from each other. 

Maybe I've been too skeptical in the past, but from now on I'm using new Miracle Gro soil in all of our planters.  As for the old soil, I dump it out in the fall in our gardens.  It acts as an exceptional soil ammendment after it's played out as a potting soil. 

SG

Summer 2006 - What a difference!

For the most part, this summer is a totally different gardening summer than last year.  By this time in 2005, we were in the midst of a serious drought which resulted in dormant lawns, stressed trees and shurbs and wilted vegetable and flower gardens across the Midwest. 

This year it's different.  Begining with some serious wet weather late in the winter and through the spring, we are now in a much more favorable growing season.  Homeowners should still monitor rainfall to make sure that lawns are receiving about 1" of rain/irrigation per week.  Trees and shrubs may require some additional watering, but not to the same degree as last year. 

Because of the abundance of water this year, insects and diseases will be more normal, with a wider variety of buzzing visitors including wasps, yellowjackets and mosquitoes enjoying the wetter weather as well. 

Look for signs of moisture enhanced diseases such as powdery mildew and blackspot on your shrubs and flowers, especially as the weather warms up. 

Continued rainfall will be very helpful when establishing or re-establishing turf areas this fall.  Look for more information on this project later in the year. 

Until next post, enjoy your yard and garden and enjoy the rain when it comes. 

This year it's different.  Begining with some serious wet weather late in the winter and through the spring, we are now in a much more favorable growing season.  Homeowners should still monitor rainfall to make sure that lawns are receiving about 1" of rain/irrigation per week.  Trees and shrubs may require some additional watering, but not to the same degree as last year. 

Because of the abundance of water this year, insects and diseases will be more normal, with a wider variety of buzzing visitors including wasps, yellowjackets and mosquitoes enjoying the wetter weather as well. 

Look for signs of moisture enhanced diseases such as powdery mildew and blackspot on your shrubs and flowers, especially as the weather warms up. 

Continued rainfall will be very helpful when establishing or re-establishing turf areas this fall.  Look for more information on this project later in the year. 

Until next post, enjoy your yard and garden and enjoy the rain when it comes.