Looking for a simple method to get rid of ground moles now before they start tearing up your yard in the fall again?
If you’ve ever walked out into your yard in late summer or early fall and noticed strange ridges of raised soil or soft tunnels forming under your grass, chances are you’ve had a run-in with a ground mole. The little creatures can cause big damage fast. And they can tear up lawns and garden beds as they search for one thing: food.
Late summer and fall are some of the most active times for ground moles. As the weather starts to cool down, they begin feeding heavily to bulk up before winter. And during this time, they do most of their damage near the surface of the soil – right where grubs and larvae they love most are hanging out before the ground freezes and everything goes dormant.
But there’s one easy trick you can do in the summer that can help stop this fall mole invasion before it starts. And that trick is to get rid of grubs in the summer – or more importantly, eliminating what causes moles to arrive early. And one of the best ways to do that naturally is by using neem oil.
How To Get Rid Of Ground Moles Before They Become An Issue
Why Moles Arrive In The Fall
Moles are not rodents, like many people think. They’re insectivores. And that means they feed mainly on insects and larvae. While they’ll eat a few other insects and worms, they especially love grubs.
Grubs are the white, C-shaped larvae of beetles like Japanese beetles and June bugs. These larvae live just beneath the surface of your soil and are packed with nutrients, making them a perfect meal for a hungry mole.
In the fall, those grubs are reaching their largest size and are clustered in the top few inches of the soil. This is the same time moles are ramping up their feeding, which makes for a perfect storm of tunneling and soil upheaval.
If you’ve ever seen your yard start to look like a miniature mountain range in September or October, you’ve seen the result of moles feasting on grub populations. But here’s the good news: if there are no grubs in your yard, the moles have little reason to stay.
Why Summer Is The Key Time To Get Rid Of Ground Moles
In the heat of summer, adult Japanese beetles are busy laying eggs in your lawn and garden soil. These eggs hatch into grubs in mid to late summer, and those tiny grubs start burrowing just under the surface. As the weeks go on, they grow larger and more noticeable. Not just to gardeners but to the moles that hunt them.
That means if you can treat your lawn in mid to late summer, just as these grubs are hatching and starting to settle into the soil, you can stop them before they develop into a mole buffet by fall. And once the grubs are gone, most of the moles will be too.
Using Neem Oil to Get Rid Of Grubs & Ground Moles – Naturally
Neem oil is an all-natural solution that comes from the seeds of the neem tree. It’s been used for centuries as a natural pesticide. While it won’t harm beneficial insects when used properly, it’s deadly to many soft-bodied pests, including grubs.
When sprayed on your lawn, it gets absorbed into the soil and disrupts the life cycle of the grubs, killing them off and preventing them from growing into beetles the following year.
What makes neem oil even better is that it’s also effective against other lawn pests like ticks. So not only are you getting rid of grub problems, but you’re also reducing the number of ticks around your property—another big plus for anyone who spends time outdoors.
How To Use Neem Oil On A Lawn
Using neem oil to kill off grubs and get rid of ground moles in your lawn is easy. The key is to start spraying in mid to late summer and to be consistent with your applications.
Make sure to use 100% cold-pressed neem oil. You can find it online or at most garden centers. Do not use neem products that have been heavily processed or diluted. They will not be as effective. Affiliate Link: Neem Bliss (16 Fl Oz) – Pure Neem Oil Concentrate – 100% Cold Pressed Neem Oil
To apply neem oil to your lawn, mix it with water and a small amount of dish soap. The dish soap helps the oil stick to surfaces and mix evenly with water. A good ratio is:
- 1 to 2 tablespoons of neem oil
- 1 teaspoon of mild liquid dish soap
- 1 gallon of water
- Stir well and pour the solution into a garden sprayer or hose-end sprayer
Look Out For Pollinators
One of the most important things to remember is to spray your lawn early in the morning. This is when bees and pollinators are less active. Even though neem oil is considered safe for beneficial insects, it’s always best to avoid spraying when they’re out and about. Early morning also prevents the oil from drying too fast under the hot sun.
Spray the entire lawn evenly, especially in areas where beetles have been active or where you’ve noticed mole tunnels in the past. Be sure to also treat garden beds, borders, and around shrubs and trees. These are all places where beetles often lay eggs and grubs hide. Even better, this will get rid of ticks too! See: How To Get Rid Of Ticks With Neem Oil – Keep Your Yard Safe From Ticks!
Repeat Every 2 To 3 Weeks
To be effective in your effort to get rid of ground moles, neem oil needs to be applied more than once. Plan to spray your lawn every 2 to 3 weeks for a total of three applications through the late summer into early fall. This schedule ensures you’ll catch the grubs at all stages of development and prevent them from maturing.
By your final application in early fall, most of the grubs should be gone or severely reduced in number. Without a reliable food source, moles will either move on or go deeper into the soil, where they cause far less damage.
This one simple trick – spraying your lawn with natural neem oil – can make a huge difference in keeping your yard mole-free and looking great all the way through the fall season and beyond!
Simple Garden Life
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