I just got done sharpening the blades and greasing my BX . I was wondering if deck performance is degraded by the grassy\dirt residue that builds up under the deck? When i got done scraping I had quite a healthy pile of green mower debris. I don't cut grass wet (if i can help it) but still get this build-up. One thing I can attribute this to is them $*#@! moles in the yard. Their dirt mounds and tunnels seem to get mixed with the lawn clippings and make the buildup on the deck bottom. Any suggestion on killing moles would be appreciated/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif. I have killed about 13 with traps this summer and reduced the feedeing of some with Diazinon but now they are hunkered in deep and make mounds in yard. My AK works good if you can see them moving but I think the neighbors frown upon the noise.. he he/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif help...
Mowing Moles and Mower Debris
- Thread starter nazud
- Start date
- Views: 2778
gotrocks
Platinum Member
Please don't tell the SPCA but I've taken highway flares and cut them into small sections, then light them with propane torch. Toss into hole and plug with a little dirt. Watch for smoke escaping from other locations, plug those also.
Be careful lighting small pieces that spatter stuff is HOT and it will stick to RAW skin.
Be careful lighting small pieces that spatter stuff is HOT and it will stick to RAW skin.
pro_tel
Member
I haven’t tried this myself, but a friend has used regular mouse traps baited with pieces of carrot. He said it is quite effective. Once they move into your lawn, you must encourage them to leave or they stay forever.
The best way I’ve found to clean the under side of my mower is with the pressure sprayer.
The best way I’ve found to clean the under side of my mower is with the pressure sprayer.
theboman
Veteran Member
Ground up moles are great for the ground. In my hours of bush hogging they are many, many, many moles getting churnned up. I've seen several scat for cover.
The build up on the mower is natural and shouldn't really affect the cut and all grass has moisture otherwises it's dead.
Bluegrass, Pick It Up!
The build up on the mower is natural and shouldn't really affect the cut and all grass has moisture otherwises it's dead.
Bluegrass, Pick It Up!
gotrocks
Platinum Member
Theboman; I'm not sure but I suspect what you see scurrying from the bush hogging are "voles" or some kind of field mouse. If you were roto-tilling than maybe you'd see moles, but they seldom appear above ground around here.
I flunked zoology the first time. gotrocks
I flunked zoology the first time. gotrocks
StoneHeartFarm
Veteran Member
nazud,
Don't know about anyone else, but I've got a mole dog. Won't play fetch, won't do tricks, whines and cries all the time and hides during thunder storms. But she WILL wait by mole holes for HOURS. I've seen her catch 2 or 3 so far, sits and stares at the hole and then just shoves that pointy nose right down into the dirt and out comes mister mole. (The mole's don't seem to like this much). It's about the only thing she can catch since the chipmunks and squirrels are too fast.
SHF
Don't know about anyone else, but I've got a mole dog. Won't play fetch, won't do tricks, whines and cries all the time and hides during thunder storms. But she WILL wait by mole holes for HOURS. I've seen her catch 2 or 3 so far, sits and stares at the hole and then just shoves that pointy nose right down into the dirt and out comes mister mole. (The mole's don't seem to like this much). It's about the only thing she can catch since the chipmunks and squirrels are too fast.
SHF
TWINKLE_TOES
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2000
- Messages
- 1,366
nazud,
I have highly developed moles at my place. They have learned to place all of the rocks in the mounds at the exact right elevation to contact the mower blades. If not for them I could go four times as long between blade sharpening. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif <font color=blue>Any suggestion on killing moles would be appreciated</font color=blue> Search the archives on moles or #$%#$% moles or *(&^%$ moles. No long ago a very fun thread was dedicated to their demise./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I think the consensus was trapping is your best bet.
Al
I have highly developed moles at my place. They have learned to place all of the rocks in the mounds at the exact right elevation to contact the mower blades. If not for them I could go four times as long between blade sharpening. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif <font color=blue>Any suggestion on killing moles would be appreciated</font color=blue> Search the archives on moles or #$%#$% moles or *(&^%$ moles. No long ago a very fun thread was dedicated to their demise./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I think the consensus was trapping is your best bet.
Al
theboman
Veteran Member
Mmm, mmm good,
Mmm, mmm good.
Mulched Mole Stew,
Is mmm, mmm good.
Bluegrass, Pick It Up!
Mmm, mmm good.
Mulched Mole Stew,
Is mmm, mmm good.
Bluegrass, Pick It Up!
MossRoad
Super Moderator
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2001
- Messages
- 58,104
- Location
- South Bend, Indiana (near)
- Tractor
- Power Trac PT425 2001 Model Year
I'm obsessed with mole control because they go under my above ground pool and damage the liner. I don't like killing animals for no reason, but they have cost me plenty. I've killed 22 last year and 29 this year on my 1.1 acres with only 3 traps. The nash choker trap and victor jaws trap work great. The trap with spikes that shoot down don't work as well for me. Don't bother trapping the mole hills. Find the main tunnels and trap those. Some tunnels are more than a foot down. They are like little mole interstate highways. If you want more info, I'll post it.