Are you looking to learn how to get rid of ground moles with dawn soap? This popular dish soap is now a main ingredient in an eco-friendly recipe that swears to keep unwanted moles at bay. It may be gentle on your hands but harsh and irritating to these burrowing rodents.
Getting rid of ground moles with Dawn soap entails mixing the soap with castor oil and water and spraying the yard. The smell will repel the moles, causing them to abandon their habitat and leave. Filling all vacant holes after the moles have gone is crucial to prevent them from returning.
In this article, I’ll show you step-by-step how to get rid of ground moles with Dawn soap. I’ll also cover some frequently asked questions regarding mole invasion and the various methods of eliminating them from your yard.
How to Get Rid of Ground Moles With Dawn Soap
Getting rid of ground moles can be daunting as they’re subterranean creatures.
Even though these pesky animals help to control a lawn’s pest population, they are so proficient at destruction.
They dig holes and underground tunnels in search of insects, which weakens your yard’s strength to the extent of collapsing under someone’s weight.
Burrowing also destroys grass and other plants from the roots up, leaving dead grass trails. It may also damage your house if it occurs near the foundation.
Moreover, the resulting mole hills and trip holes are not only unsightly but also a health hazard. You risk tripping and spraining your leg while walking on your property.
Thankfully, there are several ways to eliminate moles in your yard, including traps and repellents.
Most people prefer repellents as they’re quick and inexpensive. Even more, people choose natural ones with organic substances and ingredients. Natural repellents are eco-friendly as they do not contain harmful chemicals. They’re also safe for families and pets.
Dawn soap is one of the natural repellents that can ward off these meddlesome diggers.
Here’s how to get rid of ground moles with dawn soap.
Requirements:
- Water
- Ammonia or animal urine (optional)
- Dawn dish soap
- Castor oil
- Hose-end garden sprayer or spray bottle
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1. Prepare Dawn Soap Solution
You’ll want to begin by preparing the remedy.
Mix 1 cup of Dawn dish soap with ½ cup of castor oil. You can also add a cup of ammonia or ½ cup of animal urine (carnivore or omnivore) to the mixture. This is, however, optional.
Pour the mixture into a hose-end sprayer. It will mix with water when you turn the hose on.
Alternatively, if you lack a hose-end sprayer, mix 4 ounces (118 ml) of castor oil with two tablespoonfuls of Dawn soap and pour in a gallon of water. Then, fill your spray bottle and shake it properly before use.
Related: How to Stop Skunk From Digging Up Lawn
2. Spray Your Entire Lawn
Next is to spray your lawn liberally, particularly areas with mole activity.
While spotting an actual mole in your lawn can be difficult, check for the following activity signs.
- Loose soil
- Molehills
- Surface runways or tunnels
- Raised ridges
- Dead grass and plants
Ensure to soak the ground thoroughly so that moles don’t find a place to hide. This will also ensure the treatment stays on the ground for quite some time.
Pouring some of the mixture directly into the holes would also be best.
For a large-scale property, a sectional approach will be best to sufficiently coat the yard and divide the task into more manageable chunks. You might need to mix more dawn soap solution to cover the whole property adequately.
The scent of the mixture will irritate the rodents, and they’ll abandon their tunnels and leave the area in no time.
Ground moles particularly hate castor oil. This ingredient upsets their gastrointestinal tract and irritates their skin.
Important note: You may need to repeat the treatment at least once every week for one month or until you’re sure the moles are gone. Also, be sure to reapply the treatment if it rains. Rains will wash away the treatment, rendering the process unsuccessful.
Lastly, consider applying this treatment in early spring, just before the mole breeding season begins, for best results.
3. Fill All Visible Mole Holes
Once the moles are gone, you’ll want to fill all the visible tunnel entrances in your yard. Do this using dirt mixed with the Dawn soap treatment.
This way, you will prevent the moles from returning. You’ll also fix the unsightly molehills ruining your yard’s aesthetics.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why Do Moles Show Up in My Yard?
Moles appear in your yard because it offers the perfect habitat for feeding, breeding, and burrowing.
Moles are attracted to yards rich in organic matter with high populations of lawn insects, centipedes, earthworms, and grubs. These are their primary food sources because they’re insectivores.
Moles will not find your lawn attractive if it has no food sources.
They also love areas with cool temperatures and many shrubs and trees so they can dig around the roots to locate insects.
Moles also burrow along landscaping structures like fence rows, paths, and artificial borders.
How Do I Stop Moles from Digging My Lawn?
You can stop moles from digging your lawn in the following ways.
- Remove food sources: Cutting their food supply is the surest way to eliminate moles. Control pest populations on your lawn with appropriate pesticides and homemade remedies to prevent mole invasion.
- Employ mole traps and baits: Place mole traps or baits inside active tunnels during fall or spring for best results. Moles are most active during these times. To identify a high-traffic runway, poke holes into the soil at the top of the tunnel and observe whether the damage will be repaired in a few days.
- Use repellents: You can use mole repellents instead of traps and baits. Most commercial repellents utilize castor oil as the base ingredient because moles hate its smell and taste. You can also make one at home using castor oil and other household items like baking soda or Dawn soap.
- Avoid overwatering your lawn: A damp lawn harbours many pests that will attract moles. Moles also like to burrow in soft, wet soil. Consider watering your lawn early in the morning so the excess water can evaporate during the daytime and leave the soil dry at night. Use a timer to set sprinklers and resist the urge to water on rainy days.
- Apply fumigants: You can hire professional fumigation services to deal with stubborn moles. Fumigation is where lethal concentrations of toxic gas cartridges are delivered deep inside the tunnels to kill moles.
- Construct a vertical dig-proof barrier: Protect your lawn from mole invasion by constructing a barrier around its perimeter. Dig a 2-3 feet deep and 6 inches wide trench and fill it with rocks. Alternatively, you can use a wire mesh or a hardware fabric provided it extends 2 feet or more into the ground and 6-12 inches above.
Final Words
A mixture of Dawn soap and castor oil is a powerful natural mole repellent many lawn owners can attest to. It is simple to prepare, and the ingredients are affordable and readily available.
This step-by-step guide will be the key to permanently eliminating the notorious moles in your yard.
Alternatively, you can set baits and traps at the tunnel holes, fumigate or build a barrier around the perimeter of your property to keep the moles away. Pest control and proper watering will also make your lawn inhospitable to moles.
