Saving Your Plants from Voles | Gardening with Creekside

One of the most common garden pests that can wreak absolute destruction to a garden is voles. These ground-burrowing rodents can eat the entire root system of bulbs, perennials, & shrubs seemingly overnight! The great folks at Vole King have a simple, yet highly effective and genius product that protects the root system of our beloved garden treasures. Join me as I install one of their protective bags to a hosta in my mama's garden, and if this looks like a product you would like to use then check out their website listed below and use the provided coupon code to get 20% off your order!
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Creekside Nursery
181 Pine Hollow Dr
Dallas, NC, 28034

[@GardeningwithCreekside]

Vole King website www.voleking.com/ Coupon Code "CREEKSIDE20"

[@erickv.7447]

Ga the app and that the

[@mdwalker3034]

I have been battling voles for years. I am surrounded by woods and they are everywhere! Five years ago, I started buying these wire mesh baskets. They really work! At this point, have purchased at least 250 baskets:). VoleKing is pricey. I found a company in California, Western Planting Solutions, that makes similar product with a much better price (even with shipping). Another vole deterrent strategy is using Natura deer tablets. Nasty smelling/tasting ingredients that you place in ground around plant’s root ball. The plant’s roots uptake the ingredients and their leaves soon taste nasty to deer. Added benefit is that the roots now taste nasty to voles, also. These tablets have helped deter larger established plants. My local garden center carries the tablets. Jenny, you might want to consider carrying these at your nursery. Finally, I have luck keeping deer and voles out of my woodland beds by tossing out Milorganite in the fall-winter. Milorganite has a smell that seems to deter both of them, especially in the winter. Good luck, everyone!

[@lynnelovett8999]

Great tip Ms Jenny. Have a blessed day.

[@GardeningwithCreekside]

Thank you! You too!

[@bohnnco]

I will try these in my vole arsenal. I bought similar mesh baskets on Amazon from a different company. Another NC product for voles is called permatill - also sold as volebloc It’s a porous expanded slate for amending heavy clay. I use it alone when I plant new small plants and shrubs and in combination with the baskets. I put about two inches of it at the crown/drop line of the plant in place of mulch but if the basket is above ground you shouldn’t need it. For new plantings I use it in the hole as well to discourage tunneling. Voles love mulch, fallen leaves, pine straw etc. it gives them a place to hide from predators and easy digging to roots. I have also heard that voles are worse some seasons than others. This year was depressingly bad in my yard. I lost a lot of plants. I’m planting a few 10 gallon Japanese maples this fall and I will use permatill. Believe it or not they can girdle a small tree quickly, especially over winter. Cats do the trick but they are devastating to song birds, chipmunks etc. Happy fall everyone.

[@karenholmes9182]

Thank you, Jennie, for demonstrating this product. I first learned about voles about 10 years ago. Started using permatill (spelling ?) I understand voles do not like the sharp edges of these small stones. This seemed to work on new planting but I didn’t want to dig up every plant to add this permatill. I started using RepellAll (from HomeDepo)

[@jayesbeautifulchaos2244]

A few years ago during spring when the snow started to melt everyone in town started to notice little trails running all over our yards. The voles had created tunnels under the snow, but on top of the grass. Almost every yard had the vein looking trails all over their lawns going into their flower beds. It was crazy! There had to be millions of voles to create that much damage. The cats in town ate very well that year to say the least. We use the Bonide predator spray in the fall (this time of year) and haven’t had any issues since then.

[@BettyWhiteJr]

Oh the timing of this video….just perfect. Girl these darn things are causing me grief 😣😩 big huge thank you for this!! I actually got some midnight masquerade from you, and the voles in my yard have already destroyed 3 of them. I’m determined to save the other 3, I had to drive 3 hours to get those from you because we don’t carry them where I live. Pray for my plants lol

[@GardeningwithCreekside]

I completely understand! My poor mama has had the WORST time with them this late summer/fall.

[@AJsGreenThumbLLC]

My goodness the extra work that these lil critters cause just gives me grief! I've had to put all my dahlias in raised beds because the voles were enjoying them more than I was apparently!! LOL Great video that's right on time.

[@chorton38305]

We had a terrible problem with voles eating our hostas and liriope. We then hung several bird feeders at the edge of our garden which we keep filled with black oil sunflower seeds. We then noticed we had no more damage from the voles. Turned out they had so much food from the fallout of the bird feeders they no longer bothered anything else. This has worked for about ten years now. Killed two birds with one stone!

[@barbarawitt1049]

Hi! I've done some googling regarding voles, because I have to deal with these creatures. I read that voles are able to gnaw through such things as chicken wire! so, how would these bags hold up? they sound intriguing. Please let me know if any of you have had them rip into these bags. Thanks much1

[@lynnlee106]

i lost 25 hosta to voles this year..So sad! Please have your mama do a video of making the plant tags.

[@cherylhee9762]

That's so sad. They are not cheap either.

[@judymckerrow6720]

I have a mouse in the house, do you think it will work for him? He is a brave little mouse, running along side my chair when I’m sitting in it. He even stopped to look at me the other day. I’m just kidding about using the product to catch my house mouse. But not kidding about the brave little mouse, that’s on my list for extinction 🌺💚🙃

[@daisybabbs297]

I feel for you! Last time I had a field mouse in my house, it was hiding behind a box in my pantry and when I moved the box it jumped out at me.

[@Edu_Kate]

You think you have one. 😳 I put out snap traps in my kitchen and would lie in bed and listen for them to snap. Eew! What a sight to wake up to. And smell!

[@bridgetestarella9183]

I build my own cages yes it’s allot of work I will be trying these bags however the freaking voles go up to the surface and above the wire cage and still eat the plant 😫😫😫 I seem to have more. Aggressive voles I need help They Eat at least $200 worth of plants this summer

[@cmnr8487]

did you ever find anything that worked? I have the same issue, I have lost thousands of dollars of plants, and spent hundreds on pellets, poisons, traps, sprays, you name it. To say I am discouraged is an understatement, I am so unhappy I am considering divorce so I can move to a different house cause he doesn't want to move. I am over it all. :( feeling so desperate

[@patsfaith]

Moles are wrecking havoc in our grass and gardens! We’ve applied hundreds of dollars of grub killer/grub ex and we still haven’t stopped them! Any suggestions??

[@barbaramesloh7739]

We have voles---and no tulips! 816 tulips gone; so can bulbs be planted in these bags successfully? Thank you for addressing this problem.

[@GardenDiscovery]

Thank you for addressing this problem. We have gophers soooo bad this year. I've lost many ornamental grasses that id grown from seed, fescue and purple fountain grasses. They seem to be getting to roots of plants they usually leave alone. I have used these kind of bags for some plants but find it to be very expensive. Recently I went to the dollar store and found some waste baskets for, you got it, a dollar each. Im trying them out soon. Fingers crossed as I do not have the money to throw into my garden like others may. Budget gardener lol. Go away, Gophers!

[@jennifernash4638]

We've been pretty lucky - but I do have two indoor-outdoor cats (plus snakes and owls and hawks) and that has probably been the key to keeping these dudes under control. I've only lost a couple plants to burrowing animals and I didn't like them that much anyway.

[@soccermom1245]

cats, esp. hunter females, are also great for getting rid of them!!

[@laurelrosegardens6454]

I have had voles burrow up through the drain holes in my planters this year and eat the roots. They have removed almost half the potting soil out the drain hole too. Next year I will line my pots with something like hardware cloth or window screen.

[@GardeningwithCreekside]

Oh my goodness!!!! 😳

[@fannieallen6005]

The bags looks like a good idea. As far as snakes...I hate them., really hate the slithered serpents!

[@lorraines6994]

I got rid of my voles by pouring ammonia down the vole holes and then I scattered used cat litter minus the shall I say the solids, And they are gone and did not come back. And this year I have carrots where last year I only had carrot tops.

[@janicebrowningaquino792]

WHAT a great solution for a maddening problem! My issue in Seacoast NH s gray squirrels! They are also VERY destructive! I found one had climbed off my roof into a hanging basket and was digging the plants out of the basket ☹️! If I hadn’t heard the basket banging against the wall when there was NO wind, the darn thing would have destroyed it! They are cute, and very smart but they are also VARMINTS! 😬

[@GardeningwithCreekside]

My daddy calls squirrels "tree rats". I'll just leave it at that, ha ha ha!

[@Edu_Kate]

A girlfriend calls squirrels "fancy rats."

[@cmnr8487]

when I was a kid, my dad shot them, and mom ground them up and we made salad sandwiches with them. They were quite delicious honestly.

[@DJDOUBLE077]

MOLEMAX GRANULAR

[@RevAcres01]

Very lucky no voles in the garden but, deer maybe Vole King can make big bags to keep them out.😀

[@fayshaw1]

I sprinkled shredded Irish spring around the roots of my hostas. Not one p!ant was destroyed this year. They don't lime the smell.

[@DJDOUBLE077]

I use Irish spring and MOLEMAX granular around perimeter. I almost gave up after so many methods.

[@beatriceanderson9745]

Hi Jenny & Jerry!!! I enjoyed all your travel videos this summer!!! 😊💖🌸🐝🦋🌼👍👋🎃

[@GardeningwithCreekside]

Glad you like them!

[@tcondrey]

So needed this video!!! Thank you so much for the information. 💜🧡💜

[@GardeningwithCreekside]

You are so welcome!

[@jenniferhooks2454]

Mercy! Where has this product been the last 10 years of my gardening life?! I have had vole issues. The only reason I have any hostas is because I dug them up and planted them in clay pots. I also have a resident black snake that I see occasionally. I bang around when I garden so he has time move on off. This Vole King product is one whose time has come! Thanks for sharing.

[@GardeningwithCreekside]

Those were my mama's exact thoughts! SO glad this is helpful for you!!!

[@cynthia3157]

Would this work for spring bulbs?

[@GardeningwithCreekside]

Absolutely!

[@constanceleatherman7707]

How long do the bags last? If you put them around trees, won't they eventually constrict the roots?

[@carolynvenema1019]

When my hubby made me raised garden beds, he put hardware cloth on the bottom, nailed it to the wood, then we filled with compost/garden soil. The hope is to protect my tulip bulbs. So far, no voles or moles have gotten in either.

[@GardeningwithCreekside]

That's a great idea! What a fantastic way to be proactive!

[@kevinhollis2204]

Hi Jenny, they destroyed my irises( 50 plants) then started chewing the bark around my Oakland hollies (16 plants)and ate all the roots of my loriapi plant(100 plants). I tied every thing from poison to repellant which cost me a ton of money. What finally did it was to remove all the pine straw them went and got me about 7 cats. My voles are finally gone. They had tunnels all under the lawn and plants.

[@ziggyseeds]

What's to stop the voles from digging down to the roots at the base of the plant, basically inside the bag's perimeter?

[@coffeegator6116]

You are a great inspiration to all of us to get up and get moving!!!!!

[@mypeacefulhome5121]

Oh THANK YOU!! I have tried everything to get rid of the voles that are taking my garden one plant at a time. It has been so depressing to see all my hard work be destroyed. I ordered these bags immediately and can’t wait to try them. My last ditch effort before I go to planting in pots all over the yard 😂

[@GardeningwithCreekside]

You are so welcome!

[@the_Fat_Catz_Farm]

I wonder if metal window screen would work. But need somethingfor established raised beds. And entire vegetable gardens,

[@lyndastevens9726]

Great video! Thanks so much!

[@carolynmareck5112]

I have over 200 hostas in homemade baskets…you aren’t lying, wish I’d known about these several years ago…it’s been A LOT of work!!

[@MyBackyardScience]

Yes, we've had those critters attacking our plants in the past. This really looks like a great product

[@laurieanne9712]

Amazing idea! Thanks for showing us this! Question for Sunday: What is the difference between shrews & voles? I hear them used interchangeably, & what I have looks like your picture, but with a much pointier nose.

[@MarianneRuffhaven]

Sunday? Is Jenny answering questions on Sunday? I missed this info..

[@dernisepk6256]

I stopped gardening years ago because the darn voles destroyed everything. This year I used the bags on everything I planted. Everything is just beautiful...so many compliments and a few jelly bellies. I'm back in the garden game! Thanks Vole King!

[@johnnyutah1053]

I can't stand these things, I've lost a few plants this year from them. Thanks for the video!

[@GardeningwithCreekside]

Sorry to hear that, glad this was helpful!

[@Greenwitch_Garden]

I’m so sick of voles 😅 I’m gonna get chickens (to attract prey animals), plant salvia / sage everywhere (they hate it), and set traps everywhere.

[@jojohnston4113]

Genius! Thanks for sharing this product!

[@andrisport]

Thank you for Vole King recommendation! It made my life so much easier.

[@GardeningwithCreekside]

Excellent!!!

[@vanessasatterwhite3151]

The coupon code is not working for me. Is there another coupon code that works? Thank you

[@chrissingh7210]

Good morning. I am so that thankful we don't have that type of problem in our garden. Enjoy the rest of your day.🍹🌺

[@GardeningwithCreekside]

You too!

[@kaylac3367]

Do moles harm plants and young trees? I know they are destroying my yard. Tunnels everywhere! Very hard to get rid of. Ugh..

[@heathermcelroy7171]

I have moles, similar issue but different than voles, gopher, or ground squirrels. I've talked to all the local nurseries and a few exterminators in our area, zone 9 high desert CA, and they told me the moles are mostly eating the bugs in the mulch and the roots of plants die as a side effect of the burrowing and getting dried out. Again, high desert so you need mulch, all the yard is mulched. To control the moles they recommended planting in wire baskets, using an insecticide around the plants on the mulch, and poison bait. The cage blocks the moles from getting to close to the plants, to save as much root ball as possible, and the insecticide will remove the food source attracting the moles. I am using the wire baskets on new plantings, but still need to buy insecticide. It's going to be pricey to treat every plant, but better than seeing them die. I plan to use Bug and Slug Killer, it's a pellet you can sprinkle on the ground to kill a bunch of things that are mole food. As for the poison bait, Tomcat worm bait works well and is safer since it gets placed in the deep tunnels. You know those surface tunnels that look like mulch snakes? Moles also make deep tunnels. The deep tunnels are where you see a mound of mixed dirt and mulch. Wear disposable gloves to remove the mound so your hands don't leave human scent on the area and for your own protection because Tomcat worms are made with a neurotoxin. Follow the directions on the box and it will drastically cut down the mole population so the cages and insecticide can take care of the rest.

[@kaylac3367]

@@heathermcelroy7171 Thank you, that's helpful. I live in TN and working on controlling grubs, etc. to take away food sources.

[@laurasuitter2442]

Thanks for showing how to use this product. I’ve heard of it, but hadn’t used it before.

[@GardeningwithCreekside]

You’re welcome 😊

[@cherylhee9762]

What is it called when you have a fear of putting a plant in the ground

[@rhondamoore1432]

Does this work on golfers

[@GardeningwithCreekside]

I don't have experience with gophers so that would be a better question for the folks at Vole King.

[@sandrakendrick176]

I would also use Toms little green blocks put down into the tunnels to help kill them off. I also put a big rock over the top of the hole so no other good critters can get to it. I have made hardware cloth cages for my hostas for years to keep them from getting my hostas.

[@cockatielnation5425]

The problem with using rodenticides is that many of the rodents fall prey to things like hawks and owls. When they are ingested the poison affects the predator too so you end up killing off the very creatures you need to control the rodent population.

[@Edu_Kate]

I've heard potato flakes work on rodents. Sorry to be graphic. They get thirsty and the moisture makes them burst.

[@judithjohnson2111]

I lost ALL of my hostas. Eaten from the top down. Thought it was rabbits? But not sure. Seems like root is still there. I have 1area where the plants have just disappeared.grrrr. They were my most beautiful hostas. Thanks so much Jenny. The battle is on.👍

[@judithjohnson2111]

I have never seen a deer in my area....

[@cmnr8487]

I have deer bad and that sounds like deer. The voles eat the roots underneath and tunnel drying out the roots.

[@deborahdefries6246]

Great video Jenny! Where can I get those sweet little plant tags, I love them!

[@GardeningwithCreekside]

My mama & daddy made them 😳🥰

[@arelettebreaux938]

Good video, Jenny.I don't have that problem, think God! I hope it helps your Mama.

[@GardeningwithCreekside]

Thank you!

[@lyndawoodruff7625]

We have them so bad but what would you do in an 8’ x 4’ bulb bed. Do they have something for a bed this side????

[@GardeningwithCreekside]

They do have large rolls of the wire that you could line the bed with! Check out their website to see all of your options. www.voleking.com/

[@tracymiller1054]

I cannot express how excited I am to see this video. I have always battled voles but this year the chipmunks took over. I have lost so many hostas and other plants to these little #@!@#$s. This year I got hardware cloth, cut it into pieces and put it in the ground around the plants. So. Much. Work. We have a cat but she's super lazy.... the chipmunks run right by her and laugh. I am going to order a truckload of these this weekend. Thank you so much Jenny!!!

[@GardeningwithCreekside]

That’s exactly what my mama was doing & she about worked herself to death! You will be amazed at how easy it his to use these!

[@tracymiller1054]

@@GardeningwithCreekside I feel your Mama's pain, cutting that stuff is so hard. I already placed my order - cannot wait to try them out. Thanks again 🙌

[@DJDOUBLE077]

Molemax granular by bonide works great. I almost gave up until I found this product.

[@kevinhollis2204]

They also killed off my rhododendrons

[@annesweeney5552]

What are your mother glass flowers

[@JohannesJunkJournalLife]

Do they eat tomatoes off the plant?

[@karenhart4316]

Hi Jenny ; that’s interesting 🧐 we don’t get Voles 😵‍💫 thanks for sharing 🧤👒🐨🦘🇦🇺Karen from Australia 😎🦋🌱🐝

[@markpiersall9815]

Install a Barn Owl nest box.

[@Edu_Kate]

I'm so nervous voles will get at my David Austin roses I planted this year. I've read that's a good possibility. Considering how deeply I dug their planting holes I'm not sure even the biggest bag would have worked. I dug up a 'Sum & Substance' hosta from a long-neglected garden that gets overtaken by my neighbor's lily of the valley. The root ball was interwoven with the roots from the flowers. I could almost sense the hosta's relief getting rid of that interloper. I bet these bags would help with that problem. By the way, Nicole from "Flower Hill Farm" channel gave a good way to distinguish the good rodent from the bad. (Though I don't care for any rodents.) Moles eat Meat (get it? Starts with M) and Voles eat vegetation (V for vegetation). 😊

[@dc0145a]

oh My Lord!!!! voles are my nemesis. My hosta was growing just fine this past Spring. In June, I noticed it was leaning; walked over and barely touched it...there was only a small 'stump' of roots in tact. They did the same thing to my newly planted shrub rose ugh

[@kathymatheny6336]

This was my first year attempting to establish a flowerbed. I’ve found a lot if grubs (put down some granules before i covered with mulch in the Spring but now they’re in my big planters, even with fresh potting soil. I’ve had some plants lose all their roots but I assumed it was the grubs. Now I’m thinkin the swamp rats we thought we had, might be voles. I don’t know how to tell which pest is causing the damage. Any tips?

[@GAplantGuy]

OMG!! I love those plant tags!! Where does your sweet momma get them from?? Thank you. 🌱🌱🌱🌱

[@lauriedworak]

Thank you, Jenny! This video highlighted a problem I’ve been having and gave me the solution. I just placed my order to Vole King. Hopefully i won’t lose any more plants in the rock garden I established this past spring. Unlike you, my momma has never been much of a gardener so I’ve come to the garden party later in life. You and Laura at Garden Answers have been both an enormous help and an inspiration. I live in Tennessee and have friends in your area. I look forward to visiting Creekside the next time I’m close. In the meantime, I’ll have to settle for your virtual mentoring.

[@karenholmes9182]

Thank you, Jennie, for this demonstration of this produce. I will order it. I first learned about voles 10 years ago after losing several shrubs and a small dogwood tree. I first started using permatill (spelling ?) on new plants. I understand the voles don’t like the sharp edges of these mini stones and it seemed to work but didn’t want to dig up all my plants to apply this permatill. Then I tried Repels All (from Home Depo). Following the instructions this product so far seems to work but I just started using it.

[@greenthumbelina7331]

I've only had to deal with voles one year, a neighbor, who lives a block away from where I live, brought a bunch of farm cats to town, and by the following fall, the voles had nearly disappeared. Now our town has a thriving population of feral cats, lol! The cats have also greatly reduced the garter snake population. Who knows what'll be introduced next!

[@marilynfutrell6781]

A limelight question. Since you love love them I have just one limb on a plant shriveled and in some cases it looked like it’s snapped and just hanging abd dead. Leaves are sift brown dead. What do you think is the problem.

[@joemcdaniel6341]

Tried to buy four package of bags but they only offer express shipping which costs MORE than the product! $28.00 for shipping something that costs $21.00 (coupon) is a deal breaker.

[@GardeningwithCreekside]

No, they have free shipping. Please reach out to Vole King and they will help you select the correct shipping 😊

[@voleking3555]

Good morning Joe, we identified the issue this morning and it is now resolved! Thanks to everyone for the feedback!

[@sammysworld5485]

Feeding 9 outdoor stray cats, I have zero rodent pest problems. Yet very informative video TY!

[@ranibagasar8114]

Good morning 💐

[@GardeningwithCreekside]

Good morning!

[@travsgardenstravshauntedya1998]

Yep in the past the Voles and Moles have been horrible but This year they haven't been too bad. We have 2 cats that are out side anf they are both big hunters last week they killed a Squirrel 😑 We also have 6 dogs we just got 2 beagles pups this summer so i think they may stay out of our yard hopefully!

[@v.mishrasart43]

Very nice👍😊😊

[@MisBunnypics]

I've seen a few extra voles this year but yesterday I saw a hawk fly off with one! Haven't noticed any plant damage I think mine like worms more which I have lots.

[@deborahspencer9112]

The voles in my yard are not killing plants either, seems they are after the grubs under ground.

[@LitlPoot]

Voles are vegetarians (99%) ; Moles will eat the worms, grubs

[@MisBunnypics]

@@LitlPoot Hmm not moles had them before their the most destructive of all. Maybe shrews.

[@interestedobserver9352]

We are having this problem with our vegetable garden but this is just too much work for all the vegetables we grow, plus you are starting out with tiny little plants or even seeds. Anybody have any ideas how to deal with these creatures in a veg garden? One day I've got 8 pepper plants growing strong and the next day 4 of them are completely wilted - when I go to pull them out it's just a stem!

[@GardeningwithCreekside]

Another viewer said that her husband made her raised beds but layered the bottom with hardware cloth, ran the cloth up the sides of the boards, & then nailed the cloth to the boards before filling the beds with soil. It seemed to be pretty effective for her!

[@interestedobserver9352]

@@GardeningwithCreekside thanks for the tip!

[@marilynbaldwin2934]

Fortunately i have never had that problem! Sorry that you all do! There is always something that wont let gardens alone!

[@stephaniejohnson2937]

What a great idea!!! Gardening presents so many issues we have to deal with…this looks like a great solution to those critters that like to eat the roots of my hostas!!!!

[@lucyyoung5307]

I’ve lost countless plant from voles. Thanks for the info. My three cats were no help.

[@terrywalkenhorst5131]

I so wish I could get my moles under control. They have been the worst ever this year!😡

[@angelaholinka3248]

We have always treated our moles/voles with cheap 10-10-10 fertilizers, administered very lightly throughout the growing season. Moles/voles eat the grubs in your ground. Grubs don't like fertilizers. Therefore the moles/voles will move on.

[@marilyngandy2299]

Voles are vegetarians/ moles aren't.

[@camicri4263]

Thanks Jenny, most helpful!

[@pecan11]

How do u tell if the piles of dirt tunnels r voles or moles?

[@SenterStuff]

Something is eating my hostas in my back garden. The leaves are almost all gone! Any idea what that might be? ~Cassandra, Zone 9A

[@nancypatterson374]

Do you have deer? I gave up trying to have roses, I only kept 1 out of 25 and planted it next to my house. I cut it back few weeks ago and beautiful new growth put out with buds. I walked by one day and half the buds were eaten. So frustrating! 😬

[@VCsGARDENINGCHANNEL]

Very nice information shared mam🙏

[@janmoses1533]

I wonder how these compare to planting with PermaTill ( my solution to voles)

[@GardeningwithCreekside]

This would be a great option when permatil isn’t enough and/or to ensure that a plant stays safe when you plant it. It’s all about having various tools in your toolbox!

[@CrecenteDesigns]

Awesome!! Thanks, Jenny!

[@judithjohnson2111]

I lost ALL of my hostas. Eaten from the top down. Thought it was rabbits? But not sure. Seems like root is still there. I have 1area where the plants have just disappeared.grrrr. They were my most beautiful hostas. Thanks so much Jenny. The battle is on.👍

[@cherylhee9762]

Do you have deer? Deer love hostas.

[@daisybabbs297]

Good luck. I declared war in the spring on the bunnies in my yard. They were eating my arborvitae, roses, coneflowers, and jasmine star. I ended up using a small animal trap and relocated two of them. But, just saw a new one in my yard the other day. Guess I lost the war. :(

[@judymiddleswart9350]

Wow! Good to know!!!

[@patriciamoss3760]

Thanks for this. Ive had issue with voles for year but in the lawn. Any advice? I have asked numerous folks who say no way to get ride of them.

[@karenmarie3326]

I’m going to try castor oil and Dawn detergent on the lawn this fall, give it a Google. They are most active during the winter ❄️ in zone 6 Ohio.

[@jennifernash4638]

Cats! But if that's not an option, see if you have a friend that will bring you some used cat litter to sprinkle in the holes. It's so gross but the smell of cat litter will encourage them to move.

[@joanwalters4741]

Good to know!

[@carolyost6733]

Wonderful news. Yes, i have Voles. We slso have a Mole. How do we get rid of him?

[@heathermcelroy7171]

I have moles, similar issue but different than voles, gopher, or ground squirrels. I've talked to all the local nurseries and a few exterminators in our area, zone 9 high desert CA, and they told me the moles are mostly eating the bugs in the mulch and the roots of plants die as a side effect of the burrowing and getting dried out. Again, high desert so you need mulch, all the yard is mulched. To control the moles they recommended planting in wire baskets, using an insecticide around the plants on the mulch, and poison bait. The cage blocks the moles from getting to close to the plants, to save as much root ball as possible, and the insecticide will remove the food source attracting the moles. I am using the wire baskets on new plantings, but still need to buy insecticide. It's going to be pricey to treat every plant, but better than seeing them die. I plan to use Bonide Bug and Slug Killer, it's a pellet you can sprinkle on the ground to kill a bunch of things that are mole food. As for the poison bait, Tomcat worm bait works well and is safer since it gets placed in the deep tunnels. You know those surface tunnels that look like mulch snakes? Moles also make deep tunnels. The deep tunnels are where you see a mound of mixed dirt and mulch. Wear disposable gloves to remove the mound so your hands don't leave human scent on the area and for your own protection because Tomcat worms are made with a neurotoxin. Follow the directions on the box and it will drastically cut down the mole population so the cages and insecticide can take care of the rest.

[@carolyost6733]

Thank you so much Heather. I am in zone 5B central illinois. Our neighbor also said to put down grub stuff f to treat the lawn. They like grubs.

[@robinrowell1808]

Will these work for moles too?

[@heathermcelroy7171]

I have moles, similar issue but different than voles, gopher, or ground squirrels. I've talked to all the local nurseries and a few exterminators in our area, zone 9 high desert CA, and they told me the moles are mostly eating the bugs in the mulch and the roots of plants die as a side effect of the burrowing and getting dried out. Again, high desert so you need mulch, all the yard is mulched. To control the moles they recommended planting in wire baskets, using an insecticide around the plants on the mulch, and poison bait. The cage blocks the moles from getting to close to the plants, to save as much root ball as possible, and the insecticide will remove the food source attracting the moles. I am using the wire baskets on new plantings, but still need to buy insecticide. It's going to be pricey to treat every plant, but better than seeing them die. I plan to use Bonide Bug and Slug Killer, it's a pellet you can sprinkle on the ground to kill a bunch of things that are mole food. As for the poison bait, Tomcat worm bait works well and is safer since it gets placed in the deep tunnels. You know those surface tunnels that look like mulch snakes? Moles also make deep tunnels. The deep tunnels are where you see a mound of mixed dirt and mulch. Wear disposable gloves to remove the mound so your hands don't leave human scent on the area and for your own protection because Tomcat worms are made with a neurotoxin. Follow the directions on the box and it will drastically cut down the mole population so the cages and insecticide can take care of the rest.

[@bettywillard9168]

What’s the difference between a mole and a vole? I understood a mole Burroughs in the grass where as a vole would be in the soil with the plants is this correct? Also I would love to hear if you have any remedies to keep the deer from eating our flowers especially our hostas that eat from top down. 😡

[@cockatielnation5425]

Moles make deeper burrows and feed on insects, worms and grubs. Voles will use mole burrows but usually make surface tunnels just under the mulch. They eat plant materials like roots and tender shoots.

[@Edu_Kate]

Moles eat "meat" and Voles eat vegetation.

[@lynfl9814]

I'm sorry; but, I don't get this product on several levels. First, it looks like this is a plastic product. We have a massive plastic problem on this planet and the last thing we should be adding to a garden is plastic. The second big issue is this product will restrain the root system in that bag and cause it to get root bound. I would not use this product.

[@GardeningwithCreekside]

As I stated in the video, it is metal, it is not made of plastic. As far as getting root-bound, again as I stated in the video the roots will be able to grow through the metal mesh while the heart of the root system is protected.

[@lynfl9814]

@@GardeningwithCreekside Large trees are encased in metal baskets (with very large openings between the metal wire) and they are finding that landscapers that plant them with the metal casing intact are becoming root bound. I saw this happen in a large tree that had been planted in the yard of our previous home. We had a maple tree that was dying; when we had it removed and they dug up the wire basket on the root system; it had caused root binding in this tree. I think this tight metal mesh would do the same thing to perennials. I just don't think it is a good product.

[@mdwalker3034]

@@lynfl9814 I’ve been using these baskets for 5 years. Roots definitely grow through the wire mesh openings. Trust me…these bags are game changers when battling voles. The baskets protect the main root ball from the voles. If voles eat the main root ball, the plant will die. If voles eat the roots that grow outside the bag, it will survive.

[@lynfl9814]

Another issue that really needs to be pointed out is the idea of using outdoor cats for rodent control. Outdoor cats are a disaster to birds, small mammals and snakes (which are excellent rodent control). In the US, out door cats kill approximately 2.4 billion birds every year. Although this number may seem unbelievable, it represents the combined impact of tens of millions of outdoor cats. Cats go into bird nests and wipe entire nests of birds, too. People that feed birds; get very angry and upset to see a cat stalking their feeders and killing birds on the ground or on the feeder. Outdoor cats are notorious for killing other small animals and snakes, as well. When they kill a snake; they are wiping out an excellent natural rodent control. Being outdoors is not good for the cat, either. They can pickup up deadly diseases from other cats, or get parasites, they get hit by cars, they can get in deadly cat fights with other cats, they can eat a mouse or rat that has been poisoned and they may die, as well. They can be killed by larger predatory animals. Here in Florida; they can be bit by a venomous snake. Other animals that can kill them are coyote, bobcat, cougars, even large owls, eagles and hawks can take a young cat as prey. Outdoors is not a good place to allow your cat to roam.

[@cmnr8487]

cats have roamed outdoors since God created them lol, and I am to the point that my sanity is on the line with my garden being destroyed year after year and wasting literally thousands of dollars, yes, it's that bad. 10 years of work destroyed the past 2 years by rodents, with no viable solution in sight.

[@Badassquilter]

I am super interested …. Do you think they would work for bulbs? Chipmunks are dragging my expensive bulbs down into their tunnels.

[@GardeningwithCreekside]

Absolutely!!!