Complete Gardening
A beautiful, green garden can bring so much joy – until moles start turning it into their personal playground. These tiny diggers may look harmless, but their underground tunnels can destroy roots, ruin lawns, and make your garden look patchy and uneven. While chemical repellents and traps can be expensive or even harmful to pets and plants, there’s a simpler, safer solution that really works.
This old-fashioned trick comes straight from my nana, who swore by it for keeping moles away from her garden. It takes just four minutes to do, involves no special tools, and is completely natural and non-toxic.
What You’ll Need:
- 1 bar of deodorant soap (any strong scent works best)
- A cheese grater or a kitchen knife
- A watering can or garden hose
- Garden gloves (optional)
Step-by-Step: The 4-Minute Soap Trick
- Grate or shave the soap: Take your bar of deodorant soap and use a grater or knife to make small shavings. The stronger the scent, the better the results.
- Spread around mole tunnels: Sprinkle the soap shavings generously over areas where you’ve seen mole activity — along tunnels, mounds, or entry points.
- Water lightly: Gently water the area using a watering can or hose. The moisture helps carry the scent of the soap deeper into the soil, spreading the deterrent further.
- Repeat weekly: Reapply once a week or after heavy rain to keep the smell fresh and effective.
Why This Works So Well
The secret lies in the strong fragrance of the deodorant soap. Moles rely heavily on their sense of smell, and the scent is so unpleasant to them that they’ll move elsewhere. Unlike harsh chemicals or traps, this method is humane, inexpensive, and completely safe for pets, plants, and beneficial insects.
Extra Tips for Success
- Use soaps with strong scents like Irish Spring or similar deodorant types.
- If mole tunnels reappear, apply extra soap shavings directly into the holes.
- Combine with natural barriers such as planting marigolds or daffodils, which also deter moles.
The Takeaway
With just a few minutes of effort, you can enjoy a mole-free garden without resorting to toxic repellents. My nana’s soap trick has been used for decades because it works — it’s quick, affordable, and eco-friendly.
Try it yourself this week, and you might just find that those pesky moles pack up and leave for good.
