Mole Hills in your garden

Do you have moles in your garden? I looked out at my grass this morning and noticed that the moles have been partying again. I must admit, my first reaction is amusement. I cannot look at a mole hill without thinking of the childrens book about them.
Duncton Wood By William Horwood.
The  other thing which raises a smile is the thought of the video by Jasper Carrot trying to rid himself of moles.

On a more serious note, moles can totally destroy the look of your lawn. Or perhaps I should say a mole since they are very territorial. There are  many suggestions for ridding your garden of them, from mole scarers to traps. The latest control are mole repelling bulbs which secrete a smell which is undetectable to humans but which supposedly repels moles and underground slugs for two years. I haven’t tried it but if it works, it would be great. I have tried traps, and various other mole scarers without much success. I have learned to live with them. My cats occasionally catch them, particularly young ones, so they do not do too much damage.

Moles do not like freshly cultivated soil so they are unlikely to invade your vegetable beds or new flower beds. However, they are attracted by worms so if you leave grass clippings on your lawn to rot down, they attract worms which in turn attract the mole. The biggest problem with moles is not on the lawn ( if you clear up the hill, the grass will grow back) but that they can tunnel under or through the roots of shrubs and other plants, leaving the roots in air and killing them.

Mole hills can be useful in your garden. I carefully collect them for use as compost to place cuttings in and also for pots on the patio. The soil in mole hills is soft and friable, it has been conveniently broken up for you. I actually sow peas in pots in it.

I have have said, I have not yet found a sensible way of either deterring or removing moles from my garden. Any sugestions would be gratefully received.