Vole Holes Day 3

I have a vole problem in my hugelkulter bed. I built the hugelkulter, for the first time, like you are supposed to… and I hate it. I’ve been building “hugelkulter-like” beds for twelve years and I’ve never had voles. But I didn’t use logs, I used mulch. (See how I do it here: perfect raised beds.)

I am trying to rid myself of the vole family without traps or poison. My dog getting into the traps and that there’s no safe poison for use around fruit trees, being the reasons. To do this: I am trying essential oils. I’m putting the oils down their holes. I applied some three days ago. Today I checked. The vole holes have moved.

Since I had some time and it wasn’t 100° out yet, I got a piece of rebar and pushed it into the soil. It’s super easy to tell if you’ve hit a tunnel. The rebar will drop down, with no exertion on your end. So: I opened probably fifteen holes across the bed. Then I dripped more oil down each hole. This covers pretty much the entire area of this bed. I don’t mind repeating this until they leave for good. With the amount of holes (that are now super stinky to voles because I used straight peppermint and spearmint oils), the voles should get the hint that they are not wanted.

This doesn’t take long to do, but it was still too hot to be outside for very long.

Today, I also watered all of the weedy areas on my quarter acre piece of land. I’m about to spray Roundup 365 on a bunch of out of control grass that came in from the park behind our house. This helps the plant’s leaves pull the herbicide spray into the plant more efficiently. I wanted to finish (or at least start) the herbicide today, but I gave up. It’s too hot. I have an appointment for my son later and I now need a shower. Maybe I’ll spray some this evening.

Voles: 3.

Me: zero.

Of course they aren’t using the original holes (that I treated three days ago.) So maybe I’m doing better than I think I am? I’m patient. I know these little critters need a home, they just need to find one elsewhere.

I have a nearly endless supply of essential oils thanks to my husband’s weird buying habits. I don’t mind that whole area of my yard, smelling nice to me, and bad to the voles.

Hehehe (evil laugh) I can wait you out, vole family!

Meet you out in the garden to add fragrance to the yard, by adding essential oils to some holes of some evil digging mammals.

I’ll get you, my pretty…and your little voles too! 😈🧹🪄

Crazy Green Thumbs