There’s no effective cure-all for eliminating voles
Q: Voles have ruined my lawn for a second year in a row. How can I get rid of these critters? Last summer I repaired my lawn with top dressing and seed. At the end of the season I removed all the hosta leaves and mulch from the beds that border the lawn. I also cut the lawn short at the end of the season. My efforts did not prevent the same damage (or worse) over the winter. Oddly, I do not see this damage on any of my neighbours’ lawns or in the adjacent park. Do you have any advice for getting rid of these pests?
A: We have talked about this in the past but it has been several years, so let’s revisit this problem. One main reason the problem is especially bad again this year is the depth of the snow and how long it stayed on the ground. Mice and voles can cause considerable damage to garden landscaping. Not only do they create unsightly pathways on the lawn, but they can also eat bark on trees — fruit trees are a favourite.
Controlling the problem takes a bit of work, but can be done. Piling snow up along the edges of your property and then watering the piles down to turn them into ice is one possible solution. The ice acts as a barricade and prevents the rodents from getting into your yard. You can also use a wire mesh barrier. The wire would have to be 45 to 60 centimetres high to prevent the critters from crawling over it easily.
In your case, due to the damage the voles have caused, top dressing and overseeding will be a must. I’m sorry I don’t have an easy solution to this issue.
Thankfully, the damage rodents do to the lawn is more cosmetic than anything. The lawn will be unsightly for a time in the spring after the melt, but will not be permanently damaged and should grow back. I have had this problem myself, and all of the affected lawn that was damaged grew back. I would be more concerned with the trees. Using a good quality tree wrap will help protect the trees. These wraps are available in most garden centres, and are specifically made for the purpose of protecting trees from rodent damage. I highly recommend these wraps for homeowners in areas that have a rodent problem and for homeowners in new subdivisions.
Q: We have a Mandevilla plant that we thought might be root-bound. When we removed that plant from the urn we were surprised to see many large globule-type growths. Are these future plants if we separate them and plant them, something like dividing tulip bulbs after a couple of years of activity?
A: I think the growths you are seeing are the normal tubers of the plant. Mandevilla can be propagated by seeds, cuttings, or dividing the root ball. However, most new plants are produced from softwood cuttings taken in early spring. Trying to propagate Mandevilla from the tubers is not the best option.
Q: We power raked our lawn last spring. Is it advisable to power rake again this spring ? Could the grass be damaged by doing it every year? Also, at what stage is it best to do it, before or after the lawn greens up?
A: Power raking is a good way of removing the dead grass that has accumulated over the winter. Power raking a lawn properly will not harm the lawn. Hiring a professional is the best bet, but if you are doing it yourself try not to have the power rake set too low.
The best time to power rake is before there is too much new growth in the lawn. It is hard to time this, because you don’t want the ground to be too wet, although you don’t want too much new growth. Again, a professional lawn service will know the optimum time to power rake your lawn.