Pests don\u2019t just cause problems when they\u2019re found inside the home or at business premises, they can cause serious damage outside as well. Below we discuss two of the biggest agricultural pests \u2013 moles and rabbits and how you can prevent them from destroying your land.<\/p>\n
Moles\u00a0<\/strong> Other problems caused by moles include:<\/strong> \u2022 Mole netting \u2013 this prevents moles from tunnelling through to the surface of your lawn so you don\u2019t get molehills. This is a great preventative measure but it must be installed before turf is laid Rabbits<\/strong>
\nMoles can cause significant damage to your garden or land because they tunnel through soil. Not only does this look incredibly unsightly and cause damage to lawns, flower beds and vegetable gardens, if the infestation is severe enough, the ground can become unstable \u2013 damaging the foundations of your land and creating safety risks.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Contamination of silage with soil particles. This is a particularly big problem for farmers because it makes the soil unpalatable for livestock\u00a0\u2022 The covering of pasture with fresh soil can reduce its size and yield\u00a0\u2022 Damage can be caused to agricultural machinery because by turning up the soil, this can lead to the exposure of stones\u00a0\u2022 Damage to young plants thanks to the disturbance of the soil\u00a0\u2022 Weed invasion of pasture through exposure of fresh tilled soil\u00a0\u2022 Damage to drainage systems and watercourses\u00a0As you can see, moles can cause many problems so how can you prevent an infestation from occurring in the first place?<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Electronic devices \u2013 the buzzing noise is said to drive moles away. If you have a large garden it\u2019s worth investing in several devices because otherwise you may just end up driving them to another part of the garden
\n\u2022 Pest-Stop Biofume Mole Smoke emits castor oil fumes which deters worms and other potential food sources from entering tunnels. If there\u2019s no food to be found, moles will soon move on
\n\u2022 Euphorbia lathyris is a plant which is said to repel moles
\n\u2022 Call a professional pest controller who can discuss effective preventative measures with you<\/p>\n
\nOne of the main reasons why rabbits are considered to be agricultural pests is because they\u2019re herbivores. This means that they\u2019re in direct competition with livestock for pasture and end up consuming a lot of food that wasn\u2019t intended for them.
\nWhat\u2019s more, burrowing and scrapes can cause extensive damage on erosion-prone soils \u2013 so much so that land can be rendered useless. It\u2019s not unheard of for rabbit-infested farms to be abandoned because owners simply can\u2019t make a living anymore.
\n\u2022 Make your land or garden less inviting – rabbits will only live somewhere that provides cover from predators. They\u2019re particularly drawn to low-growing shrubs, in brush piles, tall grasses and under porches, sheds and other structures. Clean up brush piles, keep your grass mowed and block access points under structures.
\n\u2022 You can add collars around the trunk of young trees to prevent rabbit damage and add a fence around vegetable gardens
\n\u2022 There are a number of scare tactics you can use to prevent rabbits coming onto your land. These include water scarecrows, fake snakes and owls, aluminium pie pans and ultrasonic devices. Beware however that rabbits will get used to these tactics and their effectiveness will therefore wear off.<\/p>\n