Fall usually brings some welcome relief after a long North Texas summer. But it can also bring a couple of familiar lawn problems.

Moles may start leaving fresh tunnels and mounds across the yard, while fall moisture can bring ant mounds back to the surface. If either one is showing up around your place, now is a good time to get after it.

Moles Making a Mess of the Lawn?

Moles spend most of their time underground looking for food. They eat earthworms, grubs and other insects in the soil. That’s why you often notice the tunnels before you ever see the mole.

If you have active grubs in the lawn, treating them can remove one of the food sources moles are after. Just keep in mind that eliminating grubs doesn’t guarantee the moles will leave. Earthworms and other food sources may still keep them around.

For direct mole control, Johnson Feed carries Motomco Mole Killer in worm- and grub-shaped baits. They’re designed to mimic foods moles naturally eat and contain bromethalin as the active ingredient.

Other options are Ferti-lome MoleGo Granules. This product is repellent, rather than a poison bait. Then there’s Giant Destroyer – Super Gasser, which is a burrow fumigation product.

Client also like Dylox when grubs are part of the problem. Dylox works as a grub treatment, not a mole poison. In this case, you’re treating one of the food sources, not the mole itself.

Mole control can take some patience. Products such as mole baits and repellents work in different ways, so it helps to know what you’re dealing with before choosing a treatment.

Ant Mounds Popping Up?

Fall moisture can also bring more visible ant activity. Once those mounds start appearing around the lawn, flower beds or pasture, it’s a good time to get ahead of them.

One of the client’s favorites is Extinguish Plus Fire Ant Bait, which Johnson Feed carries. It combines hydramethylnon with the insect growth regulator (S)-methoprene. Worker ants carry the bait back to the colony, where the two active ingredients work on both the workers and the queen.

For broadcast treatment, a 1.5-pound container covers up to one acre at the labeled rate. Apply it when the ants are actively foraging and the ground is dry. The manufacturer recommends applying when soil temperatures are above 60°F and avoiding application within six hours of rain.

For individual active mounds, we also carry Nature’s Creation Fire Ant Insecticide. It offers both dry and wet application options for treating problem mounds.

As always, read and follow the label before applying any pest-control product.

Take Care of Those Fall Lawn Pests

Mole tunnels and ant mounds can both become a headache this time of year, but you have options for getting them under control.

Not sure which product makes sense for your yard? Stop by the store and tell us what you’re seeing, and bring photos. We’re always happy to help you find the right product for the job.