Forgotten Victorian Garden Trick to Stop Mole Hills for Good…
Mole hills are causing chaos in gardens up and down the country — but a Victorian gardening method is being brought back, and it’s proving surprisingly effective. Garden expert Lena Wren, who has years of experience restoring traditional British gardens, suggests reintroducing a forgotten fix that sends moles elsewhere — without harming them.
The trick? Burying glass bottles neck-up into the soil. As the wind blows across the bottle’s opening, it produces a low humming sound. We might barely notice it — but underground creatures do.
“It creates a subtle vibration through the soil. Moles and even slugs pick up on it and move away. It unsettles them without doing any harm.” – Garden expert Lena Wren
You can use old wine bottles, lemonade bottles, anything with a narrow neck. Just bury them halfway into the ground with the opening exposed — ideally in flowerbeds or along mole-prone areas of your lawn. Simple, natural, and it works
This method has been used since the 1800s and is now being revived by gardeners looking for a chemical-free, low-effort solution.
Wren says the trick works even better when paired with a few extras:
- Crown imperial flowers — their strong scent is known to deter moles
- Used coffee grounds or onion skins — disrupt soil scent trails
- Avoid fresh digging — moles are drawn to newly turned soil
“It’s about creating an environment that tells pests: you’re not welcome here,” – Garden expert Lena Wren
No chemicals. No mess. Just clever gardening. With more homeowners wanting safe, pet-friendly garden fixes, this Victorian hack couldn’t have resurfaced at a better time. Wren adds, “It’s a smart way to work with nature instead of against it — and it adds a bit of charm to your garden too.”
With more people investing in Heat Pumps it has also seemingly been an issue for installers in recent times. A spokesperson for Heat Pump Covers told ATV Today Home:
“We install heat pump covers in homes across the UK — and they’re almost always located in the garden. Over the years, we’ve noticed mole hills in nearly every lawn we work in. Customers ask us what they can do, and we’ve never had a proper answer — until now. This method is simple, safe and genuinely effective. Constructing your garden the right way means thinking beyond looks. We’re pleased we can finally offer a natural fix that actually works.”
