Last Updated on July 28, 2022 by ReTurf

We’ve all been there—we’re enjoying our backyard or doing some work on the side of the house in the middle of the summer, when all of a sudden, we notice some clumped up hills of dirt.

As we’re looking at that, our shoe gets briefly snagged in a tiny hole in the ground. That’s when we notice the other holes—tell-tale signs of creatures that have been tunneling just below the surface of our lawn.

Perhaps while we’re wondering what’s causing this damage to our property, we suddenly see a furry little creature dart across our path.

Great. We have moles. Or voles. Or… gophers?

Whatever it is we have, we know that these pests can cause a lot of damage to our yard, and we want them gone.

But what can we do about these pesky critters?

MVG: The Scourge of Lawns Everywhere

Moles, Voles, and Gophers—collectively known to homeowners as “MVG”—are notorious for their damage to lawns. These little rodents burrow just below the surface of the ground, making it difficult to maintain a healthy, green lawn. They can also cause serious damage to trees, shrubs, flowers, and other plants.

Unless your house is in Antarctica, chances are you’ve had to deal with (or will have to deal with) at least one of these three pests at some point.

While moles, voles, and gophers can look very similar to homeowners, they are actually three very distinct animals. Moles are the largest of the three, and their primary food is earthworms. Voles are smaller than moles and primarily eat plants. Gophers are the smallest of the three and primarily eat plants as well.

What do they have in common? All three can cause extensive damage to your yard.

While there are a number of ways to control MVG—including traps, baits, and poisons—many homeowners are hesitant to use these methods due to the potential risks to children and pets.

Also, they don’t always work.

Does Artificial Grass Help Deter Moles, Voles, and Gophers?

If you’re looking for a way to protect your lawn from MVG damage, artificial turf may be the solution you’re looking for.

Having artificial turf professionally installed with a heavy-duty barrier system can effectively help keep moles, voles, and gophers from harming your lawn and landscape.

Having artificial turf not only helps to make your yard less attractive to MVG in the first place, but installing it with a thick, dense, subterranean barrier can also help to block them from getting into your yard in the first place.

If a tenacious critter does manage to get past the barrier, the turf itself will make it less likely for them to tunnel and cause damage—and if some damage does somehow occur, a small section of turf can be much more straightforward (as well as more affordable) to repair than a section of regular grass.

However, many homeowners who install artificial turf lawns find that they don’t have to worry about MVG at all. The turf + barrier system is simply too tough for them to tunnel through, and the fact that the grass is artificial makes it much less attractive for them to live in and tunnel through in the first place.

For full protection, It’s necessary to have other barriers in place, of course (such as fencing, walls, concrete, etc.), but artificial turf can be an important part of an overall MVG control strategy.If you’re tired of dealing with damage from moles, voles, and gophers, contact ReTURF today to learn more about how this solution can help you achieve the lawn of your dreams.