Gardening woes: How garlic can thwart vole invasions

Has your garden turned into a battlefield? Is the ground dotted with holes, and do the plants look like someone is eating them from below? If so, this may be a sign you are dealing with voles. These tiny rodents can cause quite a bit of damage, but there is a cheap way to deal with them.

Voles are small rodents often mistaken for mice. In reality, they are slightly smaller and more rounded. They live underground and love plant roots. Their cylindrical bodies are about 4-6 inches long, with 2 inches accounting for the tail.

Their fur is usually brown or grey and lacks the characteristic stripe along the back. Although they appear unassuming, they can cause enormous damage in the garden by nibbling on roots, bulbs, and rhizomes.

Voles are primarily active at dusk and night and almost invisible during the day. Unlike moles, voles do not leave mounds. Instead, they make holes—often several or a dozen in one place. The rodents do not dig deep underground; their tunnels typically reach 2-6 inches.

Another sign is nibbled plant roots. If you notice that plants are drying up, wilting, or toppling over, and their roots are damaged, you are likely dealing with voles. The presence of these rodents also causes yellowing of the lawn and the drying of grass blades.

Voles are a real nuisance for gardeners, but there is a simple and effective way to eliminate them. The solution is garlic. The best method is to place a few cloves in the holes. You can also plant garlic in the part of the garden designated for ornamental plants.

It's also worth crushing the garlic cloves and waiting about 10 minutes. During this time, allicin is released - the substance responsible for the smell and action of the intensely fragrant vegetable. Then, place the pieces of garlic at the entrances to the caves.

If you have more time, you can prepare a garlic spray by mixing crushed garlic with water and letting it sit for about 15 minutes. After straining, pour the spray into each hole. The pungent smell of garlic will deter voles and force them to look for a new place to live. To enhance the effect, you can also add onion to the spray.