Holes dug near plants, plants die - Ask Extension
we have a lot of problems growing plants on our very sunny, sandy front slope.
Whenever we plant anything in one particular area, the plants do we...
Knowledgebase
Holes dug near plants, plants die #918006
Asked September 19, 2025, 1:05 PM EDT
we have a lot of problems growing plants on our very sunny, sandy front slope.
Whenever we plant anything in one particular area, the plants do well for 5-6 months and then suddenly start to go brown. We notice large, shallow holes (4-6 inches across) near the plants.
We also see what seems like mole trails elsewhere in the garden (earth is a bit lumpy and soft), but aren't sure if the two are related.
The holes are too small to be rabbit burrows, and they are always right near the roots of the plants. Maybe an animal is digging for grubs? Or we have moles/voles/rats?
Montgomery County Maryland
Expert Response
It's hard to determine what animal is responsible for digging holes in the soil, as the holes and digging patterns often look alike. A rodent is a possibility for smaller holes, though the last one pictured which looks larger might be from a groundhog. Do the holes go straight down, or turn at an angle? Or do they not continue into a tunnel, instead forming a dead-end a few inches down? Those features can sometimes help to narrow-down what was digging.
If the plants are missing too many roots when they are removed as they decline, that would suggest voles are chewing around the base, especially if you see damage to any woody stems like what is pictured in the linked page. If present, a mole or vole may need to be lethally trapped in order to deal with the problem, though a number of wild predators will also eagerly eat them.
Moles and voles are not often seen, but several physical traits (if you find a dead one, or if you trap one) set them apart. Moles have large, outward-facing, webbed front feet, with large claws for digging. Their small eyes and ear openings are hidden under fur, and they have a long, pointed nose. In comparison, voles have short legs, small but noticeable eyes, a blunt nose, and small ears. Both moles and voles have a short tail. Overall, voles are smaller and breed much more rapidly than moles. Both moles and voles are active year-round. Mole activity peaks around dusk and dawn, but they can also be active on overcast days.
Voles eat plant material, like bulbs, roots, and stems, and moles prey on invertebrates (mainly insects and earthworms). Moles rarely come to the surface, while voles spend some time aboveground. If rats are present, they are likely using some source of nearby food, such as a dumpster (if you happen to live near a commercial development) or unsecured trash can, compost pile with accessible food scraps, or a person feeding outdoor animals.
Foraging mole and vole “runway” tunnels are the tracks noticed most by gardeners. Mole runways used for finding prey lie just beneath the surface of the soil. Vole runways are cut into the grass at the surface, and are especially visible after snowmelt. Clipped grass and piles of rice-sized greenish or brown droppings may be seen where runways are still in use. Moles burrow in deeper dens, usually about eight or more inches below the surface. They push soil up into a mound several inches high on the surface, whereas voles do not create large soil mounds.
The location of tunnels will change based on soil moisture, the availability of food, and other environmental factors.
How are the plants on the slope being watered after planting? The soil visible where the mulch has eroded or been pushed away looks very dry. Are they checked regularly to feel the soil a few inches deep (if somewhat dry to the touch 4-6 inches down, they likely need watering; if damp, likely not)? If there is a soaker hose laid on the planting bed, is that being chewed as well? (Sometimes thirsty animals will chew into a hose.)
Miri
If the plants are missing too many roots when they are removed as they decline, that would suggest voles are chewing around the base, especially if you see damage to any woody stems like what is pictured in the linked page. If present, a mole or vole may need to be lethally trapped in order to deal with the problem, though a number of wild predators will also eagerly eat them.
Moles and voles are not often seen, but several physical traits (if you find a dead one, or if you trap one) set them apart. Moles have large, outward-facing, webbed front feet, with large claws for digging. Their small eyes and ear openings are hidden under fur, and they have a long, pointed nose. In comparison, voles have short legs, small but noticeable eyes, a blunt nose, and small ears. Both moles and voles have a short tail. Overall, voles are smaller and breed much more rapidly than moles. Both moles and voles are active year-round. Mole activity peaks around dusk and dawn, but they can also be active on overcast days.
Voles eat plant material, like bulbs, roots, and stems, and moles prey on invertebrates (mainly insects and earthworms). Moles rarely come to the surface, while voles spend some time aboveground. If rats are present, they are likely using some source of nearby food, such as a dumpster (if you happen to live near a commercial development) or unsecured trash can, compost pile with accessible food scraps, or a person feeding outdoor animals.
Foraging mole and vole “runway” tunnels are the tracks noticed most by gardeners. Mole runways used for finding prey lie just beneath the surface of the soil. Vole runways are cut into the grass at the surface, and are especially visible after snowmelt. Clipped grass and piles of rice-sized greenish or brown droppings may be seen where runways are still in use. Moles burrow in deeper dens, usually about eight or more inches below the surface. They push soil up into a mound several inches high on the surface, whereas voles do not create large soil mounds.
The location of tunnels will change based on soil moisture, the availability of food, and other environmental factors.
How are the plants on the slope being watered after planting? The soil visible where the mulch has eroded or been pushed away looks very dry. Are they checked regularly to feel the soil a few inches deep (if somewhat dry to the touch 4-6 inches down, they likely need watering; if damp, likely not)? If there is a soaker hose laid on the planting bed, is that being chewed as well? (Sometimes thirsty animals will chew into a hose.)
Miri
