Can vinca survive and conceal a mole infestation? Better to remove dirt or tamp it down?

The mole(s) is there because it dispersed from somewhere else, made it into your landscape, and found enough earthworms and grubs to keep it happy. It is almost impossible to kill Vinca so I don't expect the moles to have much of an impact on that plant. The mounds are a result of the tunneling which creates the grocery aisles for the mole. Here is where it gets complicated. Field mice (also known as voles) will use mole tunnels and they do feed directly on plant roots and lower crowns. So it is possible that the voles might damage the red osier dogwood but probably not the Vinca. In addition, mole tunnels alter drainage patterns in a landscape. It is unlikely that they would physically impact the drainage system already there but could divert water in some unpredictable ways, thus altering the existing drain lines effectiveness (either for better or worse). So what to do? The moles will stay there until they run out of earthworms or until they are caught by a predator or dealt with by the home owner. Trapping is the most consistently effective mole management tool but it takes some skill from past experience to locate the best places to trap. I think it is quite possible that you have only one mole. Moles are quite territorial and don't allow other moles to encroach on their feed sources. One mole can make a lot of mounds as they create their grocery aisles. So removinmg one mole might solve your concerns until another finally shows up. I hope this helps. If you have more questions, you can email me directly at chip.bubl@oregonstate.edu Chip Bubl OSU Extension Agent/Columbia County