Question
We live in northern Mississippi andwe are trying to really "tackle" our approximate 2 acre yard.  We have a big problem with moles and weeds.  Our weeds seem much worse this year and we are wondering if that may be because we have been trying to kill the food source for th moles since last summer (grubs).  Were the grubs actually helping our weed problem?  We would rather treat our lawn ourselves since the alternative is very expensive for a yard the size of ours.  Also, is it too late to use a pre-emerge for the weeds?

Answer
Hi Keith;
The grubs werent helping the weeds, you were.
When you put down chemicals to kill the food source for the moles, you also killed all the beneficial critters that ate the grubs before.
You also killed all the beneficial microbes that enrich the soil, and the earthworms etc.
You killed everything beneficial, so you promoted the growth of the weeds.
Chemicals don't improve the soil. They feed the vegetation growing there, including the weeds, then wear out and you have to reapply them, then you start the cycle over again.
Weeds won't thrive in rich soil. so improve the soil, and the weed problem will, in a short timel, go away.
Use organics this year, and net year, there will be fewer weeds, which will start to die out right away. there will be fewer weeds every year, until the soil is rich enough that they will die out immediately if they come up at all, and they will not live long enough for you to even see them.
I have ben on my organic program for about 10 years, and have not seen a weed, grub, army worm, slug etc in about 8 years.
I have a lot of toads lizards, and grass snakes, they feed on the harmful bugs.
Moles like bugs too, but unlike the other critters, THEY hate ceyenne pepper  etc that irritates their lil noses. It doesn't bother the toads lizards and snakes. Sprinkle ceyent pepper down the mole holes.
If you see a new hole, put some ceyenne in it. Pretty soon that will vacate your property and go somewhere else.
Garlic pepper tea is another good one.
Put a couple of HOT dried peppers and a couple of whole bulbs of garlic ( not just a few cloves) in a quart of water in a blender, and whirr it till it is as liquid as you can get it. Strain it to get out the tiny particles that can clog up a sprayer, and use 1 cup of this tea per gallon of water. Spray trhe whole area with that.
It will also keep squirrels out of fruit trees, and critters out of your garden.
DON'T spray it on plants after the fruit begins to form, or you will flavor the fruit with it.
It doesn't bother the birds. so it won't keep the birds off your fruits and veggies. Hanging up things that move with the wind works best for birds, especially if they reflect light and glint ot shimmer.
My husband uses all those computer discs we get in the mail that we don't want. He makes a wind chime type hanger and puts it in the fruit trees.
Those strigs of bright colored and silver etc banners around car lots is not to attract attention of people, it is to keep the birds away so they won't speckle the cars.
Charlotte