Hi, I moved 7 trees last October (in Olympia Washington), 7' cypresses. They did fine until May. The tree guy said cypress is a tough tree.

I raised the whole area before planting them, with extra topsoil (3-4 inches). It seems to be very rich soil, the moles love it. There are mole tunnels everywhere.

Now the trees are suffering -- showing flags of golden color near the trunk.

I am wondering if the moles are harming the trees. Do they chew roots?

Even if not, the tunnels always end in the basins around the trees. (I put a collar of soil around each tree so as to hold the water in.) I think the tunnels are siphoning off the water I put on the trees. I'm always stomping around them, but it's easy to miss the mole hole under the mulch. I notice it (the hole) after the water has been on a while and not filled up the basin.

Should I wage war on the moles? Try to kill them with chewing gum? Try to ward them off with mothballs?

I'm getting frustrated. Thanks for any help you can offer!