Sweeney’s S9014 Mole and Gopher Solar Spike - S9014-4

The product worked but the ground where I live is rocky and hard. We say the ground grows rocks because things work their way out including these spikes. They worked well the first season but the mower took out some of the units I bought. A couple by driving around with the tractor (yes, I could have done better placement with the install) and one didn't hold up to the mower blade (yes, I should have not installed around the tree. The roots inhibited proper installation). If I would have installed in a different location (but that would have been away from my varmint infestation) and done any maintenance they would have had a chance to still be working today. We live in the country and it is quite so you do hear these things buzzing when they operate. I have considered purchasing a few more but we are not infested like we once were. Coincidentally that happened after we used this product. I am thinking about buying a couple replacements. They were not a miracle solution but I do think they played a role resolving our issue.

I have used these sonic stakes for about five years. I have about three acres of lawn and gardens surrounded by forest in Virginia and our mole and vole problem was serious (thankfully, no gophers). Initially I purchased several stakes to address certain areas that were severe. They worked fine, but the problem just moved elsewhere. My method has evolved since then, and now they are placed around the entire perimeter of the yard. The stakes work well, until they don't. They are, after all, plastic and made to be affordable (they're already pretty expensive). They are susceptible to breakage of one sort or another, but with proper care, they last 2-4 years for me. One reviewer claims that the on/off switch is just for looks, but they don't know what they're talking about; its functional. I purchased a one-inch auger-type drill bit and make a pilot hole with my cordless drill. I don't place any where a lawn mower passes over them (they're all in flower bed edges). I remove them in autumn and place a one-inch dowel in the hole to preserve the hole location during winter. They are particularly vulnerable to water incursion, so don't expose them to harsh winter weather. I then deploy them in early spring to beat the mole infestation. By placing them around the perimeter early, they keep the pests from entering the yard at all. I'm up to 30 stakes and I have to purchase about six new ones each year. Summary: these stakes perform as described, but care must be taken to keep them functional. An initial investment must be made to purchase enough to surround your yard, but the positive results have made it worth it to me. I highly recommend these stakes to solve your mole problem.

I recently ordered a new set of spikes, but I bought a different brand because the Sweeney's ones all stopped working for me within a year, if not much sooner.- I like that they worked. We have chipmunks and they appeared to be going somewhere else when the spikes worked. We could really tell the spikes worked because when they stopped working, all the sudden there were chipmunks everywhere.- I liked that they were flat and I could position them in the lawn and mow right over them.- I did not like that I had to replace them so soon. I have gone through two rounds with the Sweeney spikes. I thought maybe I didn't do a good enough job taking care of the first set, letting them get too wet or stay out in the cold. But pulling the 2nd round when conditions were poor made little difference in their longevity.So based on all that and the fact there are a lot more competitive options, I'm trying a different brand now.

We purchased one of the Sweeney's Solar spikes to try it out. We've watched over the last three weeks and found many hills in outer areas - far within the 7500 square feet they advertise as being covered. However, the soil was freshly rototilled and we know it won't travel as well in the loose soil. It does seem to keep them farther away in the solid, clayish, soil.Even within the rototilled area, it appears we're relatively safe in an area approximately 15 feet in each direction from the spike. Therefore, I have just ordered two more and will space them approx 30 feet apart and see what happens. We need to keep them out of an area approximately 50x50. I believe it's as cheap or cheaper than putting down hardware cloth under every bed, and certainly easier.On/Off Switch: A reviewer earlier stated he took a spike apart and found the On/Off switch hooked up to nothing. When we first received ours, we turned the switch OFF and put it in the window so the sun could charge it. It nearly scared us to death when it sounded after charging only a few minutes. So apparently the reviewer is correct, as our switch was OFF and it sounded anyway. I have no issue with this, as it charged well and sounds off often when in ground. It is audible, but not so much as to be bothersome when working in the garden, and you have to be rather close to hear it.All in all, we're happy with the product. Durability has yet to be determined, as we've only had it close to one month.