The Ultimate Guide to Getting Rid of Gophers in Your Garden and Protecting Your Plants

If you’ve noticed crescent shaped mounds appearing in your yard, it’s time to take action. Gophers may look cute, but they can wreak havoc on your garden and landscape. Fortunately, there are several methods you can use to get rid of gophers and reclaim your yard. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the most effective ways to deal with these furry rodents and prevent them from causing further damage.

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Identifying Gophers vs. Moles

Before you can effectively get rid of gophers, it’s important to determine whether you’re dealing with gophers or moles. While both rodents are burrowers, there are distinct differences between the two. Gophers leave behind half-moon-shaped mounds that are closely spaced together, often within a six-foot radius. They also leave dead plants behind as they consume the roots or drag them into their tunnels.

On the other hand, moles create volcano-shaped mounds that are not necessarily clustered closely. Moles also build tunnels near the surface of the ground, creating ridges in your yard. Visually, gophers are larger, lighter brown, and have a more typical rodent appearance with a long tail and round ears. Moles are smaller, darker, and have a long pink snout.

How to Get Rid of Gophers in Your Garden

When it comes to eliminating gophers from your garden, there are several methods you can try. The choice of method will depend on the severity of the infestation and your willingness to try different approaches.

1. Scatter Pet Droppings

Scattering pet droppings around the perimeter of your garden and in gopher holes can act as a deterrent.
Cats and dogs are natural predators to gophers, and their droppings can help repel these rodents.
If you don’t have pets, you can also purchase coyote urine as an alternative.

2. Fight Them With Smell

Gophers have a keen sense of smell, so using odors that repel them can be effective.
Scents such as herbs, coffee grounds, fish, and dryer sheets can help discourage gophers from entering your garden.

3. Dig a Trench and Add a Barrier

Create an 18″ to 24″ deep trench around the area affected by gophers.
Bury a wire mesh screen in the trench to prevent gophers from burrowing into your garden.
Ensure that the mesh screen has no holes larger than 3/4″ to prevent gophers from bypassing the barrier.

4. Set a Gopher Trap

If other methods fail, setting a gopher trap may be necessary.
Cover all but one of the gopher holes and place the trap in the remaining opening.
Use gopher-favorite foods like sweet potatoes, carrots, or potatoes to lure them into the trap.
Monitor the trap regularly and contact animal control if you catch a gopher alive.

Prevention Tips to Keep Gophers Away

While there’s no foolproof way to permanently eliminate gophers, there are steps you can take to prevent them from returning to your garden.

Plant gopher-repelling herbs and flowers such as marigolds, daffodils, lavender, rosemary, peppermint, sage, or plants from the allium family.
Use essential oils from these plants or invest in wind chimes or sonic spikes to create disruptive noises that deter gophers.
Flooding gopher tunnels with a garden hose can encourage them to move along.
Utilize strong herbal fragrances like lavender, eucalyptus, sage, rosemary, or coffee grounds to repel gophers.

Professional exterminators can also provide annual maintenance to ensure gophers are kept at bay. They may use traps or carbon monoxide injections to control and remove gophers from your property.

In conclusion, dealing with gophers in your garden can be a challenging task, but with the right strategies and prevention measures, you can protect your plants and maintain a thriving outdoor space. By utilizing a combination of deterrents, barriers, and traps, you can effectively manage gopher infestations and enjoy a beautiful, gopher-free garden. Remember to stay vigilant and proactive in your efforts to keep these pesky rodents away from your yard.