Gopher Invasion: How to Protect Your Lawn
Which pesky animal is making mounds of dirt pop up all over your lawn? Do you notice your plants and landscaping being destroyed? If so, you may have a gopher problem. Gophers are burrowing rodents that can wreak havoc on your yard, causing damage to structures, livestock, pets, and landscapes.
Save your time and money by understanding why gophers are attracted to your lawn and how to eliminate them.
In this blog post, we'll give some tips and tricks to help you.get rid of these pesky critters and keep them from coming back. So, let's get started and say goodbye to the gopher invasion in your lawn.
Quick Summary
Why are gophers in my lawn?
Gophers are likely in your lawn due to a combination of reasons: Food sources from your lawn/garden, the soft soil of your yard, and finding shelter from predators.
How can I verify a gopher problem?
The easiest way to identify a problem is small to medium sized mounds of fresh dirt in the lawn.
How can I deal with my gopher problem?
Options include planting gopher repellent plants, installing gopher wire mesh, using electronic pulses, or various trap and release devices.
Why Do Gophers Go in my Lawn?
Gophers are attracted to lawns for a variety of reasons, including food sources, soil composition, and shelter. Let's take a closer look at each of these factors:
- Food sources: Gophers are herbivores and feed on a variety of plants, including roots, bulbs, and tubers. They are attracted to lawns that have a plentiful supply of vegetation, including grasses and ornamental plants.
- Soil composition: Gophers prefer to burrow in soils that are loose and easy to dig. They are often found in areas with soft soil that provide them with a suitable environment for burrowing.
- Shelter: Gophers use their burrows as shelter from predators and harsh weather conditions. Lawns that have dense vegetation or offer other forms of cover, such as rocks or logs, provide ideal shelter for gophers.
Other factors that may attract gophers to your lawn include the presence of moisture or water sources, the availability of nesting materials, and the absence of predators.
Gopher Emerging From Hole
Gopher in Lawn
How Can You Tell If Gophers Are In My Lawn?
Gophers are notorious for creating mounds of dirt in lawns and gardens. These mounds are created as gophers burrow underground, pushing dirt to the surface. If you notice small to medium-sized mounds of fresh dirt in your lawn every other day, it's likely that gophers are in action.
Another way to tell if gophers are present in your lawn is by observing plant and utility damage. Gophers will often gnaw on the roots of plants, causing them to wilt and die.
You may also notice that the leaves of plants in your lawn have been chewed or that there are bite marks on tree trunks. Gophers may also damage underground utility lines, including irrigation systems and electrical cables, as they burrow through your lawn.
One thing to mention here is that some other pests, such as moles and voles, may also create mounds and damage plants in your lawn. So corrective action should be taken once it is confirmed who is doing this with your lawn.
Why Are Gophers Bad For My Yard?
While gophers may seem innocent and cute, they can actually cause significant damage to your yard. Here are a few reasons why gophers are bad for your yard:
- Damage to structures: Gophers are known for their burrowing abilities, and as they create tunnels underground, they can cause damage to foundations, retaining walls, and other structures in your yard. This can result in costly repairs and even compromise the safety of your property.
- Damage to livestock and pets: Gopher tunnels can also pose a danger to livestock and pets, as they can cause animals to trip and injure themselves. In addition, gophers can carry diseases that can be transmitted to both humans and animals.
- Damage to landscapes: Gophers are notorious for damaging landscaping, including gardens, lawns, and ornamental plants. They like to eat roots of many plants thus resulting dead plants.
Gopher in Garden
Gopher Hole Mound
How to Deal With a Gopher Problem?
Here are some of the most effective ways to deal with a gopher problem:
- Certain gopher repelling plants: There are certain plants that gophers find unappealing and will avoid. Planting these types of plants in or around your lawn or garden can repel gophers and keep them away.
Here are some examples of gopher repelling plants: - Castor beans: Are a common gopher repellent and are often used to keep gophers away from gardens and lawns. The plant's pungent odor is believed to deter gophers from entering the area.
- Garlic: It has a strong odor that is unappealing to gophers. Planting garlic around the perimeter of your lawn or garden can help to repel gophers and keep them away.
- Onions: Like garlic, onions have a strong odor that is unappealing to gophers. Planting onions around the perimeter of your lawn or garden can help to repel gophers and keep them away.
- Fritillaria: This is a bulb plant that is toxic to gophers. Planting fritillaria around the perimeter of your lawn or garden can help to repel gophers and keep them away.
- Daffodils: This is another bulb plant that is toxic to gophers. Planting daffodils around the perimeter of your lawn or garden can help to repel gophers and keep them away.
Heavy-Duty Gopher Wire Mesh
Looking to keep gophers from your lawn or landscape area? Installing gopher wire mesh under your lawn or garden bed is the most effective your solution. Gopher Block® is specifically designed for protection against gophers and is engineered for maximum in-ground longevity. Both our galvanized steel and stainless steel options last for years when buried in some of the harshest soils. Installing gopher wire is the most effective and humane way to deter gophers from your landscape and lawn areas.
View Gopher Wire Mesh
- Physical barriers underground like gopher wire mesh: Installing physical barriers underground, such as gopher wire mesh, can also be an effective way to keep gophers out of your lawn. The mesh is typically placed horizontally in the ground underneath the areas of the landscape that you are trying to protect. Gopher wire can be placed underneath both planting areas and lawns.
- Electronic pulses (sound to irritate them): Electronic devices that emit sound waves that irritate gophers can also be effective at repelling them. These devices work by emitting high-pitched sounds that are unpleasant to gophers and can cause them to leave your lawn.
- Trap and release devices: If you prefer a more humane method of dealing with gophers, you can use trap and release devices. These traps capture gophers alive and allow you to release them in a different location, away from your lawn.
By using the tips and tricks, you can effectively eliminate gophers from your lawn and prevent future infestations.
Gopher eating leaf in yard