Gardening Q&A: Gopher Problems
Anita Lyons of Muldoon sent this question about gophers, moles and voles: “I really enjoy your gardening adventures. I have a question. I went to the garden yesterday and one tomato plant was cut off at the ground. It almost looked like a knife or weed eater had done it. Then I saw “the hole" We think it’s a gopher, mole or vole. My question is this: how do we stop him? I’m a beekeeper and I don’t allow any poisons on our land, so that’s not an option. I read that castor oil and dish detergent might work. Do you have any experience in this area? Do you have a suggestion?
Anita, those little rodents are the bane of my existence.
I grew some onions in a raised bed this spring, and all of a sudden my onions started disappearing. I’m pretty sure the rodents in my raised bed are either moles or voles, because they don’t look big enough to be a gopher.
I’ve watched the critters pull an entire onion plant down into the hole while I’m in the garden, as if to taunt me. Here are a few things to try starting with the most humane and ending with the least humane. How far you want to go is up to you, depending on much these critters have pushed you to the edge.
1) You mentioned castor oil and dish detergent. I have also heard that this can deter them, but I’ve never tried it. This is a deterrent and not a pesticide. It could keep new gophers, moles or voles away from your garden, but it may not be enough to convince the established ones to leave. I have also read that you can plant castor beans around your garden to deter them. What I’ve read indicates that this method is not as effective as castor oil and dish soap. However, castor bean plants are a beautiful addition to the garden. Parts of the plant are poisonous to humans, so be careful if you have children who like to eat things in the garden.
2) Drown ‘em. I have tried this method, and I cannot say that it has been very effective in my raised bed. However, it has worked for me with the tunnels in the ground. Find a fresh hole that they have dug. Sometimes you can catch them digging or rooting around a hole. That’s the one you want to soak. Get a water hose ready and fill the hole as fast as you can before the critter gets a chance to dig out. Stick the hose in the hole as far as you can to loosen any blockages. The goal is to completely fill their tunnel network before they get a chance to escape. Keep the water flowing for several minutes. If you’re lucky, you’ll drown them.
3) Release the hounds. If you happen to have any pet terriers, wiener dogs, miniature schnauzers or other mouse hunting dogs, let them loose in your garden. They might do the work for you. My dog is half miniature schnauzer, half blue heeler and 100 percent lazy. This method has not worked for me.
4) Ninja style. There are some traps you can set up at the mound opening that use knives to kill the animal, but I do not have any experience with these devices
5) Fire in the hole. When the fireworks stands open, buy a box of those big M-1000 firecrackers. You know, the kind you use to blow up old toilets and other fun things. Take a long stick or a coat hanger wire and push it down the hole as far as you can to clear any blockages. Then, light an M-1000 and drop it down the hole. Moles, gophers and voles are extremely sensitive to pressure changes.
I’m going to be giving option four a try as soon as the fireworks stands open for Memorial Day.
Good luck and thanks for reading!
Do you have a question about gardening? Send it to andy@fayettecountyrecord.com.