A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Plant pests and problems Gophers

Want to plant a veggie garden at our new place, but our ground looks like a sieve with all the gopher holes. Don't know how to get rid of the little guys so we can do what we love with the land we bought.

Any ideas or help is gratefully appreciated!

Gophers are a California pest for sure. The best cure is a diligent cat. I have used ammonia poured into their holes to discourage them. I have used the smoke bomb things which are fun but I'm not too sure about the actual effectiveness. I have used gopher traps and they are effective. I have used gopher poison, also effective.
It takes quite a while to get them out of your yard and space. Then you have to watch the neighboring properties to see as they creep closer to your space.
If you want to work on just an area at a time you need to bury a fence at least 18 inches deep all around your garden spot and then also high enough (about 8 inches)so they don't just crawl over.
I have managed to stay on top of the gophers here for years. The ground squirrels are trickier and much more destructive.

Thank for your suggestions!

Check your local garden centers for "hardware cloth"...19 or 20 gauge wire mesh with 1/2' square opening; look for vinyl coated wire mesh. Cover the wire mesh with garden soil before planting your favorite vegetables. The small opening will prevent the gophers from getting to your vegetables.