Gophers

Gophers are one of the most persistent threats to vegetable gardens, especially in regions like California’s Central Valley and Sonoma Valley where I’ve gardened for decades. After losing countless young plants early in my gardening years, I learned that the only truly reliable protection for raised beds is a strong, well-installed barrier beneath the soil….

Gophers can wipe out a row of vegetables in a single afternoon. I’ve gardened for more than 30 years in California’s Central Valley and later in Sonoma Valley—both prime habitat for pocket gophers—and trapping has consistently been the most reliable way to protect vegetable beds. When used correctly, traps work quickly, humanely, and with far…

Gophers are one of the most persistent underground pests in the home garden. They tunnel silently, pull entire plants underground, and can destroy a row of vegetables in an afternoon. While no plant offers a perfect “force field,” certain ornamentals and herbs have strong scents, toxic compounds, or root structures that gophers dislike. Used strategically,…

Gophers can devastate a vegetable garden in days, tunneling beneath beds and feeding on the roots of vegetables, herbs, and fruiting plants. Their damage is often sudden and severe—a seemingly healthy plant wilts overnight because its roots have been eaten below the soil line. Effective gopher control combines prevention, physical barriers, trapping, and ongoing monitoring….