Re: Gophers

----- Original Message -----
From: "emhoffs" <emhoffs@ucla.edu>
To: <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2002 8:42 PM


> I am writing for my daughter who lives in Highland Park, California. She
is
> trying to plant a garden on land which has a serious gopher problem. Her
> prize plants are three Beaucarnia recurvata in 24 inch boxes.  Does anyone
> know if gophers eat Beaucarnia? If they do she thought she might buy wire
> and place it around the roots.  Can the wire be too tight or will the
plant
> grow around it?  Finally, is there any way to get rid of gophers other
than
> poison?
>
> Ellen Hoffs
> Santa Monica, CA
>

Dear Ellen,

     I don't know if gophers will bother Beucarnia or not, but I have been
repeatedly surprised by what they will try in my garden here in El Cerrito,
CA.  The little monsters recently killed
several clumps of  Festuca californica, California Fescue Grass here.
     Trapping seems to be the only sure method of control.  Traps are
available at most hardware stores.  I have had good luck baiting traps with
celery or onions.  Another method that I have tried is putting dog poop down
the holes.  It seems to be marginally successful, but it could be just my
imagination.
     I have never tried barriers such as wire mesh.  If the gophers like the
plant though they will root prune it and tunnel around the barrier.  This in
some cases will divert water through their tunnels, causing uneven watering.

Regards, Tim Kalman
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