RE: Thoughts on the gophermole
Rich,
The problem with the chicken wire is even though it's galvanized, it
will rust through after a year or two. It's also easy to break through
with a pitch fork, shovel or tiller.
I had hundreds of gophers in my remote patch and what we did was rent a
gas powered trencher and surround the patch with a trench about 6" wide
and 3' deep and dropped plywood in the trench for now.
We tilled the entire patch and killed any gophers that were there.
So far, we have not had one gopher inside the patch but there are plenty
on the outside. (I was a bit surprised it worked).
If it was affordable, I would have poured concrete In the trench for a
more permanent solution.
I was told that pea gravel might work in the trench because when the
gopher digs, the tunnel keeps caving in on him so he gives up and goes
another direction. (I wouldn't count on it though).
If I were to spend any money for something in the trench, I might try
some heavy gauge wire I've seen used around farms for kennels and other
cages for containing animals. The kind with the square holes about 1/2"
x 3/4".
Maybe someone else out there has some other ideas as many growers have
to deal with gophers, moles and other small destructive varmints.
No,,,,,,,, shotguns, although fun, really are not practical. Especially
if you cap one right next to your prize pumpkin!
Bob
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pumpkins@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On Behalf
Of Rich Canter
Sent: Saturday, August 14, 2004 10:25 PM
To: pumpkins@hort.net
Subject: Thoughts on the gophermole
Has anyone tried burying a large sheet of chicken wire, etc., a foot or
so
under the patch in the off-season?
Just a thought.
----- Original Message -----
From: Bob Troy
To: pumpkins@hort.net
Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2004 12:45 AM
Subject: RE: 659 Troy 03
Toby ,,,
Sorry to hear about that .... I have been battling gophers for years
and
here are a few things that work ..
Plywood or heavy fiberglass type material for under the Pumpkin.
For the vines I've done a couple of things.
I bought a roll of chicken wire and cut it about one foot wide and
three
to six feet long. I folded the one foot wide part over so it was about
six inches wide. I laid the strips of chicken wire ahead of the main
vine so as the vine grew, the chicken wire would be buried under the
vine. It's a lot of work but it definitely worked. A gopher chewed a
tap
root up until it hit the chicken wire and then it stopped. It didn't
get
rid of the gopher but at least it saved the vine. It is however a lot
of
work and doesn't get rid of the gopher.
Another thing gophers don't like is dry blood meal. It's a territorial
thing but it also adds nitrogen to the soil. I used it and it does
work.
At least it drives them away from the pumpkin plants.
A sure thing is a chemical called "Fumitoxin". It's bad stuff and
requires a license to buy and apply. (At least in California). It
last's
about two months or so but it definitely works.
I have also had some luck with a trap called "The black hole". It's a
black plastic cylinder about the size of a coffee can with a wire
snare
in it. You put a carrot in one end and burry it wherever there is a
fresh hole. It works for me about 75% of the time.
I'm glad to hear the plant was doing well for you. If you would like
some more seeds, I'd be glad to send them to you..
Bob
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pumpkins@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On
Behalf
Of Toby
Sent: Monday, August 09, 2004 2:00 PM
To: pumpkins@hort.net
Subject: 659 Troy 03
Sometime over the past few days, a gopher dug under my 659 Troy, came
up
under the main vine, and chewed through it about 2' from the base.
Its
a goner.
I loved that plant! (boo hoo boo hoo)
I have 7 other AG vines (only 1 looks as nice as the Troy) that are in
jeopardy of vine-a-cide via gopher. Any ideas on how to get rid of
gophers without poisoning the rest of the patch? Ya know, if it takes
dynamite, I'm there... as soon as I harvest the last plant. What
about
RIGHT NOW?!
Signed, the groundskeeper from Caddy Shack (Toby)
mr-sprout@sbcglobal.net
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