The small fry of the animal world can inflict big damage on your garden. Gophers drill down, damaging your roots and soil, while birds peck away at your fruit, vegetables, and seeds. Learn how to protect your garden using organic and effective pest control methods.
Scare the Birds with Your Garden Decor
Start with visual deterrents to keep birds at bay. Products like the Rotating Head Owl and Bird Scare Octopus mimic predators and scare birds away from your garden. Be sure to move them weekly to prevent birds from becoming accustomed to them.
Barriers: The Ultimate Defense
Bird Netting
Protect your fruit trees and berry bushes with bird netting. In our video, Tricia shows how to set up netting with PVC frames for a reusable and durable solution. Install the frames before your fruit ripens, and remove them after harvest to keep your garden safe year-round.
Underground Wire Baskets
Protect your plants from gophers with gopher wire baskets or rolls. Baskets are ideal for individual plants or trees, while rolls can safeguard rows or entire garden beds. Gophers can burrow up to 6 feet deep in soft soil, so choose your barriers carefully.
Extermination Methods
Traps
Gopher traps like the Cinch and Victor traps are effective, but they are designed to be fatal.
Bait
Use gopher bait with an applicator to target tunnels. This method is fatal but can help control a persistent gopher population.
Gassing
Gopher Gassers release potassium nitrate and sulfur into the tunnels, effectively eliminating gophers. While not organic, they are an option for home gardeners facing severe infestations.
Repellents: Keep Pests Away
Repellents alone won’t solve a gopher problem, but they can be a valuable part of a broader pest management strategy. Castor oil-based repellents discourage gophers from entering your garden, while taste and smell deterrents can make your plants less appealing. Find gopher repellents in our collection to incorporate into your pest control plan.
Keep your harvest safe and your garden thriving with these effective pest control solutions!
1 comment
The first solid food my daughter ate when she was a baby was a tangelo from my backyard. Well, a gopher went under that tree and ate its roots. My tangelo tree and I was devastated! What’s worked for me the best is carbon monoxide. Thank you for your blog, it’s awesome!