7 Plants That Repel Gophers

Gophers are too common in central and North America and have the ability to survive in tunnels for days. They are mostly located on your lawns, gardens, farms, and even houses. Getting rid of them is important; otherwise, they can destroy your plants, fruit trees, yard, or farm equipment and materials. 

In the article below, you can find more about gophers and a few plants that can easily repel them.

What Are Gophers, And Why Are They A Problem?

Gophers are burrowing rodents belonging to the Geomyidae family and have 41 different species. They weigh around 200gm to 1 Kg, depending upon the specie, and are 6—inches long. However, they are dangerous as they work through a tunneling network. Their ability to hide and live in the tunnels makes it easy for them to destroy your farms, lawn, gardens, and backyards. 

Which Garden Plants Repel Gophers?

Below is a list of a few garden plants that can naturally repel gophers.

Gopher Spurge

Gopher Spurge or (Euphorbia Lathyrus) plant is ineffective against repelling the Gophers. However, the researches show that the latex material found in plant roots is effective for repelling the. These roots have poison in them. If the Gophers or mole eat them, they can easily get sick and die. Therefore, you can plant Gopher Spurge plants where you feel their presence for their interaction. 

Daffodils

Daffodils, scientifically known as Narcissus, are effective against Gophers. You cannot directly use these plants as repellents. However, their use in the form of Narcissus bulbs is effective against Gophers. Just install a few bulbs around a small area, like a dog house in the lawn or garden, to check its effect. Most likely, the Gophers will bite the bulbs due to their attractive smell, damaging their mouth and cheek tissues. Eventually, they will start to leave the premises. 

Lavender

Installing a lavender plant in your garden where you suspect gophers can help. These plants have a sharp smell and can work as a repellent. Despite the fact these plants have calming abilities and sweet aromas for us humans. Gophers dislike the strong, pleasing smell, making them turn their heads toward hills. The strong, pleasant scent of lavender overwhelms and forces them to retreat from their burrows.

Marigolds

Gophers are mostly nearly blind and rely heavily on their sense of smell. Therefore, installing a marigold plant can help greatly. Like a few others, these plants have a strong and pungent smell that captivates the senses of gophers, making them unable to move freely. Thus, it forces them to think about retreating and eventually move elsewhere after getting fed up.

Oleander

Oleander plants are very effective against Gophers. Many users planted oleanders in their gardens to get rid of them. Surprisingly, Gophers are not attracted much to them and do not even eat the plant’s roots. But it’s still worth the shot, as the roots are highly poisonous and might kill them someday.

Rosemary

There are few plants that gophers do not agree easily to eat. Rosemary is among them as the taste is disagreeable for them, especially the roots. However, they still eat them when feeling real hunger about eating something. Thus, these plants can be effective as the gopher will likely eat their center roots while leaving the side roots at the surface. 

Salvia

Among many others, gophers don’t like to mess around with salvia plants for the same obvious reasons. Their pungent smell is unbearable for them to smell or eat. Therefore, they keep their distance from these plants and usually don’t go near them unless they are hungry. When they eat, they die due to their poisonous roots.

FAQs

Do Coffee Grounds Get Rid Of Gophers?

Yes, coffee grounds are very effective against Gophers and other burrowing creatures. These fresh coffee grounds can help to repel gophers. But, just like coffee, coffee grounds have a strong smell too, which overwhelms their senses, increasing their hatred and ultimately leaving the area.

What Plants Do Gophers Hate The Most?

There’s quite a list of plants that gophers hate and can repel. It includes Salvia, Rosemary, Sage, Iris, Thyme, Geranium, Marigolds, etc. The list continues; therefore, You can try them all one after another in case anyone fails to deliver results.

What Plants Are Gophers Proof of?

Gophers do not like going near plants that don’t smell and taste good and have a sharp smell. They know the plant’s scent is too heavy to bear and even poisonous at the roots; therefore, they eventually leave the place.

Conclusion

Gophers can be dangerous for your lawns and gardens and annoy you when they cause serious damage to your property. Therefore, getting rid of them is crucial not only for the sake of your property but for your well-being. You can use the above plants as a repellent. We hope they will help you to some extent. However, if still not enough, you may use bulbs, sprays, different oils, and other latest equipment and materials available in markets as a last resort.