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How To Get Rid Of Gophers In My Lawn

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Effective Steps On Gophers Removal From Your Yard

Guaranteed easy way to get rid of gophers from damaging your yard.Gopher trapping techniques

Gophers can be a nuisance and difficult to get rid of without professional help. Luckily, you don’t have to hire an exterminator and spend your hard-earned money when it’s possible to do the job yourself. Here are 5 steps on how to get rid of these pesky animals.

  • Eliminate gopher food sources

    Gophers are known to eat plants, shrubs, and the most common trees. They also love bulbs, roots of perennials, strawberries, vegetables in your garden, small rodents’ nests, molehills, and frogs’ eggs. To get rid of gophers in your yard it is important to eliminate their favorite food sources. If you remove what they are looking for is likely that they will look somewhere else to find an alternative source.

  • Plants Out of all the available plants in the market, there are some species that gophers tend not to eat or do not prefer at all including lavender, marigolds, yarrow, larkspur, bee balm, iris.
  • Small rodents Gophers usually go after smaller animals’ nests because they are looking for eggs or baby rodents. To get rid of gophers you will need to fix any leaks around your home since this causes an increase in humidity which attracts small rodents so there is no more food available for them on your property.
  • Brush Piles Brush piles should never be left unattended next to your house or near your garden as gophers like hiding places and usually make their homes inside large piles of brush.
  • Use Repellents To Deter Moles And Gophers

    Using castor oil is another method for how to get rid of moles and gophers in your yard. Castor oil will not kill them, but it will upset their digestive tracts. It will also make your lawn less appealing. For a homemade remedy, mix three parts castor oil and one part dish soap. Add four tablespoons of the mixture to a gallon of water. Soak the tunnels and entrances to evict the moles and soak the holes to evict gophers. Castor oil is one of the most effective home remedies to get rid of these animals. Skip the moth balls, tea tree oil and cayenne pepper for pest control; they are not effective.

    You can also purchase repellent granules or liquid repellents to get rid of gophers and moles. Most granules can be applied directly from the bag or from a spreader. Read your product label and follow the instructions.;

    To use a liquid repellent, hook your garden hose onto the bottle and spray it into the tunnels or holes as the label directs. Liquid repellents usually contain castor oil and other ingredients that are absorbed into the soil. The tunnels and holes will become less appealing to the animals and make their food sources distasteful, so theyll leave. These repellents typically last for several weeks. Most are safe to use around pets and on your lawn but, be safe, and read your product label to confirm.

    How To Keep Gophers Out Of Your Yard And Garden

    Gophers, also called pocket gophers, are small rodents that live in tunnels under lawns and gardens. They are a seasonal recurring problem in some areas, but can be a constant problem in others. Gophers seldom venture above ground, so its a battle generally fought underground. They target moisture-rich roots of plants and trees and can ruin years of growth in just a matter of hours. Additionally, the holes and dirt mounds that they create can be serious tripping hazards for people and pets, and their tunnels can weaken the ground to the point of causing patios and walkways to collapse.

    The size of your yard or garden, the type of plants you have, and the areas surrounding your yard can all affect the rate of success youll have with gopher control. The quicker the problem is identified and action is taken, the better. If youre looking for ways to keep them from destroying your yard or garden, short of blowing them up Caddyshack-style, here are some humane ways to try:

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    Dig A Trench And Line It

    Controlling moles and gophers where they dig is a big part of getting rid of them. For moles, dig a trench roughly 6 inches wide and 2 feet deep. Then, fill the trench with rock or line it with wire mesh or hardware cloth that has holes no bigger than 3/4 inches wide. This will prevent moles from burrowing into your lawn or garden.;

    Deter gophers by digging a trench around your flower bed or vegetable garden and burying a wire mesh screen or hardware cloth in it. Again, make sure the holes in the wire mesh or hardware cloth are no bigger than 3/4 inches wide.

    How To Get Rid Of Gophers From Your Yard

    How to Get Rid of Garden Moles & Gophers
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    A gopher is a burrowing, herbivorous rodent. This mammal’s native range is from Central America to Canada. In the United States, it lives in the West, the Great Plains, and the Southeast. An adult gopher becomes 6 inches long or longer, depending on the species. Most types weigh anywhere from 4 to 13 ounces.

    Unfortunately, in some regions, other animals such as squirrels and moles are sometimes colloquially referred to as “gophers.” Adding to the confusion is that there is more than one genus of gophers. For example, we have the Western pocket gopher and the Eastern pocket gopher .

    Fortunately, for the purpose of getting rid of gophers from your yard, it is not important to delve into distinctions between these genera. Gophers can cause extensive damage to your yard, garden, and utility lines, so you will want to get rid of them sooner rather than later.

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    Spray Your Lawn With Natural Repellents

    Just as moles hate the smell of planted castor beans, they hate the smell of castor oil.

    Applying castor oil wont kill the moles, but the smell can effectively drive them away. If you mix three parts of castor oil with one-part dish soap, then dilute four tablespoons in a gallon of water, you have a natural, homemade mole repellent spray. Either spray it or pour it at mole tunnel entrances. If you have a smaller yard and a big mole colony, you may want to spray the whole yard.

    Moles are sensitive to other smells too, particularly feces. If you have a dog, drop those droppings right into the mole hills and seal it up.

    The smell will drive the moles away. If you dont have a pet, you can also leave leftover fish in the moles tunnels. Moles hate the smell of fish, and it will naturally drive them away but this may just attract other animals to your yard.

    While I love natural remedies, Ill be honest and say that castor oil and other strategies like this only work in the short-term. You may only cause the moles to move to a different part of your yard.

    How Do I Find Tunnels

    If you plan to trap or use poison bait to eradicate gophers, you need to locate their main tunnel. Using a gopher probe works better than blind luck. You can purchase a probe or make your own. It just needs to be strong enough to penetrate the soil.

    Most people have success following this process:

    • Look for a fresh mound of dirt.
    • Examine the opening for a dirt plug.
    • If it has a plug, its active; if not, move to another mound.
    • Start probing about a foot away from the plugged opening.
    • If your probe suddenly drops several inches, youve located the main burrow.
    • If not, keep probing slightly closer or slightly further away.

    Once youve located the main burrow, set your trap or bait.

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    My Recommendation For Killing Moles In Your Yard

    Traps like the Wire Tek 1001 EasySet Mole Eliminator Trap are highly effective with little risk on the setters part. Its the trap I recommend and I have used it myself.

    These traps do not require any digging, and there are no above ground hazards, so its safe to use without closing on you. And its safe for kids and pets once set.

    You step on the setting lever to trigger the trap. Set it on the active run and check every few hours. Move it 1-2 times per day for the most effective use.

    More Ways To Get Rid Of Moles And Gophers

    How to Get Rid of Gophers

    If other methods fail, you may opt for the most aggressive approach. The most effective way to control moles and gophers is with traps or poisons that result in the death of the creatures. If you use poisons or chemicals, be sure to follow the product directions carefully and keep pets and children at a safe distance. Chemical repellents and poisons are hazardous to pets and children in and around the treated area.;

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    How To Get Rid Of Snakes In The Yard

    Follow these steps on how to get rid of snakes in the yard:

    Snakes will sun their cold-blooded animal bodies but do not care to be exposed to the open for long. They will cross a lawn to get to a source of food, warmth or a perceived natural habitat like a damp pool area.;

    When you keep grassy areas and lawns cut down and back to minimal heights, those spaces become much less appealing to a snake. The snake will not want to be exposed and thus vulnerable in an open area for long. Chances are it will choose to crawl through more protective denser grass and growth to get to where it’s going.;

    Snakes like to take shelter and will seek out hiding places. Think of anything placed on the ground as an easy entry point for the mostly ground-dependent snake. Keep random outdoor items snakes might hide in, things like coiled garden hoses and wood piles, as far off the ground as possible.;

    If you can safely manage the distance needed between you and it, a snake moving along the ground can be contained by dropping a trash can over it. Put bricks or stones on the top to secure the can in place. Then, if available, an animal control service can be called to remove the snake from the area for you.;

    Green Gobbler Vinegar Weed & Grass Killer

    This weed killer from Green Gobbler is natural and organic, and doesnt contain harsh chemicals that will endanger your pets, children or family who enjoy playing around in your yard. It contains 20% acetic acid thatll decimate weeds within a couple of hours and is safe to use anywhere. Its perfect for use on driveways, mulch beds, in gardens and flower beds as well. Its made straight from corn, is ready to use right out of the container and is certified for organic use as well.

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    How To Get Rid Of Gophers Under The House

    Gophers love a beautiful yard, but theyre also happy to tunnel under the house. And since a single gopher burrow can extend 200-2,000 square feet and contain 200 yards of tunnels, even a few gophers under the home can compromise the buildings structural integrity and create dangerous sinkholes.;

    If you have gophers under your home, no-kill traps are the most effective solution. However, implementing this method can be risky and requires the help of a skilled pest management company like Smiths.

    Because of the hard-to-reach location of gopher burrows under the house, holistic methods like ultrasonic deterrents and peppermint oil are typically ineffective.;

    Scare Moles And Gophers Away

    how to get rid of gophers in your backyard how to get rid ...

    Getting rid of moles and gophers can be a hassle. However, they dont like to live in areas where they are disturbed. A sonic spike inserted into the ground uses electronic pulses to create irritating sounds to drive these pests away. There are multiple ultrasonic pest control options to choose from.;

    Some pets will chase gophers away if the gophers see or hear them. Even the scent of a dog or cats fur or urine may drive a gopher away. However, gophers can carry fleas or ticks that transmit diseases, so check your pet carefully if it comes across a gopher and remove or treat for any parasites, following your veterinarian’s instructions.

    If you dont own a pet, consider applying a predator scent to your yard, such as coyote urine. This is yet another humane way to drive the pests away, possibly for months. Read and follow the label directions before using the scent.

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    What Are The Options To Kill Gophers

    One natural control method is ideal, but not suitable for many people. If its viable for you, these guys are great, and they will work for food!

    Hawks and owls, snakes,;cats;and some dogs can be all that you need. In large open areas, promoting these;predators;to kill gophers makes sense.

    However, for most homeowners, your choices will be:

    • Traps
    • Professional help

    Use An Electronic Repellent System

    Ultrasonic pulses that emit from these systems can repel all kinds of animals in your yard, including gophers, though the research on effectiveness is inconclusive. They cost between $14 and $80 and can be found at most hardware stores and online. Many can cover areas up to 7,500 sq. ft. They claim to work by emitting a highly irritating sound below the ground to drive out the gophers. Most of these systems come in the form of spikes, which are inserted into the ground. Once the gopher has left your property, you can leave the spikes in your yard to prevent new gophers from taking up residence.

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    Products You Can Use To Fix A Gopher Infestation

    • Victor gopher sonic spike: Sonic pulses are emitted every 30 seconds which claim to irritate and drive gophers away, covering an area of up to 7,500 sq. ft.
    • Chase Mole & Gopher Repellent: With a hose-end liquid sprayer, you can cover your yard in liquid repellent to get rid of gophers humanely and prevent others from taking up residence.
    • Natures Defense animal repellent granules: These 100% organic, natural, and non-toxic repellent granules have an herbal scent which gophers cant stand.
    • AB Traps live humane trap: Once the gopher is caught, the locking mechanism ensures it cant escape. The reusable cage keeps the gopher safe until it can be released in a different location.
    • Castor oil: Gophers are strongly deterred by the taste and smell of castor oil, but it wont harm them when sprinkled around their burrows or on your vegetation.

    Why Do I Have Gophers In My Yard

    How to get rid of Gophers, Moles, and Voles in your lawn and garden. New Update Video.

    Humans arent the only ones who love a beautiful yard! Here are a few things that may be drawing gophers to your property:

    • Food sources. Gophers need to eat, and theyll set up shop anywhere they can find ample food sources. Gophers are herbivores, which means they only eat vegetation. They especially love the roots and tubers of plants but will occasionally resort to grazing the lawn for grass, clover, and other snacks.;
    • Soil composition. Because gophers love to excavate, they prefer to live in areas with loose, sandy soil thats easy to move.
    • Shelter. Gophers are a prey animal for many other animals, so they need plenty of protection to stay safe. They may build tunnels under bushes, along fence lines, or under trees.;

    Once you have a few gophers in your yard, the problem will snowball as the gophers reproduce. Female gophers have between one and three litters per year, with each litter containing five to six pups. The young stay at their mothers side for a few weeks before going out on their own to build burrows and make tunnels.;

    With that in mind, its smart to address gopher infestations quickly – before they become hard to manage.;

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    How Do You Get Gophers

    Gophers are found in North and Central America, usually in areas with sturdy soil thats rich in moisture and clay. Much of the United States is hospitable to gophers, however, the western two-thirds of the country, as well as states in the Southeast prove to be popular habitats.

    Gophers feed on plants, fruits, and vegetables, and are attracted to yards featuring lots of plant life, particularly alfalfa, carrots, dandelions, grasses, potatoes, radishes, tree bark, and tulips.

    How To Treat Your Lawn For Grubs

    You spend thousands of dollars literally to have a healthy, green lawn only to find it wither away before your eyes. You tried every best possible way to irrigate, aerate and fertilize it to no avail. Chances are, your lawn has grub infestation.

    If you have such an issue, these are the basics of lawn care and lawn pest control.

    Step 1

    You must understand that having grubs in the soil is normal for most of the yards. Before you implement a grub-removal program, you must determine the extent of your lawns grub infestation. You can do this by carefully cutting a 6 X 6 sample turf on your lawn.

    Cut as many samples from different parts of the lawn. If the sample turf contains 2-3 lawn grubs per sample, this means your lawn needs treatments. You can replace the turf after inspecting it.

    Step 2

    Know the species of grubs that infest your lawn. Identification of beetle species helps determines the program you implement. Three common beetle species infest lawns: the June beetle, the European Chafer, and the Japanese beetle.

    Step 3

    Should your lawn really warrant a treatment, then choosing the right time of application is crucial. Grubs have a three-year cycle before they pupate and turn into adult beetles. Once they are hatched in spring, they start feeding on roots of plants and other decaying matter.

    The second year of their life-cycle is the most destructive part of their life-cycle. Your lawn is filled with grubs that are in various stages of their life-cycle.

    Step 4

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