Gopher, mole ? Eating my plants... help!

Marc Erick
by Marc Erick

Recently I've noticed my garden plants, specifically vines (Morning glories, sweet potato vines) have been completely stripped of their leaves. Finally I found the culprit, a gopher or mole. What can I do to keep him away before he eats my entire garden?? I can't find his hole anywhere, he seems to come from a different yard. The picture is terrible, my apologies, I could only get a quick video before he ran off. Please help!

Errrrr!

  7 answers
  • Diane Tietjens Diane Tietjens on Aug 01, 2018

    If it is a gopher try planting some gopher purge it works great here in AZ. Plant isn't pretty but works well. Mole eat the plant roots and kill it from below. Could also be rabbits,

  • Ric7067269 Ric7067269 on Aug 02, 2018

    Do you have dogs? My Boston terrier digs around the edge of the hole then pees in it. So now I walk him around the front yard! I've been told it doesn't work but I'm the only one without mole hills.

    Hope this helps you.


    • See 2 previous
    • Marc Erick Marc Erick on Aug 02, 2018

      Oh yeah...I don't want to hurt him or anything, just want to keep him away. I have heard they have super sensitive noses. I'll give that a try too. Thank you so much!

  • Diane Tietjens Diane Tietjens on Aug 02, 2018

    Hello Laurie

    Gopher purge is an ugly plant my mom used to keep the gophers out of her garden here in AZ. I've never heard it called anything else but it probably has another name. I'd say try looking it up on the net or maybe in natural pest controls on Pinterest or one of those sites. That's about all I know about it, I've never used myself, my problem is bunnies and wild love birds.

  • Marc Erick Marc Erick on Aug 05, 2018

    I finally got a picture of the culprit! Gopher, right?

  • Michelle Leslie Michelle Leslie on May 14, 2020

    Hi Marc, moles don't like the smell of Castor Oil. Make sure to get it in granular or liquid form, not the stuff you buy at supermarkets. It's not strong enough and sprinkle it around the area.

  • Oliva Oliva on May 14, 2020

    If you're permitted to do so, shoot it. You can try trapping it with marshmallows or large lettuce leaves, then having animal control dispose of it. Groundhogs dislike castor bean plants, ammonia sprays, garlic, etc. They will do serious damage to your yard or shed foundation, and can cause someone on your property to suffer a broken ankle or bite, if groundhog feels cornered.