Gophers

dmhdc 4/16/2010, 1:28 pm

Does anyone know how to "gopher proof" the SFG box?

I’m working my way through the book and planning my area for SFG boxes. My biggest worry is gophers. My back yard is up against a wilderness area, so the gophers have a lot reenforcements. My fight against them while row gardening was a total failure.
These were my ideas:
I thought about putting a wire mesh under the box, but thought the gophers may still be able to get over the 6 inch sides. I though about putting plywood on the bottom, then setting it on 4x4's (that would make the top 10" high so they couldn’t get in). I could make the box walls extra high, but then I would have to bring in extra sand to put on the bottom before putting in Mel’s Mix.

If anyone has suggestions I would be most grateful.

DMH

Shoda 4/16/2010, 2:11 pm

I have never heard of them climbing over the edges. We have moles and gophers in our backyard too. I am putting small grid hardware cloth under my SFG beds. A neighbor used poultry netting (chicken wire) and they eventually chewed through. I am hoping the hardware cloth will work better.

Plywood will eventually rot, so I if you go that route, I would suggest wire also. Don't laugh, but I almost filled the bottom of my SFG with bricks! Assuming they were tight, they little buggers shouldn't be able to get through it at least.

Good luck!

**mckr3441** 4/17/2010, 12:32 am

Hi dmh.

to the forums!

I don't have any experience with gophers. I do recommend hardware cloth under a box on the ground. I would sit it on cardboard and also line the bottom of the box with woven landscape cloth.

You could build it above ground, say sitting it up on cement blocks and using a plywood bottom. I have one box with the plywood bottom. It's on wheels and sits on my driveway.

I'm sure you will get feedback from those who may have solved the gopher problem.

Happy gardening.

Claire

Sponsored content

Gophers

Gophers

Re: Gophers

Re: Gophers

Re: Gophers


	Hello Guest! Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum. There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.