4 Natural Ways to Keep Gophers Out of Your Yard

Gophers are nature’s diggers, constructing extensive underground tunnels that can help aerate soil. But at the same time, all this digging can be a nuisance and a homeowner’s worst nightmare. Aside from holes in the lawn, gophers' tunneling activities can destabilize the soil around a home’s foundation, posing a costly problem that nobody wants to deal with.

While you don’t want to harm these little critters, keeping them off your property is a wise choice. Ahead, lawn experts share humane ways of preventing gophers or getting rid of them if they’ve already moved in.

Create an Underground Barrier

One way to prevent gophers from moving into your garden is to create a physical barrier they can't chew through. This will stop them (and moles) from accessing the area, says Angelika Zaber, a lawn care specialist and gardening expert working for Online Turf. "The barrier should be made from metal and extend to at least 24 inches below the ground." After all, gophers are natural-born diggers and will not have an issue getting under shallow fences. So, creating a physical underground barrier is the most effective, humane way to keep them out of your yard.

Add Plants Gophers Don't Like

Next, try investing in some gopher-repellent plants. Gophers don’t like plants with strong smells, such as marigolds, lavender, and rosemary, says Zaber. "These plants motivate gophers to relocate to a different, more pleasant area," she says. You can either plant them around your garden, almost like a fence, or around any flower beds or raised borders for extra protection.

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Use Catch-and-Release Traps

However, if your yard is already hosting gophers, you may want to use non-lethal, catch-and-release traps. Gene Caballero, lawn care expert and founder of GreenPal, says this is the best way to remove gophers in your yard. "Placing traps in active tunnels is the most effective long-term solution," he says. To identify the active runs, look for fresh mounds with soft soil protruding in the lawn. These are signs that the tunnels are in active use. Whichever live trap you use, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid triggering it. And because gophers eat plants, add fresh vegetables or fruits as bait to lure them in. Check the traps frequently, and once caught, gophers can be relocated in accordance with your area's local wildlife regulations.

Install Ultrasonic Pest Repellent

Gophers dislike loud noises, which interfere with their ability to listen for predators. This means too much noise, and gophers will voluntarily vacate their burrows. "So, investing in an ultrasonic pest repellent device can sometimes be enough for them to vacate your garden and move to a quieter area," says Zaber. Place the devices strategically around your yard or nearby areas where you know gophers are most active.