[IBC] Gophers and deer
 

I have access to a growing ground. It is frequented by deer and root eating gophers. I can use wire baskets in the ground to protect agains the gophers and for the short trees I can also screen the tops. Are there plants that gophers and/or deer don't like?

Kits


****
"Expectations are resentments under construction."

Anne Lamott

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On Aug 30, 2005, at 9:04 PM, Kitsune Miko wrote:

I have access to a growing ground. It is frequented by deer and root
eating gophers. I can use wire baskets in the ground to protect
agains the gophers and for the short trees I can also screen the tops.
Are there plants that gophers and/or deer don't like?

Kits

Most conifers are safe - you wouldn't need wire baskets.

Gophers loved the hornbeams I grew, but they never killed any. The best
preventative for gopher damage is a liberal application of cats. Here,
three cats reduced the thriving gopher population to a worrisome, but
apparently insignificant threat.

Jim


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************************************************** ******************************
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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

Thanks. I was thinking junipers and pines, but also crabapples, some pyrochomeles, and some elms. Cats up there would be a problem to keep. There is no barn or house attached to the property, but the near by creek could provide coons and possums, maybe even fox. People involved in thsis plot of land will do totally organic gardening. The place is on a lower hill in Portola Valley where the gophers did in a fig tree from the bottom. I wouldn't mind if the gophers did some root pruning. but I do need them to cooperate.

Kits

Jim Gremel wrote:

On Aug 30, 2005, at 9:04 PM, Kitsune Miko wrote:

I have access to a growing ground. It is frequented by deer and root
eating gophers. I can use wire baskets in the ground to protect
agains the gophers and for the short trees I can also screen the tops.
Are there plants that gophers and/or deer don't like?

Kits

Most conifers are safe - you wouldn't need wire baskets.

Gophers loved the hornbeams I grew, but they never killed any. The best
preventative for gopher damage is a liberal application of cats. Here,
three cats reduced the thriving gopher population to a worrisome, but
apparently insignificant threat.

Jim





****
"Expectations are resentments under construction."

Anne Lamott

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Kevin Bailey++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

On Aug 31, 2005, at 9:01 AM, Kitsune Miko wrote:

Thanks. I was thinking junipers and pines, but also crabapples, some
pyrochomeles, and some elms. Cats up there would be a problem to
keep. There is no barn or house attached to the property, but the
near by creek could provide coons and possums, maybe even fox. People
involved in thsis plot of land will do totally organic gardening. The
place is on a lower hill in Portola Valley where the gophers did in a
fig tree from the bottom. I wouldn't mind if the gophers did some
root pruning. but I do need them to cooperate.

Kits

Jim Gremel wrote:

Most conifers are safe - you wouldn't need wire baskets.

Gophers loved the hornbeams I grew, but they never killed any. The best
preventative for gopher damage is a liberal application of cats. Here,
three cats reduced the thriving gopher population to a worrisome, but
apparently insignificant threat.

I suggest just trying some of whatever you want to grow & let the
critters sort out which they like. I wouldn't use the baskets because
if the gophers really like something I have heard that they will just
climb over & dig inside them. My neighbor made raised beds with
screened bottoms & redwood sides, but the gophers climbed the 12" walls
& tunneled in.

Start with inexpensive plants.

Jim

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++++Sponsored, in part, by Kevin Bailey++++
************************************************** ******************************
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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

Kits,

Try going to the Botany Store (www.botanystore.com)and buy some Thuja
Green Giant arborvitae online. They are deer resistant, insect
resistant and drought tolerant. They grow 3-5 feet a year, which is
atounding. They can grow to 60 feet tall and 20 feet wide at maturity
but you can shear them to your own size as well. Good Luck!



Kitsune Miko wrote:
I have access to a growing ground. It is frequented by deer and root eating gophers. I can use wire baskets in the ground to protect agains the gophers and for the short trees I can also screen the tops. Are there plants that gophers and/or deer don't like?

Kits


****
"Expectations are resentments under construction."

Anne Lamott

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Kevin Bailey++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++