Gophers can be a total headache! These tiny, burrowing troublemakers dig tunnels that mess with your plant roots, pull up your favorite flowers, and leave ugly dirt piles all over the place. If you’re fed up with their chaos and want a more natural, eco-friendly fix, plants that repel gophers might be just what you need.
These plants don’t just shield your garden—they also make your space look even more beautiful and interesting. Keep reading to learn how you can use nature’s own superheroes to keep those pesky gophers away!
Why Use Plants to Repel Gophers?
When it comes to tackling garden pests, there are plenty of options—some involve harsh chemicals, and others might not be safe for pets or kids. But plants that repel gophers offer a natural, eco-friendly way to protect your garden without using harmful chemicals or traps. These plants do their magic in different ways: some give off smells or chemicals that gophers can’t stand, while others have roots that are toxic to them.
Best of all, using plants to keep gophers at bay is safe and sustainable for your garden. By choosing the right plants, you can stop gophers from causing damage while keeping your space healthy and natural. Now, let’s dive into 7 plants that do the trick!
7 Plants That Repel Gophers
Gopher Spurge (Euphorbia lathyris)
Gopher spurge is a top choice when it comes to repelling gophers. It has a toxic sap in its roots that gophers absolutely hate. Not only does it keep those pesky critters away, but it’s also super drought-tolerant, making it perfect for gardens that don’t need constant attention.
What it needs: Gopher spurge loves sunny spots with well-drained soil and can easily handle dry conditions.
Plus Benefits: This plant brings a cool, spiky texture to your garden and doesn’t need much water once it’s settled in. Perfect for low-maintenance gardeners!
Castor Bean (Ricinus communis)
The castor bean plant is a well-known gopher repellent thanks to its toxic substance, ricin, which gophers can’t stand. However, it’s important to remember that castor bean seeds are toxic to both humans and pets, so be sure to plant it in areas where kids and animals won’t get close.
What it needs: Castor bean plants thrive in full sun and well-drained soil.
Plus Benefits: With their large, tropical-looking leaves, castor bean plants add a bold, dramatic touch to your garden while keeping gophers away!
Lavender (Lavandula spp.)
Lavender is a gardener’s favorite, not only for its lovely scent but also because it keeps gophers away with its strong, aromatic fragrance. Gophers just can’t stand the smell, and that’s enough to send them packing!
What it needs: Lavender thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.
Plus Benefits: Lavender is a pollinator magnet, attracting bees and butterflies, making it a fantastic choice for any garden. Plus, it looks stunning and adds a pop of color!
Marigolds (Tagetes spp.)
Marigolds are bright, cheerful flowers that not only add color to your garden but also help keep gophers at bay. Their strong odor is something gophers find offensive, making them a natural repellent. Plus, marigolds also help keep other pests, like aphids, away!
What it needs: Marigolds love full sun and can grow in almost any soil, making them super easy to plant.
Plus Benefits: These vibrant flowers are great companions for your vegetable garden, helping to repel pests and boosting the overall health of your garden!
Daffodils (Narcissus spp.)
Daffodils aren’t just pretty spring flowers—they also make a fantastic gopher repellent! Their bulbs contain toxins that gophers find unpleasant, so they steer clear of them. And of course, their bright yellow blooms bring a cheerful pop of color to any garden.
What it needs: Daffodils thrive in well-drained soil and prefer partial to full sun.
Plus Benefits: These cheerful flowers are often the first to bloom in spring, signaling the end of winter and adding some much-needed early-season happiness to your garden!
Alliums (Allium spp.)
If you love garlic or onions, you’ll be happy to know that alliums (like garlic, onions, and ornamental allium flowers) can help keep gophers away! The strong scent they release is something gophers just can’t stand, making them a great natural repellent.
What it needs: Alliums love sunny spots and well-drained soil.
Plus Benefits: Many allium varieties are edible, giving you both delicious ingredients and pest control! Plus, their tall, globe-shaped flowers add a unique texture and visual interest to your garden.
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
Just like their bigger allium relatives, chives are a fantastic choice for keeping gophers away! These tough, herbaceous plants have a strong onion-like scent that gophers find unpleasant, helping to keep them at bay.
What it needs: Chives thrive in full sun and well-drained soil.
Plus Benefits: Not only are chives great for adding flavor to your dishes, but they also attract helpful pollinators like bees, which boost your garden’s health and growth!
How to Make the Most of These Plants
Just planting these gopher-repellent plants isn’t always enough to keep gophers at bay. Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of these natural defenses:
Companion Planting
Try planting gopher-repellent plants next to your vegetables or flowers that gophers are most likely to target. This creates a natural barrier to protect your more vulnerable plants.
Strategic Placement
Plant these deterrent plants along the edges of your garden or around your lawn to keep gophers from burrowing in. Grouping them in areas where gophers like to dig the most can also help.
Layer Your Protection
Don’t just rely on one method—combine gopher-repellent plants with other natural deterrents, like castor oil granules or sonic repellent devices, for extra protection and to make your garden even more gopher-resistant
Extra Tips
While plants are a great first step, there are other natural gopher deterrents you can use to boost your defense against these pesky critters:
- Castor Oil Granules: A natural and effective way to keep gophers away, castor oil granules can be sprinkled around your garden. They irritate the gophers’ digestive systems, making them want to leave the area.
- Sonic Repellents: These devices send out vibrations that disrupt gophers and other burrowing animals, encouraging them to find a new place to di
Frequently Asked Questions
What plants do gophers hate the most?
Gophers hate plants like gopher spurge, castor bean, and lavender. These plants either have toxic roots or strong scents that gophers find unpleasant.
What is the best deterrent for gophers?
The best deterrent for gophers is a combination of gopher-repellent plants like marigolds and daffodils, along with other natural methods like castor oil granules or sonic repellents.
What smell do gophers hate?
Gophers strongly dislike the smell of plants like lavender and marigolds. These plants have powerful fragrances that send gophers running.
Do coffee grounds keep gophers away?
While coffee grounds are often thought to repel pests, there’s no strong evidence they keep gophers away. For better results, focus on planting gopher-repellent plants instead.
