When gophers move in, they don’t exactly keep a low profile. Before you know it, your Iowa yard looks like it’s been hit by a team of tiny bulldozers. But don’t throw in the trowel just yet! Mother Nature has plenty of tricks up her sleeve.
From strong-scented plants to clever underground deterrents, these nine natural methods will convince gophers it’s time to dig out—for good.
1. Plant Castor Bean Borders Around Your Property
Castor bean plants produce a strong smell that gophers absolutely hate. When you plant them along the edges of your Iowa yard, they create a natural barrier that keeps these critters away.
The roots release compounds into the soil that gophers find unpleasant, making them turn around and find somewhere else to dig. Just remember that castor beans are toxic to pets and children, so plant them carefully in areas where curious hands and paws won’t reach them.
2. Install Underground Wire Mesh Barriers
Hardware cloth with small openings works like an invisible shield beneath your Iowa garden beds and lawn. Gophers can’t chew through the sturdy metal, so they simply move on to easier territory.
Bury the mesh at least two feet deep around flower beds, vegetable gardens, or tree roots you want to protect. While it takes some effort upfront, this method provides long-lasting protection that pays off season after season without any maintenance required.
3. Encourage Natural Predators To Visit Your Yard
Owls, hawks, and even neighborhood cats love snacking on gophers. Setting up owl boxes or hawk perches gives these helpful hunters a reason to patrol your property regularly.
When predators visit often, gophers sense the danger and usually relocate to safer areas. You can also leave some brush piles for snakes, which are excellent gopher hunters too. Creating a wildlife-friendly environment means nature does the pest control work for you, completely free of charge.
4. Use Coffee Grounds As A Natural Repellent
Your morning coffee ritual can double as pest control! Gophers dislike the bitter smell of coffee, so sprinkling used grounds near tunnel openings sends them packing.
Simply collect your coffee grounds throughout the week and spread them around active gopher mounds and garden areas. The grounds also add nutrients to your Iowa soil as they break down, giving your plants a boost while keeping pests away. Reapply after heavy rain to maintain effectiveness throughout Iowa’s wet seasons.
5. Create Vibrations With Wind Chimes and Pinwheels
Gophers rely on sensing vibrations underground to detect danger, and constant movement above ground makes them nervous. Wind chimes, spinning pinwheels, and even empty soda bottles on stakes create ongoing vibrations that travel through the soil.
Place several of these noisemakers throughout your yard, especially near problem areas. The unpredictable movements and sounds convince gophers that something threatening is always nearby, encouraging them to find quieter Iowa neighborhoods to call home instead.
6. Apply Peppermint Oil Near Tunnel Entrances
The intense scent of peppermint overwhelms a gopher’s sensitive nose, making treated areas unbearable for them. Soak cotton balls in pure peppermint essential oil and stuff them into tunnel openings you discover.
You can also mix peppermint oil with water in a spray bottle and apply it around your garden beds and lawn perimeter. Refresh the treatment every few days or after rainfall to keep the scent strong enough to discourage new gopher activity in your Iowa yard.
7. Flood Gopher Tunnels With Water
When you spot fresh gopher mounds, grab your garden hose and flood the tunnel system thoroughly. The rushing water fills their underground highways, forcing them to abandon their comfortable home.
While gophers can swim, they hate having their tunnels waterlogged and will relocate rather than constantly rebuild. This method works best during drier months when Iowa soil absorbs water well. Repeat flooding several times over a few days to convince stubborn gophers that your property isn’t worth the hassle.
8. Plant Gopher-Repelling Bulbs And Flowers
Daffodils, alliums, and crown imperials contain natural toxins that gophers instinctively avoid eating. Planting these beautiful flowers throughout your garden creates colorful protection that blooms year after year.
Lavender and rosemary also release strong scents that gophers find offensive, making them excellent border plants. Not only do you get gorgeous landscaping, but you also build a living fence that keeps pests away naturally. Choose varieties that thrive in Iowa’s climate for best results and easiest maintenance.
9. Remove Food Sources From Your Landscape
Gophers feast on roots, bulbs, and tender vegetation, so reducing these food sources makes your yard less attractive. Keep your lawn healthy and thick to make digging more difficult for them.
Pull weeds regularly since gophers love munching on dandelion and clover roots. Consider raised garden beds with wire bottoms for vegetables, which protects your crops while limiting available food. When gophers can’t find easy meals in your yard, they’ll naturally move on to properties with better dining options available.