Gophers can turn your beautiful Oklahoma lawn into a mess of tunnels and dirt mounds overnight. These underground pests destroy gardens, damage tree roots, and create tripping hazards with their holes.
Thankfully, you don’t need harsh chemicals to send them packing – nature offers plenty of effective solutions.
1. Plant Natural Repellents
Gophers hate certain plants that you can strategically place around your yard. Marigolds, garlic, and daffodils produce scents and tastes these critters find absolutely unbearable.
Castor bean plants also work wonders, but handle with care as they’re toxic to pets and humans. Create a protective border around garden beds or along property lines where gopher activity is highest.
2. Owl Boxes For Natural Predators
Barn owls are gopher-hunting machines! A single owl family can catch over 1,000 rodents yearly. Setting up an owl nesting box on a tall pole creates a natural predator station.
Oklahoma’s native barn owls will happily move in and patrol your property for free. Position boxes 15-20 feet high facing away from prevailing winds for best results. The nighttime hooting is just a bonus!
3. Vibration Stakes
Gophers absolutely detest vibrations in their underground homes. Solar-powered vibration stakes send irritating pulses through the soil that drive gophers crazy without harming them.
Push these devices into the ground near active tunnels. Most stakes cover about 7,000 square feet of yard space. For Oklahoma’s clay-heavy soils, choose stakes with stronger vibration settings for maximum effectiveness against persistent pocket gophers.
4. Castor Oil Solution
Mix 1/4 cup castor oil with 2 tablespoons dish soap in a gallon of warm water for a potent gopher deterrent. The solution won’t kill them but makes their food taste terrible and irritates their digestive systems.
Drench active tunnel areas and entrances thoroughly. Apply after rain for best penetration in Oklahoma’s sometimes dry soil. Most gophers will relocate within days rather than tolerate the unpleasant coating on their food sources.
5. Underground Barriers
Hardware cloth with 1/4-inch mesh makes an excellent underground fence against burrowing pests. Dig a trench 24 inches deep around garden beds or valuable plants, then install the barrier.
Bend the bottom outward at a 90-degree angle to prevent gophers from digging under it. For Oklahoma gardens, extend the barrier at least 6 inches above ground level to block jumping gophers and protect against our region’s persistent diggers.
6. Flooding Method
Running water into gopher tunnels forces them to surface or relocate. Find active tunnels (look for fresh dirt mounds), dig a small opening, and insert your garden hose.
Let water run for 15-20 minutes. This works especially well after Oklahoma spring rains when soil is already moist. Have a bucket or shovel ready – sometimes gophers will emerge from their flooded homes, giving you a chance to relocate them far from your property.
7. Pet Patrol Duty
Dogs with strong digging instincts like terriers make excellent gopher deterrents. Their scent, movement, and occasional digging keep gophers on edge and less likely to settle in your yard.
Many Oklahoma families report fewer gopher issues after adopting a terrier mix. Even cats contribute by hunting young gophers. Let your pets spend supervised time in problem areas of your yard. Their presence alone can reduce gopher activity significantly.
8. Fish Head Deterrent
Gophers hate the strong smell of decomposing fish. Bury fish heads or scraps 6-8 inches deep near active tunnels but not directly inside them. The rotting process releases sulfur compounds that repel gophers.
In Oklahoma’s warm climate, the fish breaks down quickly, creating a stink zone gophers avoid. This method works best in back corners of yards away from your home. Replace every few weeks during active seasons for continuous protection.
9. Juicy Fruit Gum Trick
Strange but true – unwrapped Juicy Fruit gum placed in tunnels can eliminate gophers. They’re attracted to the sweetness but can’t digest the gum properly.
Wear gloves when handling the gum to avoid adding human scent. Find fresh tunnels, open a small hole, drop in unwrapped pieces, and cover the opening. This folk remedy has surprising success rates among Oklahoma gardeners and works best during dry periods when natural food is scarce.
10. Native Plant Landscaping
Oklahoma native plants often have natural defenses against local pests, including gophers. Prairie grasses, yucca, and prickly pear develop tough, deep root systems that gophers find difficult to damage or eat.
Convert problem areas to native plant gardens that thrive in our climate while deterring pests. As a bonus, these plants require less water and maintenance than non-natives. The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension offers free guidance on selecting appropriate native species for your specific yard conditions.