We are in the garden for a little wander today and talking about wisteria. If you have followed me a long for a bit you probably know that our greenhouse has wisteria planted in the front by the door.
Greenhouse Garden Wisteria
You might also remember that when we first planted it probably 10 years ago now- it didn’t do much at all each spring. Of course, a lot of people don’t like wisteria because it takes over and grows in too much. We have not had that problem haha. It has taken years for it to bloom nicely and we love it when it rambles along and reaches further out so it definitely has not taken over.
A couple of years ago we bumped into a couple large wisteria at the garden center and we added 2 more in right next to the originals. This was a different type of wisteria that leafed out first and then put flowers on. They were not near as showy flowers as the others but the foliage being so lush was nice and we loved that the wisteria bloomed one after the other so the blooms seemed to last much longer.
Wisteria Issues
Fast forward to spring this year. We noticed that the 2 newer wisteria were looking more ‘branchy’ than they usually would. We waited to see if they were going to bloom and with nothing happening, my husband has a sneaking suspicion that the gophers got to their roots and killed them. He dug them up about a week ago and found that the roots had been eaten which killed the wisteria aside from one very small sprig of green on one of them.
Gopher Troubles
While we were looking at the planting holes, we noticed the gopher hole opening up right into them. And lo and behold, while we were there, he popped his little face out and saw us and filled his hole back in.
Of course, gophers are cute but they have killed so many plants in our garden over the past few years. We tried gopher spikes that make noise- they literally dug right next to them. We planted all the plants in wire cages so they couldn’t get to them and they chewed right through the wire and ate the roots. They even chewed right through our foxgloves roots – which are poisonous and supposedly resistant to critters eating them. The gophers were fine eating them afterwards btw- but the foxgloves were not. We have tried all the safe things and do not want to poison any creatures- so it is a bit of a conundrum.
Planting in the Pots
We started planting the garden with plants inside the pots a couple of years ago and so far that has helped but the plants aren’t as happy as they would be placed directly into the dirt of course.
We have recently planted dozens of new plants in the garden beds and along the path and we just found 2 new large wisteria that is the same type as the original we planted and are planning to add those back in to fill in the area and probably planting them in the pots to keep the gophers from getting them.
We have a couple leaning fence posts that have gone wonky (gophers again?) that the wisteria vines along and once we get those shored up, we will be tackling planting the new wisteria plants – which have already finished blooming and are leafed out beautifully.
But I thought I would ask if any of my experienced gardening readers may have any tips for keeping the gophers from eating all the plants?
Stay tuned for more of what is blooming in the garden and what we are planting right now. And if you would like to see more of blooms in the greenhouse garden – you can find those in my recent book- French Country Cottage In Bloom- currently sale priced at just $23
Happy Monday friends.
The gophers are not cute. They are rodents. In this area of san diego they have destroyed countless plants and the gardeners here can’t keep up withe holes they have made and the plants they have destroyed. You will have to choose between getting rid of them (poison) or no plants. pick one. Home depot sells pellet poison which is very effective. Good luck.
After my own heart! I am compassionate as long as my plants are safe!
How sad to choose a plant over a beating heart…😢
i have no idea that is crazy going for a hair cut tomorrow wIll ask if anyone can help/
Gophers and moles will dEstroy your gardens and yards. Kill them immediately. They are not fRiendly to have on your property. Pick your gardens and plants over the nasty rodents. Your gardens and flowers and posts are always GORGEOUS. We love to see them!! Pick yOu, us, and the gardens and fences over the rodents, please!!
its cruel to posion any animal and cause tremdous suffering…
sorry, cant really help with the gopher problem. up here in canada we live very close to the canada/USA border and i think moles and deer can be a problem but mostly squirrels eating spring bulbs. I plant them in pots (as you have already suggested and tried) they cannot get to the bulbs. but the worst case scenario i would use the poison.
Would liquid Fence work?
I use it all the time, it works for other creatures Don’t know if it will work On gophers. Try ammoNia too. Of course don’t pour it near the plants.
I use ammonia to kkep snakes away, works perfectly.
How do you use ammonia to keep snakes away?
Poison can be eaten by other animals; dogs, cats, chickens, birds. And if a dog eats a poisoned gopher, the dog can be poisoned. PLEASE don’t poison the gopher. We had woodchucks here. Infuriating, but we had other animals too. so no poison. Our big rescued dog took care of one of the woodchucks and the rest of them left. I’m sorry for you. Hope things will work themselves out soon.
We’ve had the same problems and fifnally gave up. Plants that we finally decided to go with becaUSE THEY WON’T GET EATEN: winter gem japanese Boxwood, salvia, rosemary and lavender. In the past, I’ve considered planting a ring of one of the above around the desered plants in an effort to keep the gophers away. we’re on central coast of california.
something has been eating the roots ofmy Roses. I could see little teeth marks on some. Looked like little beavers had gnawed them off. I think its voles.Im planting all the new ones in the stainless steel bags. I get the bags from amazon. The Plants in Bags have not been damaged’ so far anyway. All my hostas are in pots since the spring when 40 clumps never came up, just gone. now if the squirrels will leave them alone.
We have wisteria in a huge pot and it does very well most years.
Gophers and squirrels!!!! Please let me know if you find a solution for them to not dig up or eat every flower you plant!!!??
The wisteria looks so dreamy. Did you have to wait long for the blooms to be just right?
I use metal traps that you insrt in the goher tunnel. they work great for me.
I wonder if black pepper mixed jn the soil would be effective. I have sprinkled it on hosta leaves to keep deer at bay before. It takes a lot of it to steer them away.
After voles ate most of the plants in our yard–twice, we had them gassed.
i hated to do it, but replacing all the plants was expensive!
we had gophers from the neighbor’s yard visiting our primrose beds and enjoying the spread. we dug them up and added heavy duty steel mesh. we replanted–no problem since.