Subterranean pests like the pocket gopher are a frequent concern for gardeners trying to establish a thriving landscape. These rodents consume plant roots, create mounds, and disrupt the soil structure. For those cultivating aromatic plants, such as lavender, a common question arises regarding its vulnerability. Understanding the natural defenses of lavender is the first step in assessing its risk.
Is Lavender Gopher-Resistant?
Lavender is widely considered one of the most resistant plants to gopher damage, although no plant is entirely immune. Gophers are herbivores that primarily target fleshy, moist roots and tubers. They tend to avoid plants with strong, pungent flavors and aromas. The tough, woody root structure and aromatic nature of the lavender plant deter gophers from selecting it as a primary meal.
This natural defense means that while a gopher tunnel might pass near a lavender plant, the animal will elect to eat other, more palatable roots nearby instead. Reports of gophers consuming lavender roots are rare, usually occurring only when preferred food sources are scarce or in cases of extreme gopher pressure. Lavender is often planted strategically as a border or companion plant to help protect more vulnerable species.
The Role of Aromatic Compounds
Lavender’s gopher-resistance lies in the high concentration of secondary metabolites, specifically aromatic compounds, produced throughout the plant. These volatile organic chemicals give lavender its signature scent and act as a defense mechanism against herbivores. The roots and foliage of the Lavandula species contain compounds such as linalool and camphor.
These substances are strong-smelling and bitter-tasting, acting as a natural repellent to animals with a highly developed sense of smell, like the pocket gopher. The intensity of the aroma can overwhelm the gopher’s sensitive olfactory system, signaling that the plant is unpalatable or potentially toxic. Camphor, in particular, contributes a sharp, medicinal scent that gophers tend to actively avoid when foraging for food underground.
Signs of Gopher Presence
If you notice damage in your garden, confirm that a gopher is the culprit rather than a mole or a vole, as each requires a different management approach. Gophers create crescent-shaped or fan-shaped mounds of soil on the surface, which are typically plugged with dirt in the center of the crescent. This plugged entrance distinguishes their work from that of moles, which leave circular, volcano-shaped mounds with an open hole.
Gopher tunnels are usually deeper and larger in diameter than those made by moles, who primarily hunt insects near the surface. The most definitive sign of gopher damage is the sudden disappearance of entire plants, which are pulled from the ground and consumed from below. The wilting of a plant whose root system has been completely severed underground is a clear indication of their feeding pattern.
Safeguarding Vulnerable Plants
While lavender is naturally repellent, other desirable plants in the garden may require active protection in areas with high gopher activity. The most effective method involves installing physical barriers around the root ball of susceptible plants during planting. This is accomplished using root cages, often called gopher baskets, made of galvanized wire mesh with openings three-quarters of an inch or less.
The wire mesh allows the roots to grow and water to pass through while preventing gophers from reaching the root ball to feed. For larger areas or vegetable patches, an underground barrier of wire mesh can be laid beneath the entire planting area and extended vertically above ground level. Supplemental deterrents, such as applying castor oil granules near active tunnels, can also be used to create an unpleasant environment that encourages the gophers to relocate.