Gopher Control Planting In Sqat Pots

14 years ago

Diane asked me to post a bit of information on the squat pots we use for gopher protection.

Before we learned about the pots, we used wire gopher cages. We found them unsatisfactory, because the wire eventually deteriorated. And when we had to move a rose planted in one, we had big problems.

We get our nursery pots nowadays from American Horticultural Supply -- a chain which has a store not far from us.

They are wholesale. Minimum purchase is $100.

Here's some information:

When life hands ya' some lemons, ya' just gotta make lemonade.

At least this "fleabag motel" has good air contitioning, and WiFi.

Here's American Horticultural Supply:

http://www.americanhort.com/

Here's the nursery pot page at the site.

http://www.americanhort.com/containers1.html#Anchor-Econ-3662

We have for the most part used the "SHORT" or "SQUAT" style, tho I know of people who use the taller ones.

You could likely use a 7-G for a Mini, but for bigger roses, we use 15-G or even 20-G.

ALWAYS with many 3/4-in to 1-in holes drilled in the bottom, and up the sides.

Jeri Jennings

On The Road in Needles, CA, (115 deg) waiting for RV Repairs

Here is a link that might be useful: Containers at A.H.S.

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Comments (10)

aliska12000
14 years ago
On The Road in Needles, CA, (115 deg) waiting for RV Repairs

Oh wow, what are you doing out there in that heat? I hope you had a/c somehow. I got heat stroke coming through there years ago when I was a kid. All we had was a thermos jug of water, but some people had these aluminum cylindrical devices they put in their front windows. You put dry ice in them, and it was the first form of primitive vehicle a/c. I wasn't used to that climate. Your sweat dries out so fast you don't know if you are sweating or not. It gets hot here, but it isn't the same even though humidity will shoot the heat index up to 110 here occasionally, could tolerate high heat at home w/o much problem other than bad sunburn (fair skin).

I wasn't sure which the squat pots were, I have to know height and gallons. Just about anything you'd need there though.

I know we've had moles here in Iowa, haven't seen a tunnel in quite awhie but used to see them fairly often. Don't think we have a gopher problem. I don't envy you having to plant that way. That's one thing I haven't had to worry about yet. Mostly insect damage, deer nearby but no sign of them in my yard.

The guy across the street let some woodchucks live behind his yews several years back. I kind of enjoyed watching them but wasn't into gardening then. Finally they disappeared, and now one of his yews has died out of four. He has resisted digging it out for at least 3 years now. I wonder if there could be a connection with the woodchucks.

We had them tunnel at the farm. I thought they were cute, but the neighbor said they could damage the foundation of the house. So I think he shot them. I know how to shoot but don't think I could have done it.
jerijen
Original Author
14 years ago
Oh wow, what are you doing out there in that heat? I hope you had a/c somehow.

*** We made a banzai from CA to Abbilene, TX, to pick up a rescued Dalmatian who will be our new dog.

See Becket at the link below.

We made it down there OK, tho it was tough, but the air conditioning quit yesterday, in 115 degrees.
We got into a fleabag motel, and we're all OK.
The AC was repaired this morning, and we'll be on the road again at 3 a.m., and thankful to be home.

After we get home, I can post some images of the pots we use.

Jeri
Cooling My Heels in a Needles CA Motel

Here is a link that might be useful:
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The only two reasons I've seen this recommended are for gophers or voles as Sheila said, or for to constrain roses that sucker like gallicas. In both cases, you have to cut out substantial parts of the pot such as drill holes in the sides or cut out the bottom or the rose will trap itself and die from the constriction, if the poor drainage doesn't kill it first. I was advised when planting a particularly invasive gallica to take a full sized outdoor garbage can, cut out the bottom then plant ALL of the garbage can into the ground leaving just a lip above ground, putting the rose in the middle of that. Even with the 4' or so of the garbage can, some gallicas can send out runners below that level. Needless to say I made other plans involving that gallica since I simply can't fathom the size of that hole. For gophers, the better long-term solution I've seen is to bury the rose in a cage of hardware cloth that basically stays around the rose to protect the roots from chewing. Again, this sounds like a lot of work but necessary in some gopher climates. Beyond that, I can't think of any reason for long-term planting of a rose in a plastic pot into the ground. Some people do this temporarily, such as if they're leaving town for weeks with no one to water pots, but it's not a long-term solution. The same goes for those peat pots some roses and perennials come in, even though they're marketed to be planted in the pots. In reality, the peat pot wicks all the moisture away from the plant and it's usually a disaster. Best practice all around is to take the plant out of the pot to plant it, unless you have a big enough pot where you're planning to grow the rose in the (above ground) pot. Cynthia
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bebemarie
14 years ago
Jeri,

That's one beautiful dog. Bless you for rescuing him (her?)

Diane
aliska12000
14 years ago
Oh, Jeri, what a beautiful dog. What happened to your other one(s)? I love dogs but after I gave up my one and only, I never wanted any more after that. Cats are easier for me.

That was quite a drive to adopt a dog, there has to be another story there. I'm so glad you got holed up in a fleabag motel as you say. Also glad you got your AC fixed. Reminds me of my nightmare in Emporia, Kansas when our year-new car broke the differential. We were stuck there 3 days, car broke down another 100 miles down the road, and we had to trade for a new one. The salesman took us out to lunch, I knew we had no bargaining chips, I was 6 months pregnant, and sat in that restaurant and cried.

So I have a real fear of costly breakdowns on interstate highways, had other ones, too. Also accidents, if I see what looks like a bad one, I try to find a way around it so I don't have to see it but it isn't possible on an interstate unless it's by an exit ramp.

Will be glad when you report in when you're back home and safe and hope Becket will be happy in his new home. Looks like a young one and beautiful markings.
hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
14 years ago
Beautiful pup!

I started planting a lot of things in sunken pots because of the moles. They don't eat the roots but leave air-pockets that dry the roots out.
jerijen
Original Author
14 years ago
We still have Miss Brisa, tho she is 12-3/4 years old now. But we lost a boy last winter, and it's really dragged Brisa down. So when we saw pix of this boy, found wandering in Waco, TX, with his probable litter brother, we knew he was for us.
They had been wandering in a rural area for weeks. Though very thin, and covered with ticks, they were heartworm negative, and lymes negative. Both had been trained to heel and sit. Becket is gentle and loving, and happy to follow Brisa (or us) everywhere.
Going for him was the right thing to do, but we'll NEVER again venture into this part of the desert in summer, in our lives.

I'm VERY anxious to get back to ROSES!

Jeri
sammy zone 7 Tulsa
14 years ago
Oh, Jeri. It has been so hot here, and even hotter in Texas. I hope you got some of the rain and cool that we got this morning.

I am very happy for you that you have a new dog. I know that you are very good with dogs, and they do bring us so much pleasure.

Sammy
aliska12000
14 years ago
I hope Becket's litter sibling got as loving a home as Becket. It makes me sad to think of so many abandoned animals, you know they have longings and feelings. It almost makes me wish I could have taken the other one. But I took in a homeless cat, and he's enough for me right now. He's my buddy, follows me around the house and yard.
jerijen
Original Author
14 years ago
Somewhere recently I read the opinion that dogs do not have emotions. Good grief! That had to come from some fool who did not really know dogs.
I don't always agree with Dr. Tommy Cairns, but I heard him give a talk called "Roses And Human Genes," in which he opined that those who love roses also care for other living things.
Folks on the Rescue list have been THANKING us for rescuing Becket. My husband laughed over that, and said: "Don't tell them we were just lucky enough to see him first!"
Anyhow, Aliska, Becket's brother has gone to a good home in Florida, and I hope eventually to be in touch with those folks.

SoCal rose folks et al, may get a chance to meet the boy at the National Specialty, this November, in Palm Springs. We'll all be there. And we can't chicken out, since we committed to speak. :-)

Jeri
aliska12000
14 years ago
I'm glad you were able and willing to rescue one. It breaks my heart what some of these poor animals suffer, actually it's always been that way, but now some of us are more aware of it, and some of it comes from maturity and life experiences.

I'm glad to know the other one has a good home. Should be fun if you can touch base with them now and then. Please keep us posted. Dalmations are traditionally mascots of firehouses, think maybe not so much any more. Yours can be a mascot for a rose society ;-)

Gopher Control Planting In Sqat Pots

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