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Joe palma

By Joe palma
in DISCUSSING PALM TREES WORLDWIDE

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Joe palma Mentor

Joe palma

Posted
Posted

I noticed this roebelenii multi looking a bit ratty this weekend, w/ more brown fronds when it was recently trimmed. I meant to trim those off but forgot. Then last night coming out from the back yard I saw this:

DSC00701.jpg

DSC00703.jpg

Almost 3' of trunk and this puppy was chewed down.

Now I know this is just a robo and this is a great opportunity to replace it, like all the rest, but look at the damage that snot did! Completely ate all the roots up to the trunk!

DSC00704.jpg

I did catch the bugger last night, so no more from him, but the tunnels are still there.

This is probably the 15th or so palm that has been nailed by gophers.

Everything I plant now is in a wire cage, if it is in a gopher area, adding to the burden of planting out. Oh well.

Joe Dombrowski

Discovery Island Palms Nursery

San Marcos, CA

"grow my little palm tree, grow!"

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LJG Grand Master

LJG

Posted
Posted

I have killed a few this year too. It seems to be an extra busy year for gophers. I was told a while back to destroy as much as the tunnels as you can. So when I see mounds I dig down and follow the tunnels. This forces them to dig new ones so they can be found. This has helped me spot gophers early in my yard.

Len

Vista, CA (Zone 10a)

Shadowridge Area

"Show me your garden and I shall tell you what you are."

-- Alfred Austin

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Stevetoad Grand Master

Stevetoad

Posted
Posted

BS MAN should love this. i guess there is a method to his madness...

btw keep them out of your house or else they get huge!!!

post-5835-091456600 1309461566_thumb.jpg

"it's not dead it's sleeping"

Santee ca, zone10a/9b

18 miles from the ocean

avg. winter 68/40.avg summer 88/64.records 113/25

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trioderob Grand Master

trioderob

Posted
Posted

BS MAN should love this. i guess there is a method to his madness...

btw keep them out of your house or else they get huge!!!

looks like Bill has one already

capybara_03.jpg

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Joe palma Mentor

Joe palma

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Yikes!

Good thing those capybaras don't dig tunnels!

They would create a significant subway system in your yard.

I capture the gophers w/ a black hole trap.

They work great.

Joe Dombrowski

Discovery Island Palms Nursery

San Marcos, CA

"grow my little palm tree, grow!"

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BS Man about Palms Grand Master

BS Man about Palms

Posted
Posted

Gophers and Lawyers...one less is always a good thing...

excepting our Dave of course...:huh:

Zone 10a at best after 2007 AND 2013, on SW facing hill, 1 1/2 miles from coast in Oceanside, CA. 30-98 degrees, and 45-80deg. about 95% of the time.

"The great workman of nature is time."   ,  "Genius is nothing but a great aptitude for patience."

-George-Louis Leclerc de Buffon-

I do some experiments and learning in my garden with palms so you don't have to experience the pain! Look at my old threads to find various observations and tips!

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DoomsDave Grand Master

DoomsDave

Posted
Posted

Gophers and Lawyers...one less is always a good thing...

excepting our Dave of course...:huh:

Ah, thank you BS!

Gotta watch for that Lawyer Poison

It's everywhere

Let's keep our forum fun and friendly.

Any data in this post is provided 'as is' and in no event shall I be liable for any damages, including, without limitation, damages resulting from accuracy or lack thereof, insult, or lost profits or revenue, claims by third parties or for other similar costs, or any special, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of my opinion or the use of this data. The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and I disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use my data. Other terms may apply.

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Jastin Veteran

Jastin

Posted
Posted

My dogs actually can hear or smell there tunnels and dig them up for me! I hope the tons of plants I planted without chicken wire do fine! Good thing it was only a robe!

Grateful to have what I have, Les amis de mes amis sont mes amis!

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Bae72 Enthusiast

Bae72

Posted
Posted

Wow, are Gophers native? I obviously have no idea of the situation, but as an analogy if someone was knocking off Wombats because they dug up unprotected palms, I'd be telling them to stop it and protect their palms. Are Gophers viewed like rats or something?

Brian - Mernda, Victoria, Australia - 37° 36′ 32.4″ S, 145° 5′ 34.8″ E

Melbourne has a moderate oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb) - High: 46.4 (115.5), low: -2.8 (27)

94868.gif

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Stevetoad Grand Master

Stevetoad

Posted
Posted

Wow, are Gophers native? I obviously have no idea of the situation, but as an analogy if someone was knocking off Wombats because they dug up unprotected palms, I'd be telling them to stop it and protect their palms. Are Gophers viewed like rats or something?

Yes. Very destructive little buggers. Have you never seen caddy shack?

"it's not dead it's sleeping"

Santee ca, zone10a/9b

18 miles from the ocean

avg. winter 68/40.avg summer 88/64.records 113/25

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Bae72 Enthusiast

Bae72

Posted
Posted

Wow, are Gophers native? I obviously have no idea of the situation, but as an analogy if someone was knocking off Wombats because they dug up unprotected palms, I'd be telling them to stop it and protect their palms. Are Gophers viewed like rats or something?

Yes. Very destructive little buggers. Have you never seen caddy shack?

Yeah, the only one with acting ability was the puppet portraying the Gopher. :mrlooney:

I'll shut up, don't know the situation over there.

Brian - Mernda, Victoria, Australia - 37° 36′ 32.4″ S, 145° 5′ 34.8″ E

Melbourne has a moderate oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb) - High: 46.4 (115.5), low: -2.8 (27)

94868.gif

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Stevetoad Grand Master

Stevetoad

Posted
Posted

Wow, are Gophers native? I obviously have no idea of the situation, but as an analogy if someone was knocking off Wombats because they dug up unprotected palms, I'd be telling them to stop it and protect their palms. Are Gophers viewed like rats or something?

Yes. Very destructive little buggers. Have you never seen caddy shack?

Yeah, the only one with acting ability was the puppet portraying the Gopher. :mrlooney:

I'll shut up, don't know the situation over there.

That movie is the casablanca of my generation... :blink:

"it's not dead it's sleeping"

Santee ca, zone10a/9b

18 miles from the ocean

avg. winter 68/40.avg summer 88/64.records 113/25

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Jastin Veteran

Jastin

Posted
Posted

Point Break for me

Grateful to have what I have, Les amis de mes amis sont mes amis!

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Bae72 Enthusiast

Bae72

Posted
Posted

Wow, are Gophers native? I obviously have no idea of the situation, but as an analogy if someone was knocking off Wombats because they dug up unprotected palms, I'd be telling them to stop it and protect their palms. Are Gophers viewed like rats or something?

Yes. Very destructive little buggers. Have you never seen caddy shack?

Yeah, the only one with acting ability was the puppet portraying the Gopher. :mrlooney:

I'll shut up, don't know the situation over there.

That movie is the casablanca of my generation... :blink:

I loved it when I was a little bugger. It's been a few decades since I last saw it. Rodney Dangerfield with those eyes popping out. Bill Murray hunting the Gopher. Gopher dancing. Turd in the pool.....

Yes, all the high-art of Casablanca, especially the (putative) turd in pool. :mrlooney:

Brian - Mernda, Victoria, Australia - 37° 36′ 32.4″ S, 145° 5′ 34.8″ E

Melbourne has a moderate oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb) - High: 46.4 (115.5), low: -2.8 (27)

94868.gif

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mjff Mentor

mjff

Posted
Posted

Gophers and Lawyers...one less is always a good thing...

excepting our Dave of course...:huh:

Ah, thank you BS!

Gotta watch for that Lawyer Poison

It's everywhere

It must not be very effective. :lol:

Martin Farris, San Angelo, TX

San Angelo Cold Hardy Palms and Cycads

Jul - 92F/69F, Jan - 55F/31F

Lows:

02-03: 18F;

03-04: 19F;

04-05: 17F;

05-06: 11F;

06-07: 13F;

07-08: 14F 147.5 Freezing Degree-Hours http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?sh...ee+hours\;

08-09: 23F;

09-10: 12F 467.6 Freezing Degree Hours, Average Temperature During Freeze 24.2F;

10-11: 13F 1,059.5 Freezing Degree Hours with Strong Winds/Rain/Snow/Sleet, Average Temperature During Freeze 19.4F;

Record low -4F in 1989 (High of 36F that p.m.) 1,125.2 freezing degree hours, Average Temperature During Freeze 13.6F;

Record Freeze 1983: 2,300.3 Freezing Degree Hours with a low of 5F, Average Temperature During Freeze 13.7F.

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MattyB Grand Master

MattyB

Posted
Posted

Even if they don't want to eat something, they'll chew through it because they are trying to file down their teeth that are constantly growing. So cage and pot planting is helpful to deflect their routes that are headed right towards your trees.

Matt Bradford

"Manambe Lavaka"

Spring Valley, CA (8.5 miles inland from San Diego Bay)

10B on the hill (635 ft. elevation)

9B in the canyon (520 ft. elevation)

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trioderob Grand Master

trioderob

Posted
Posted (edited)

how do the roots spread out past the cage if you do that ?

yuppp aaahhhhaaaa.........

Edited by trioderob
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MattyB Grand Master

MattyB

Posted
Posted

The roots go through the holes in the mesh or the holes in the pot (eventually breaking the pot, especially if you score it). The gophers can still do root damage but cannot cut the plant off like Joe's pic above. I've had them tunnel all around the cage, completely encircling it, eating roots as it went, and the palm didn't show any signs of stress. Not ideal, but it gives you time to trap.

Matt Bradford

"Manambe Lavaka"

Spring Valley, CA (8.5 miles inland from San Diego Bay)

10B on the hill (635 ft. elevation)

9B in the canyon (520 ft. elevation)

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Takil-Explorer Proficient

Takil-Explorer

Posted
Posted

Fortunately we do not have those gophers here in Europe! They look a bit as those bamboo rats in Laos. I guess they do a lot of damage!

Alexander

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tjwalters Veteran

tjwalters

Posted
Posted

Ouch! That's ugly.

We have gophers here in the east, too, but I have fortunately not been bothered by them yet. They are in the neighborhood, though. I DO have problems with their smaller cousins, voles. They can also do quite a bit of damage and I've lost more than a few plants, including palms, to them. A couple of examples:

Trachycarups fortunei

VoleDamage01.jpg

Trachycarups fortunei

VoleDamage02.jpg

Banana

VoleDamage20070701.jpg

Banana

VoleDamage20070702.jpg

Tom

Bowie, Maryland, USA - USDA z7a
hardiestpalms.com

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Stevetoad Grand Master

Stevetoad

Posted
Posted

Tjwalters. That's just plain painful

"it's not dead it's sleeping"

Santee ca, zone10a/9b

18 miles from the ocean

avg. winter 68/40.avg summer 88/64.records 113/25

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monkeyranch Rising Star

monkeyranch

Posted
Posted (edited)

I cannot fully express my disdain for those monsters. They also devour yuccas, and I had one eat only a two inch section of every Aspidistra stalk, leaving the leaves in a pile. My cats love hunting them but can't keep up with their breeding speed. I need more cats. The Russians abandoned Fort Ross on the Sonoma coast because the gophers ate all the crops, and the cattle kept breaking their legs on the tunnels in the pastures. I have a new area to plant and am going to flare them in their dens with propane once fire danger subsides next winter. It should then be easier to keep their numbers in check. The pellets are made with naturally derived strychnine (Strychnos nux-vomica), but I don't use them anymore. Too much of a risk of poisoning non-target critters.

Edited by monkeyranch
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nkbish Rising Star

nkbish

Posted
Posted

I have heard they are active early in the morning. At sun rise they can be hunted. Get those dogs after them. Good luck getting rid of them.

Northern San Diego County, Inland

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richnorm Grand Master

richnorm

Posted
Posted

No gophers here but yesterday I discovered that my neighbours' sheep have destroyed about 50 of my palms including some really special plants. The buggers ate them off to the ground. They had been deliberately let out into an unfenced area "because they were hungry"!

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Stevetoad Grand Master

Stevetoad

Posted
Posted

No gophers here but yesterday I discovered that my neighbours' sheep have destroyed about 50 of my palms including some really special plants. The buggers ate them off to the ground. They had been deliberately let out into an unfenced area "because they were hungry"!

Sounds like your having lamb chops tonight...

"it's not dead it's sleeping"

Santee ca, zone10a/9b

18 miles from the ocean

avg. winter 68/40.avg summer 88/64.records 113/25

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