Do Gophers Eat Lavender

Gophers do eat lavender, but it’s not usually their first choice when other food is around.
 
These burrowing rodents are opportunistic feeders, meaning they’ll munch on whatever is easy and accessible in your garden.
 
However, lavender’s strong scent and woody texture make it less appealing to gophers compared to tender roots and juicy bulbs.
 
So while gophers can eat lavender in a pinch, they typically prefer softer plants like alfalfa, carrots, or dandelions.
 
If you’ve noticed your lavender plants being nibbled or pulled underground, gophers might be the culprits, but they could also be voles or moles.
 
In this post, we’ll dig into whether gophers eat lavender, why they might avoid it, and how to protect your lavender from these furry pests.
 
Let’s get our hands dirty and explore the truth about gophers and lavender.
 

Why Gophers Eat Lavender Only as a Last Resort

Gophers eat lavender rarely because the plant’s natural characteristics work against their feeding habits.
 
When you understand what gophers crave, it becomes clear why lavender isn’t at the top of their menu.
 
Let’s look at the main reasons gophers might eat lavender and why they usually pass it by.
 

1. Lavender’s Strong Aroma Deters Gophers

Lavender contains essential oils like linalool and camphor, which give it that signature fragrance.
 
Gophers have a highly sensitive sense of smell, and those intense aromas can be overwhelming or even unpleasant to them.
 
While gophers eat lavender occasionally when starving, the pungent scent often sends them searching for blander foods.
 
This natural chemical defense is why many gardeners plant lavender as a border to keep gophers away from prized vegetables.
 
So yes, gophers can eat lavender, but the smell alone usually deters them from taking more than a tentative bite.
 

2. Wooden Stems Are Hard for Gophers to Chew

Lavender develops tough, woody stems as it matures, especially near the base of the plant.
 
Gophers have strong front teeth designed for gnawing, but they prefer soft, succulent plant tissue that requires less effort.
 
When gophers eat lavender, they’ll target the tender new growth or young shoots rather than the fibrous old wood.
 
If your lavender is established with thick stems, gophers are far more likely to ignore it in favor of easier meals.
 
This is why younger lavender plants are more vulnerable than mature shrubs in gopher-prone areas.
 

3. Gophers Prefer Underground Roots and Tubers

Gophers are subterranean creatures that spend most of their lives tunneling beneath the soil surface.
 
Their diet revolves around roots, tubers, and bulbs they encounter while digging their extensive tunnel systems.
 
Lavender has a fibrous but not particularly fleshy root system, offering less nutritional payoff for the effort.
 
Gophers eat lavender roots only when they accidentally tunnel through them or when other root sources are scarce.
 
Compared to juicy carrot tops or protein-rich legume roots, lavender just doesn’t provide the calorie boost gophers seek.
 

4. Seasonal Availability Influences Gopher Feeding

During spring and early summer, gophers have plenty of fresh vegetation to choose from, so they rarely bother lavender.
 
But in late summer or drought conditions, when food becomes scarce, gophers eat lavender more readily out of desperation.
 
Hungry gophers will sample almost anything green, including lavender leaves, flowers, and young stems.
 
This is why you might notice gopher damage on lavender during dry spells or after you’ve cleared other food sources.
 
Understanding these seasonal patterns can help you anticipate when your lavender is most at risk.
 

How to Tell If Gophers Are Eating Your Lavender

You might be wondering if gophers eat lavender in your garden specifically, so let’s look at the signs of gopher activity.
 
Gophers leave distinct clues that differ from other pests like rabbits or deer.
 
Here’s what to watch for if you suspect gophers are snacking on your lavender.
 

1. Fan-Shaped Mounds of Dirt

Gophers push soil out of their tunnels, creating characteristic fan-shaped mounds with a plugged hole.
 
If you see these mounds near your lavender plants, gophers are likely tunneling underneath and feeding on roots.
 
These mounds differ from molehills, which are volcano-shaped with no visible plug.
 
Finding fresh mounds is a strong indicator that gophers eat lavender in that area.
 

2. Plants Pulled Down Into the Soil

Gophers sometimes grab above-ground vegetation from below and pull it into their tunnels.
 
If your lavender looks like it’s sinking or has stems disappearing into the ground, that’s classic gopher behavior.
 
While gophers eat lavender tops this way, they primarily target the roots first.
 
Check the base of damaged lavender for signs of gnawing or clean cuts at soil level.
 

3. Wilting or Yellowing Despite Watering

When gophers eat lavender roots, the plant loses its ability to take up water and nutrients.
 
This causes your lavender to wilt, yellow, or die back even though you’re watering it regularly.
 
If multiple lavender plants decline simultaneously in a line, gophers are likely traveling along a tunnel beneath them.
 
Pull up a struggling plant to inspect the roots for missing chunks or clean bite marks.
 

How to Protect Your Lavender from Gophers

Even though gophers eat lavender less than other plants, you still need to safeguard your garden investment.
 
Fortunately, several effective strategies can keep gophers away from your lavender beds.
 
Let’s explore practical solutions that really work.
 

1. Plant Lavender in Raised Beds or Containers

Raised beds with a wire mesh bottom create a physical barrier that gophers can’t penetrate.
 
Line the bottom of the bed with ½-inch hardware cloth before adding soil.
 
This prevents gophers from tunneling up into the roots while still allowing proper drainage.
 
Container-grown lavender is also safe since gophers can’t climb into pots easily.
 
This method is foolproof because gophers eat lavender only if they can physically reach it.
 

2. Install Underground Fencing Around Lavender Beds

If you prefer planting lavender directly in the ground, create an underground barrier instead.
 
Dig a trench about 2 feet deep around your lavender planting area and bury hardware cloth vertically.
 
Bend the bottom of the wire outward in an L-shape to discourage gophers from digging underneath.
 
Make sure the fence extends at least 6 inches above ground to stop surface tunneling.
 
This barrier works because gophers eat lavender roots only when they can access them through tunnels.
 

3. Use Natural Repellents Around Your Lavender

Certain scents and substances can discourage gophers from approaching your lavender plants.
 
Castor oil granules or sprays are popular natural repellents that make soil taste and smell unpleasant to gophers.
 
You can also plant other aromatic herbs like marigolds, alliums, or rosemary near your lavender.
 
These plants reinforce lavender’s natural deterrent effect and confuse gophers’ sensitive noses.
 
Since gophers eat lavender reluctantly anyway, these repellents often tip the scales toward them avoiding it entirely.
 

4. Set Live Traps for Persistent Gophers

For severe gopher infestations, trapping is the most reliable removal method.
 
Locate active tunnels by probing the ground near fresh mounds with a metal rod.
 
Set two traps facing opposite directions in the main tunnel to catch gophers coming from either side.
 
Check traps daily and relocate captured gophers far from your property if local laws allow.
 
Trapping directly addresses the problem since gophers eat lavender when populations are high and food runs low.
 

So, Do Gophers Eat Lavender?

Gophers eat lavender, but only under certain conditions and much less frequently than other garden plants.
 
Their preference for soft, juicy roots and their sensitivity to lavender’s strong aroma make lavender a low-priority food source.
 
However, hungry gophers will eat lavender when food is scarce, or when young plants lack that woody defense.
 
By using raised beds, underground barriers, natural repellents, and trapping, you can keep your lavender safe.
 
Hope this post has helped you understand whether gophers eat lavender and how to protect your fragrant plants.
 
Now you can enjoy your lavender’s beauty and scent without worrying too much about those underground visitors.