Do Gophers Eat Asparagus Roots

Gophers do eat asparagus roots, and they can wipe out an entire asparagus bed if you don’t catch them early.
 
These burrowing rodents love the tender, starchy roots of asparagus plants, and they’ll happily snack on the crowns you’ve spent years nurturing.
 
If you’ve been wondering, “do gophers eat asparagus roots,” the short answer is yes, and it’s one of their favorite underground meals.
 
In this post, we’ll cover why gophers eat asparagus roots, how to tell if gophers are eating your asparagus roots, and the best ways to stop gophers from eating asparagus roots for good.
 
Let’s dig in.
 

Why Gophers Eat Asparagus Roots

Gophers eat asparagus roots because asparagus roots are basically a perfect food source for them.
 
Here’s why gophers are so drawn to your asparagus patch:
 

1. Asparagus Roots Are Soft and Nutritious

Asparagus roots, especially the fleshy storage roots and crowns, are packed with carbohydrates and moisture.
 
Gophers spend most of their lives underground, so they’re always looking for easy, energy-rich food.
 
Asparagus roots fit that bill perfectly, which is why gophers eat asparagus roots so readily.
 

2. The Roots Stay in One Place Year After Year

Unlike annual veggies that come and go, asparagus is a perennial that stays put for 15 to 20 years.
 
That means gophers eating asparagus roots get a reliable, long-term food supply without having to search far.
 
Once a gopher finds your asparagus bed, it will keep coming back for more.
 

3. Gophers Prefer Underground Plant Parts

Gophers are fossorial rodents, meaning they live and feed almost entirely underground.
 
Their diet is built around roots, tubers, bulbs, and crowns, so when gophers eat asparagus roots, they’re just doing what comes naturally.
 
Your asparagus crowns are basically an all-you-can-eat buffet sitting right in their tunnel network.
 

Signs Gophers Are Eating Your Asparagus Roots

Knowing the signs that gophers are eating asparagus roots can save your patch before it’s too late.
 
Watch for these telltale clues:
 

1. Wilting or Collapsing Spears

When gophers eat asparagus roots, the plant loses its ability to take up water and nutrients.
 
Spears may wilt, turn yellow, or topple over even when the soil is moist.
 
If your asparagus looks fine one week and collapses the next, gophers eating asparagus roots could be the culprit.
 

2. Fresh Mounds and Fan-Shaped Holes

Gophers push soil to the surface, creating crescent or fan-shaped mounds.
 
If you spot fresh mounds near your asparagus bed, chances are gophers are eating asparagus roots right underneath.
 

3. Patches That Never Come Back

Asparagus is tough, but when gophers eat asparagus roots down to the crown, that section won’t regrow.
 
You’ll end up with bare gaps in your bed where healthy spears used to push through every spring.
 

How to Stop Gophers From Eating Asparagus Roots

If gophers are eating asparagus roots in your garden, you’ve got options to fight back.
 
Here are the most effective ways to protect your crop:
 

1. Install Underground Wire Mesh

Line your asparagus bed with galvanized hardware cloth buried at least 12 inches deep.
 
This physical barrier stops gophers from tunneling up into the root zone.
 
It’s the most reliable long-term fix if gophers keep eating asparagus roots in your garden.
 

2. Use Gopher Traps

Trapping is one of the fastest ways to remove gophers that are eating asparagus roots.
 
Set traps in the main tunnels, not the feeding tunnels, and check them daily.
 
Always wear gloves to keep human scent off the trap.
 

3. Try Natural Repellents

Castor oil-based repellents can make the soil less appealing.
 
You can also plant gopher spurge or daffodils nearby, though results vary.
 
Repellents work best before gophers start eating asparagus roots heavily, not after.
 

4. Encourage Natural Predators

Owls, hawks, snakes, and barn cats all prey on gophers.
 
Install owl boxes and keep brush piles that shelter snakes.
 
Predators won’t solve the problem overnight, but they help keep gophers from eating asparagus roots over time.
 

5. Flood the Tunnels

Soaking the burrows with a hose can flush gophers out or drown them.
 
It’s not the most effective method, but it can work on a small scale when gophers are eating asparagus roots in a confined area.
 

So, Do Gophers Eat Asparagus Roots?

Gophers do eat asparagus roots, and they can destroy an entire bed if left unchecked.
 
These rodents love the soft, starchy crowns, and because asparagus is perennial, gophers eating asparagus roots get a steady food source season after season.
 
Watch for wilting spears, fresh mounds, and bare patches, then act fast with wire mesh, traps, or repellents.
 
With a little diligence, you can protect your patch and stop gophers from eating asparagus roots before they ruin years of hard work.