A few days ago we noticed the leaves of our Ash tree were withering and falling off. At first, I assumed this was happening because of fall…duh, leaves fall in fall. But something about the tree seemed off, and I knew that this was more than just a seasonal change.
One big telltale sign of the tree being in distress was the shriveled-up yellow leaves. Once we figured out that the tree was having a problem we went to the root of the problem – literally!
My partner, Alejandro, dug around the base of the tree into the dirt to discover the gardener’s ultimate enemy – a goober path! This gopher (perhaps a whole gopher tribe) had been chewing away at the roots and trunk of our beloved Ash tree. We knew this because of the gnawed-up base of the tree and the burrowed holes next to the roots.
Our guess is that the gophers (or moles, who knows) were gnawing away at the trunk and bringing the pieces of wood to their burrow to make little gopher furnishings. Just imagine a little gopher family gathering around in their homemade furniture in their little burrow. I would say it is an adorable thought, but that precious furniture is made out of our precious tree!
I felt so sad to think that the tree that my sister-in-law had gifted us was about to be extinct. There had to be a way to save the tree.
Lucky for us, we found a way! We found a solution that didn’t involve buying any extra products. These are the steps we took to make sure that the pesky rodents could not reach and damage our tree. I hope they work for you too!
Step 1: Damage Existing Rodent Homes
Now, this part may seem heartless and destructive, but just know that humans are a part of the animal kingdom and we have the right to protect to self-sustaining habits. Therefore, it is imperative to break up any rodent homes that you see. You can do this by crushing up the dirt with a stick or shovel.
Step 2: Apply Hydrated Lime to the Dirt
Sprinkle Calcium Hydroxide (hydrated lime) around the base and roots of the tree. This product is known as just “lime”, and animals despise this stuff! Lime is a homesteaders best friend.


Step 3: Lay Down Protective Materials
Next, you will need to lay down protective materials such as wood pieces, rocks, glass or gravel. These materials will go directly on the earth as close to the roots and damaged trunk as possible.
The goal is to have a sort of border so the gopher will not be able to reach the roots and trunk
You will layer the material around the base and roots of the tree and cover with dirt. You can choose to do a few layers of this (protective material, dirt, protective material, dirt, etc.) This will ensure maximum protection.
Step 4: Re-plant the Tree
If you haven’t re-planted the tree yet, do so now. Pack the dirt to the top of the hole and water it. Your tree might be flimsy depending on the damage done by the rodent.
Since our Ash tree only had less than a year in the ground it was very small and thin. This meant we had to prop it up while it got used to being re-planted.
There you grow! Those were the 4 budget friendly steps I used to deter pesky rodents from killing our tree.
*Note: A preventative measure many seasoned gardeners take is to install chicken wire around the root system the first time the tree is planted.
Although this is a more costly and time consuming measure, it might save you more stress in the long run.
Remember – gophers and moles are extremely tenacious and can be skilled woodworkers. Erring on the side of caution with rodents does a garden good!