GO-pher-AWAY Product Details
The protective product is made from heavier 19 gauge galvanized wire mesh with ½ inch square openings. The material is thicker and longer lasting than competitive products. It is shipped flat as two pieces, the flattened cylinder and a separate flat bottom.
Our system is a breeze to set up. The cylinder can be easily pulled apart into the proper circular shape. The flat bottom lies on the bottom of the hole and the cylinder just sits on top. Once the two are in the ground, covered and filled with soil, a gopher can’t move the pieces and thus can’t get in.
When you are ready to divide your tubers, just dig around the basket and pop it out of the ground. Since the bottom is not physically attached, it can be easily pulled off. It may actually stay in the ground, but can be retrieved easily.
Plastic cable ties secure the cylinder. Once these ties are cut, the cylinder can be completely opened and the clump removed. Being able to open the cylinder is particularly important to the safety of the dahlia tuber necks. The necks of tubers are very vulnerable and once the neck breaks, the eyes will not sprout.
After removal of the tuber clump, new cable ties can be used to re-secure the sides of the cylinder. Cable ties can be purchased at almost any hardware store. If the basket is not required over the winter months, just flatten the cylinder back down so only minimum storage space is required. Even if gophers are not a problem, tuber clumps often get damaged during the dig out process. With our system, the tuber clump is safely enclosed and protected while the entire basket is popped out of the ground. No worries about the rough stuff. Just clip the ties and take your time to remove you prize tubers.
- There are two parts to the basket; the cylinder and the bottom.
- Pull the flattened cylinder apart to form a circular shape.
- Place the square piece flatly in the bottom of the hole you have dug and place the cylinder on top. Refill the hole and the basket with soil and place your favorite plant in the basket. If desired, the corners of the bottom can be bent over to match the cylinder. No worries that the bottom and the cylinder are not permanently attached. Once the basket is in the ground, a gopher can’t move the cylinder or the bottom, so your plants stay safe!!!
- When you want to transplant or divide your plants, just dig up the basket. The bottom should come off easily. Cut the plastic ties on cylinder. The basket opens up completely too easily remove the plant with minimal damage to the all important roots. For re-assembly, new “zip ties” for the cylinder can be purchased at any hardware store.
- For compact storage, just re-flatten the cylinder until you need the basket again.
