Why Dollar Tree Pencil Holders Are A Genius Garden Solution

Growing a healthy, sustainable garden requires year-round dedication to maintenance. Frequent tasks such as replanting, soil cultivation, watering, and pruning are all part of a gardener's daily to-do list. Another common task on this list is pest prevention. Dedicated garden pests are to be expected, but some can wreak more havoc than others. One such garden pest is the gopher. Gophers (also known as pocket gophers) are a part of the rodent family and about the size of a large guinea pig. These brown, furry, burrowing bandits have four large incisors that never stop growing, and they're constantly using them to feast on garden shrubs, plants, roots, and vines. In fact, a significant gopher invasion can quickly cause serious damage to a garden if no preventative measures are taken. You may be surprised to find that simply adding Dollar Tree's Jot Metal Pencil Holders to your garden can help save your plants from being ravaged by these common garden pests. The pencil holders will serve as planters to house the root balls of any plant that you need to protect for the season or year-round. This creative solution is cheap, easy, and very effective.

The key to this DIY hack's effectiveness is the metal grid structure of the pencil holder. The incisors on gophers are strong enough to nibble through tree bark, plastic, underground cables, and many other materials. But the hard metal on the holder deters these root raiders, leaving them to find easier grub elsewhere. Your plants will continue to thrive and grow as their roots make their way through the wire grid and out into the surrounding soil.

For this DIY, you'll need a few more items in addition to the pencil holders, including a small shovel or trowel, gardening gloves, a plant with the root ball attached, and some soil or compost. Before starting this project, make sure that the root ball of your plant will fit into the pencil holder, which is 4 inches long and 3 ½ inches wide. It also helps to determine how many holders you'll need before heading to the store. Once you have all of your materials and tools, start by digging a hole in your garden bed that's large enough for the holder to fit inside. 

The top of the holder should be either flush with the soil level or close to it. Next, transfer your plant to the holder and then place it into the hole. The next step is to simply backfill the hole with fresh soil to ensure that the roots are covered and snugly wrapped in it. Next, add water to the soil and apply fertilizer as needed. Check the planter daily to ensure that it hasn't been disturbed by pests.

The cool thing about this pest-fighting solution is that it's not just effective for deterring gophers. It can also be used to deter other plant-munching pests, including voles and ground squirrels, both of which are notorious for consuming the roots, bulbs, and vines of plants and shrubs. Who knew that a simple $1.25 pencil holder from Dollar Tree could turn into an unexpected essential garden tool? You can even use the holder as a mini shield to protect your plant seedlings from birds and other animals that may target them in their early growth stages.