nice plot for growing at the bottom [west] of a friend's lot



climate: same as Encanto Farms
lot width; 75 feet [most usable]
depth: about 12 feet
water: nearby
sun: almost all day

However there are a lot of gophers...so many that the ground feels softer than surrounding areas.

[this land was worked for many years but has been fallow for probably at least 5 years]

Does mean figs only in containers.....or [for figs or other plants] mean raised beds with hardware cloth on the bottom?

the soil looks as if it lacks organic meterial and very poor in nutrients. is it sandy? I'm sure there is a way yo kill of the gophers.

Add compost. Plant in baskets till established. Kill and eat gophers.

Does Gopher taste like Possum.....LOL

Looks like a great area for figs. If you can, get a load of free mulch from the city, or mushroom compost (or whatever free/inexpensive source you can find) and cover the area to prevent weed growth during the winter rains, as well as adding organic matter. Mulch should get a nice earthworm population going too.

Also, get some gopher traps and start killing them. Stainless steel 'Gophenators' are extremely effective and don't rust.

You can keep your trees in 5 gallon containers till they get large enough to put out. Let their roots grow thru the bottoms and into the soil beneath. The plants will be larger and healthier that way, though you will have to clip them when it's time to transplant.

I heard gopher stew is tasty.

Thanks for the comments, yeah the area needs a lot of compost.
Luckily they can get it free from the city. I did notice an old shredder in the far right side of the picture
I don't remember other parts of the yard being so sandy.
My parents live only 2 miles away and they're in a heavy clay area


I think I'm gonna make some gopher gumbo!

I don't know how long it takes for the organic matter to bind to the sand. If you have a tiller I would use that to mix in the organics. Throw in some worm eggs/worm so they can help break it down.