Dealing with pocket gopher hills in orchard/tree farm

[SGBotsford]

I have rough pasture that I'm expanding into with a tree farm and u-pick orchard. The area is subject to pocket gophers, and while my dogs regularly snack on them, they just aren't keeping up. I trap them too and if I run 6 traps I can generally keep on top of them -- sort of.

Currently I'm expanding the tree farm into new land. I've found that for prep it helps a lot of I mow the pasture for a couple years before planting. My understanding is that pocket gophers like fleshy roots, and that if you get most of the natural vegetation to grass, it's too much work.

Anyway: I've got *really* bumpy land from years of pocket gopher activity. Is there a way to smooth out the bumps other than doing a round of plough, disk, harrow and replant?

 

[flusher]

I use my old Bolens GT1453 garden tractor with the 32" wide rototiller to lightly till the area when those litte farts are digging. This smooths out the bumps nicely. I also use the poison bait (Home Depot) to control the infestation. Works fine.

 

[jenkinsph]

Sounds like a good job for a landplane grader, atleast that is what I use with good results.

Other than that just set up a radio with some tunes, put out a few cups of beer wait an hour or two then run over them with a steam roller.