Lyn aka RoseBlush1 said " Why did I even think I could garden in it ??? "
My thoughts exactly. I live in the "slate belt". I can't imagine buying rocks of any kind including shale. I don't have gophers, but the chipmunks are moving into my yard. I am sealing, caulking my house hoping to keep the mice outside once the weather turns cold.
In general, sharp rocks may deter rodents. My gardening efforts seem to be encouraging wildlife to visit my yard. The birds like the planted and mulched front garden. Rodents like squirrels and chipmunks are digging in my potted plants. My grandmother used to plant a mothball with each new bulb. I tried it with tulips and I had less losses to overwintering rodents (mostly voles or moles). Squirrels still dug for grubs, but they usually didn't disturb the bulbs (mostly lilies. worst case I divided the split bulbs and increased the lily stand) Deer are grazing the new plants. If you turn this around, it may make sense to add sharp rocks in planting holes and treating fresh soil to deter rodents. I use hot pepper and hot pepper spray. whether or not you poison rodents depends on your pest philosophy. Lets not "go there."
