Wicker baskets as plant root protection/micro-hugel?

So I have an excess of wicker baskets (over 30, even after using many for other things ) to dispose of, and am wondering if there is any merit to the following idea:


Dig hole, put basket into hole, plant something in the basket, fill basket with remaining soil.



Would the wicker provide any deterrent from gophers? I know the have the ability to chew through it, but would it be a psychological deterrent(ie too much work to chew through, so why bother?)

Initially the wicker would absorb and release water to act as a moisture sink; after a few years,  the basket would decompose and thereby fertilize the plant, so it would act something like a "microhugel"


Does this sound like it's worth doing, or should I reuse them some other way?

If you can't use them in any other useful way, I say go for it! Especially if you are having gopher issues.
Let us know how it works.