Wire Mesh Barriers for Gopher Control — Do They Actually Work?

Hardware cloth barriers are the most reliable passive protection measure available for gopher control. Unlike repellents, resistant plants, or electronic devices, physical barriers work through straightforward mechanics — a gopher cannot eat a root or enter a bed that it physically cannot reach. The limitations are installation labor, cost, and the fact that barriers protect specific areas rather than eliminating the gopher from your property.

What Mesh to Use

The only mesh that reliably stops gophers is 1/2-inch galvanized hardware cloth (also called welded wire). The 1/2-inch opening is small enough that gophers cannot push through. Galvanized coating is essential — ungalvanized wire rusts and weakens rapidly in moist soil, typically failing within two to three years. Galvanized hardware cloth installed correctly will last 10-15 years or more underground.

Do not use chicken wire. Chicken wire openings are too large for effective gopher exclusion and the wire is not durable enough for underground use. Do not use plastic mesh or window screen — gophers chew through both readily.

Raised Bed Installation

For raised vegetable beds, staple hardware cloth to the bottom of the frame before filling the bed with soil. Cut the mesh to fit the interior dimensions of the frame with an inch or two of overlap up the sides. Staple securely at regular intervals — staples every 4-6 inches prevent gophers from pushing the mesh away from the frame. A bed lined this way provides complete protection from gopher entry through the bottom, which is the primary access route in most raised bed situations.

In-Ground Plant Baskets

For individual trees, shrubs, or high-value plants in the ground, hardware cloth planting baskets protect the root zone during establishment. Form a cylinder of hardware cloth around the root ball before planting — large enough to accommodate two to three years of root growth — and bury it with the plant. As roots grow beyond the basket's perimeter they become established enough to tolerate gopher pressure, though the most vulnerable early years are protected. This approach is particularly valuable for young citrus, avocado, and specimen ornamentals in high-pressure areas.

Whole-Yard Barriers: Limitations

Some sources recommend installing hardware cloth across an entire yard at a depth of 18-24 inches to create a whole-property exclusion zone. In practice this is prohibitively expensive for most residential properties, requires complete excavation of the planting area, and is not foolproof — gophers that are highly motivated by food sources will sometimes find ways around barriers at the edges. Whole-yard installation makes sense for very high-value landscapes like estate gardens or commercial installations where the investment justifies the cost, but is not practical for typical residential lots.

Barriers vs. Treatment

Barriers protect specific areas — they do not remove the gopher from your property. A gopher excluded from a raised bed by hardware cloth will simply tunnel elsewhere in your yard, potentially damaging other plants, irrigation, or hardscape. Barriers are most effective as part of a combined strategy: active professional control to remove the gopher, and barriers to protect the highest-value areas from future animals.

Related Articles

• How to Gopher-Proof a Raised Vegetable Garden
• Do Gopher-Resistant Plants Actually Work?
• DIY vs. Professional Gopher Control

Call 909-599-4711 — barriers protect specific areas but don't remove the gopher. Professional treatment combined with targeted barriers is the most effective approach.