6 Best Welded Hardware Cloth For Raised Garden Beds That Stops Gophers
Protect your raised beds from gophers. We review the 6 best welded hardware cloths, comparing mesh size and durability for an impenetrable barrier.
There’s nothing more frustrating than seeing a healthy vegetable plant disappear overnight, pulled down into the earth by a gopher. You can try traps and baits, but these are ongoing battles. For a permanent solution in your raised beds, you need to build a fortress, and the foundation of that fortress is welded hardware cloth.
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Gopher-Proofing Raised Beds With Hardware Cloth
Hardware cloth isn’t actually cloth; it’s a rigid grid of welded wire mesh. This material is the single most effective barrier against gophers, moles, and voles. They simply cannot chew through the steel wires, and if installed correctly, they can’t find a way around it.
The key is choosing the right kind. You’re looking for welded wire with a 1/2-inch or 1/4-inch mesh opening. The 1/2-inch mesh is the standard and stops all adult gophers, while the 1/4-inch mesh provides extra security against the smallest of critters, including mice. Always choose a product that is galvanized or vinyl-coated to resist rust. A non-galvanized wire will disintegrate in the soil within a couple of seasons, completely wasting your effort.
It’s also critical to get welded wire, not woven. Woven wire, like chicken wire, can be pulled apart by a determined pest. Each intersection on hardware cloth is welded, so even if one wire somehow breaks, the grid remains intact and secure. This is a one-time installation, so doing it right with the proper material from the start saves you from having to excavate an entire garden bed later.
Yardgard Galvanized Hardware Cloth: Top Choice
Yardgard is the workhorse of the hardware cloth world. You’ll find it in most farm supply and hardware stores for a reason: it’s reliable, consistent, and does the job without any fuss. It represents the perfect balance of durability, availability, and cost.
What makes it a top choice is the galvanization process. Yardgard is typically hot-dipped galvanized after welding, which coats the entire grid, including the vulnerable welded joints. This provides excellent protection against rust and corrosion from constant contact with damp soil. Cheaper alternatives are sometimes galvanized before welding, leaving the joints exposed and prone to failure.
This brand comes in the most practical sizes for garden projects, typically 24, 36, and 48-inch widths on rolls of 25, 50, or 100 feet. It’s stiff enough to hold its shape but flexible enough to bend up the sides of your bed frame. For most hobby farmers building standard-sized beds, Yardgard is the go-to default.
Amagabeli Vinyl Coated Cloth: Maximum Durability
If you live in a particularly wet climate or have acidic soil, vinyl-coated hardware cloth is worth the extra investment. Amagabeli is a popular brand that offers a thick, black vinyl coating over their galvanized wire mesh. This double layer of protection provides the ultimate defense against corrosion.
The vinyl acts as an impenetrable barrier between the metal and the soil moisture. While a good quality galvanized wire will last for years, a vinyl-coated one can easily last for decades. You are essentially paying a premium for long-term peace of mind and ensuring you will never have to line that bed again.
The tradeoff is purely cost. Vinyl-coated mesh is noticeably more expensive than its standard galvanized counterpart. For a gardener in an arid region, the extra expense may not be justifiable. But if your soil is constantly damp and you want a true "set it and forget it" solution, the added durability of a vinyl coating is a smart investment.
Fencer Wire Hardware Cloth: Best for Large Beds
When you move from building one or two beds to a dozen, the cost of materials adds up quickly. This is where buying in bulk makes a huge difference. Brands like Fencer Wire often specialize in longer 100-foot rolls that bring the price per linear foot down significantly.
This is a purely practical decision. The quality is comparable to other major galvanized brands, but the value comes from the scale. A 100-foot roll is heavy and unwieldy, so it’s not ideal for a small, one-off project. But if you’re lining multiple 4×8 beds, a single large roll is far more economical than buying several shorter ones.
Think about your project’s scope. If you plan to expand your garden over the next year or two, buying a larger roll now can save you money and future trips to the store. Just be prepared to handle itâyou’ll want a clear, flat space to roll it out and cut it to size.
Garden Armor Gopher Wire: Pre-Sized for Beds
The biggest hassle of using hardware cloth is cutting it. The wire is tough, the cut edges are razor-sharp, and measuring a large piece from a roll can be awkward. Garden Armor solves this problem by selling pre-cut sheets designed to fit common raised bed dimensions like 4’x8′ and 4’x4′.
This is the ultimate convenience option. You simply order the size you need, and it arrives ready to drop into your frame. There is no measuring, no cutting with tin snips, and no wrestling with a coiled roll. For someone who is short on time or less comfortable with the tools required, this is an excellent choice.
Of course, you pay a premium for that convenience. On a per-square-foot basis, pre-sized sheets are the most expensive option. They also don’t work for custom or non-standard bed sizes. But for a gardener building one or two standard beds, the time and effort saved can easily be worth the extra cost.
Everbilt Hardware Cloth: A Solid Local Option
Sometimes, you just need to get the project done today. Everbilt is the house brand for The Home Depot and is one of the most widely available options for hardware cloth. If you need to run out and grab a roll right now, this is likely what you’ll find.
Don’t mistake its accessibility for low quality. Everbilt hardware cloth is a perfectly capable product that will effectively gopher-proof your beds. It’s galvanized, welded, and comes in standard sizes. It gets the job done and meets all the critical requirements for a durable gopher barrier.
While some specialty brands may offer a heavier gauge wire or a thicker coating, Everbilt provides a reliable product that is more than sufficient for garden use. Its main advantage is immediate availability. When you’re in the middle of a build and realize you need another 10 feet of mesh, being able to find it locally is a huge benefit.
YARDSAFE Hardware Cloth: Resists Rust & Corrosion
YARDSAFE positions itself as a premium choice by heavily emphasizing its corrosion resistance. Often made with a heavier gauge wire and a superior hot-dip galvanization process, this brand is built for maximum longevity. It’s a direct competitor to brands like Yardgard but often markets itself to consumers willing to pay a bit more for perceived durability.
When you’re burying something in the soil, rust is the enemy. A product that focuses its entire identity on resisting rust is speaking directly to the core need of the project. This is for the gardener who researches every detail and wants to ensure they are using the best possible material for the job.
Is it functionally better than other top-tier galvanized options? The difference may be marginal over the first five or ten years. However, over a 20-year lifespan, a heavier gauge and superior coating could be the difference between a fully intact barrier and one that has started to degrade. It’s a solid choice for anyone prioritizing maximum material quality.
How to Install Hardware Cloth in Your Garden Bed
Installing hardware cloth is straightforward, but a few key details make the difference between a gopher-proof bed and a vulnerable one. Do this once, and do it right, before you even think about adding soil.
First, build and place your raised bed frame exactly where you want it. Unroll the hardware cloth and lay it inside the frame, directly on the ground. You want the mesh to completely cover the bottom of the bed. If your bed is wider than the roll, overlap two pieces by at least 4-6 inches.
Next, and this is the most critical step, run the hardware cloth up the inside walls of your bed frame by 3-4 inches. Gophers are smart and will probe the edges of a barrier. By extending the mesh up the sides, you eliminate any gap they could squeeze through between the wood and the wire. Use a heavy-duty staple gun with stainless steel staples to secure the mesh tightly against the interior of the frame. Place staples every 6-8 inches.
Finally, before adding your soil, consider laying down a layer of plain brown cardboard over the wire mesh. This small step does two things: it acts as an initial weed block, and it prevents your shovel from catching on the wire grid as you fill the bed. Now you’re ready to add your soil, confident that your garden is secure from below.
Choosing and installing hardware cloth is a one-time investment in the long-term health and productivity of your garden. By creating an impenetrable barrier, you’re not just saving this year’s tomatoes; you’re guaranteeing peace of mind for every season to come. It’s one of the most satisfying projects a gardener can undertake.
