Hardware Cloth Under Raised Bed: Stop Gophers plus Voles
Hardware cloth under raised bed frames blocks burrowing pests from coming up through the bottom. University of California IPM advises laying hardware cloth or 3/4 inch mesh poultry wire under raised beds before planting to stop gophers. Ask Extension experts advise mesh with holes no larger than 1/4 inch for voles.
The short answer
Lay hardware cloth across the bottom of a raised bed before filling it. University of California IPM advises it for gophers. Ask Extension experts advise holes no larger than 1/4 inch to stop voles. Fasten the mesh tightly at the edges plus curve it up the sides before adding soil.
Which pests does hardware cloth stop?
University of California IPM plus Ask Extension describe two main burrowers.
| Pest | Sign | Mesh |
|---|---|---|
| Pocket gopher | Fresh mounds of soil | Hardware cloth or 3/4 inch poultry wire |
| Vole | Tunnels in the bed | Holes no larger than 1/4 inch |
Source: University of California IPM plus Ask Extension.
What mesh size works?
Ask Extension experts advise 1/4 inch hardware cloth for voles. University of California IPM notes 3/4 inch poultry wire works for gophers. Smaller mesh stops both pests.
How do you fit mesh under an existing bed?
Ask Extension experts advise fastening the mesh tightly around the edges plus curving it up the sides before filling. With a filled bed, empty it, lay the mesh, then refill. University of Maryland Extension advises a 1:2 or 1:1 compost to soil fill.
How to: step by step
- Build or empty the bed frame.
- Cut hardware cloth larger than the base.
- Spread it flat across the bottom.
- Curve the edges up the sides.
- Fasten it tightly to the frame.
- Fill with a compost plus soil mix.
Troubleshooting
Tunnels still in the bed: the mesh edges have gaps. Fasten it tightly plus curve it up the sides.
Voles getting through: the mesh is too coarse. Ask Extension experts advise holes no larger than 1/4 inch.
Fresh mounds next to the bed: gophers are digging around it. University of California IPM advises traps alongside fencing.
For related reading see gophers in cannabis gardens, voles in cannabis gardens plus raised beds for cannabis. Kind Seed Co also stocks cannabis seeds.
Sources
- Pocket gophers, home and landscape, UC Statewide IPM Program
- Voles under raised bed garden, Ask Extension (Cooperative Extension network)
- Building raised beds to exclude voles, Ask Extension (Cooperative Extension network)
- Building raised beds for vegetable gardening, University of Maryland Extension
FAQ
Does chicken wire work as well?
University of California IPM notes 3/4 inch mesh poultry wire can go under raised beds for gophers. Ask Extension experts advise holes no larger than 1/4 inch to stop voles. Hardware cloth with 1/4 inch openings covers both pests, so it is the wider choice for mixed problems.
How high should mesh go up the sides?
Ask Extension experts advise curving the mesh slightly up the sides of the bed. For voles, a UNH Extension reply cites 1/4 inch hardware cloth 18 to 24 inches high. It also advises burying the cloth at least 4 inches into the ground so voles cannot dig under.
When should hardware cloth be added?
University of California IPM advises laying it under raised beds before planting. Fitting the mesh while the bed is empty is far easier than lifting soil later. If pests are already in a filled bed, empty it, lay the mesh across the base plus refill.
Do traps help as well?
University of California IPM advises using both traps plus underground fencing to manage gophers. It notes traps go inside the burrow plus do not need bait. It notes repellents plus plants such as gopher purge have not been shown to stop gophers, so mesh plus traps work together.
What should fill the bed over the mesh?
University of Maryland Extension advises a mix of compost plus garden soil at a 1:2 or 1:1 ratio. It notes raised beds are usually 2 to 4 feet wide. Lay the mesh first, then add the fill evenly so the cloth stays flat across the bottom of the bed.
