Gophers are one of the most persistent threats to vegetable gardens, especially in regions like California’s Central Valley and Sonoma Valley where I’ve gardened for decades. After losing countless young plants early in my gardening years, I learned that the only truly reliable protection for raised beds is a strong, well-installed barrier beneath the soil. Once the bottom is secured, your crops grow with far fewer interruptions—and with much less stress on the gardener.

Below are the best gopher barriers for raised beds, including what has worked consistently over more than 30 years.

1. Hardware Cloth (the Gold Standard)

If you install only one barrier, make it hardware cloth. It is the most reliable, durable, and cost-effective way to keep gophers out of raised beds.

What to Use

½-inch galvanized hardware cloth (19-gauge or heavier)
Avoid chicken wire—gophers chew right through it.

How to Install

Lay hardware cloth across the bottom of the bed before filling it.
Pull it tight and secure it with heavy-duty staples or screws and washers.
Overlap seams by at least 6 inches.
Bend the edges up the sidewalls 3–4 inches to prevent tunneling in from the edges.

My experience

Hardware cloth has stopped every gopher that has tried to enter my raised beds. I’ve replaced beds over the years, but rarely the hardware cloth—most lasts 7–10 years or more.

2. Double-Layer Hardware Cloth (for High-Pressure Areas)

If your garden sits in heavy gopher territory—as mine did in the Central Valley—double layering gives long-term insurance.

When to Use

When you see new tunnels every week
When planting high-value crops (tomatoes, melons, sweet potatoes)
When your soil stays moist and may accelerate metal corrosion

How to Install

Lay two sheets of hardware cloth at perpendicular angles so the seams never align. This eliminates weak points.

My experience

I used this technique in my most gopher-prone garden beds. I never lost a plant from below again.

3. Wire Gopher Baskets (for Root Crops in Beds)

Even with a barrier bottom, using gopher baskets protects individual plants—especially root crops grown in deep raised beds.

Best Use

Carrots
Beets
Potatoes
Parsnips
Young artichokes and perennial vegetables

My experience

I still use gopher baskets for long-rooted crops in deep beds where roots may grow below the level of the hardware cloth. They’re inexpensive insurance.

4. Pressure-Treated Lumber or Metal-Bottom Beds

Some raised bed kits now come with built-in metal bottoms or pressure-treated boards that gophers can’t chew through.

Pros

Fast installation
No cutting metal mesh
Long lifespan

Cons

Metal bottoms may reduce drainage
Some designs limit root depth

My experience

I’ve tried metal-bottom beds in a small test area—they work, but I prefer the drainage and flexibility of hardware cloth.

5. Concrete Pavers or Patio Blocks Beneath Beds

For gardeners who want a solid bottom without mesh, concrete blocks form a gopher-proof base.

Pros

Permanent
Excellent for herb or container-style beds
Keeps weeds out too

Cons

More expensive
Less root depth
Requires excellent soil mix on top

My experience

I’ve used this under shallow herb beds and never had a gopher breakthrough. For deep vegetables, however, it limits root growth.

6. Gravel Layer (Supplement Only)

A thick gravel layer (3–4 inches) beneath raised beds can slow gophers but is not a standalone barrier.

Best Use

As an added layer above hardware cloth
For improving drainage in heavy soil beds

My experience

On its own, gravel didn’t stop gophers in my Central Valley garden, but when paired with hardware cloth, it kept tunnels from collapsing soil into the mesh.

Installation Tips for Long-Lasting Barriers

1. Start with a Level Base

A smooth, level bottom ensures mesh lies flat and prevents gaps.

2. Overlap Everything

Where two pieces meet, overlap at least 6 inches and attach securely with wire ties or screws.

3. Seal the Corners

Corners are common entry points—bend mesh up the sides and staple tightly.

4. Check Annually

Every winter, I check the edges of my beds for signs of tunneling and repair any gaps before spring planting.

Final Thoughts

If you garden in gopher territory, raised bed barriers are essential. After decades losing and protecting crops, I rely on hardware cloth as the backbone of my system, with gopher baskets and double layers for high-pressure zones. Once the barriers are in place, your vegetables grow with confidence—no more plants disappearing overnight, no more surprise mounds, and no more gophers pulling seedlings underground.