Gophers & Gopher Wire

Industrious, Hungry, and Not so Funny

They are the scourge of gardens, lawns, nurseries, athletic fields, orchards, golf courses, and other open public areas. Anyone who lives in an area infested with gophers knows the signs - the mounds of fresh soil dotting the ground's surface. One gopher can create several mounds in a day. Mounds can interfere with lawnmowers and severely impact the appearance of lawns. Conditions for digging are ideal in irrigated areas: flower beds, lawns, and gardens. Gophers love to eat:

vines
shrubs
trees
ornamental plants
vegetables

Drawing the Line

Perhaps the most effective way to combat the destructive and very costly impact of gophers is to bury wire mesh below the ground's surface. Though costly and labor-intensive, such a barrier will prevent gophers from burrowing to the surface.

Hardware Cloth: Protection that Endures

A good mesh to use as gopher wire is ½" x ½" welded wire. This is available in both 19 gauge, hardware cloth, and heavier 16 gauge wire. It comes in both a galvanized after weld and PVC vinyl coated finish. The galvanized finish protects the wire from rust and corrosion. The vinyl coating gives the mesh even longer protection. Widths up to 72" make it easier to cover large areas with fewer joints.

Hexagonal Netting

Hex netting also makes an excellent gopher wire barrier. Vinyl-coated 19 gauge, 3/4" and 20 gauge, 1" meshes are available. As with the welded wire, the PVC coating assures years of use. Lighter weight than the welded mesh products, the hex products are easier to work with. Rolls of 1" hex are available in widths up to 90".

Underground Chaos

Well, chaos for us; I'm sure that the gophers have matters well in hand. Their tunnels can cause soil erosion by diverting irrigation water. During a gopher's digging activity, lawn sprinkler systems and plastic water lines can be gnawed on and damaged.