Installing hardware cloth on raised beds means fastening galvanized wire mesh across the bottom to stop gophers, moles, voles, and rats from digging in.
For the full breakdown, see our best Hardware Cloth For Raised Beds guide.
The most common reason to line a raised bed with hardware cloth is to keep burrowing pests out of your vegetables. The job takes an afternoon and costs far less than losing a season’s crop. The method differs slightly depending on whether you’re building a new bed or retrofitting one that’s already full of soil, and the kind of frame you have changes which fasteners will hold.
Here’s the short version: measure the bed, cut the cloth a few inches oversized, lay it flat across the bottom with no gaps, and staple or screw it to the frame’s perimeter. For an existing bed, you’ll need to dig out the soil first. The finer points matter, so let’s walk through them.
What You Need Before You Start
Hardware cloth is galvanized steel wire mesh, stiffer than chicken wire and much harder for a rodent to chew through. You’ll need a roll wide enough to cover the bed’s footprint plus the sides, a pair of wire cutters, heavy-duty staples or screws, and safety gear.
Handle the cloth carefully. The cut edges are sharp enough to slice skin, so wear work gloves and safety glasses. The general installation guidance from Home Depot’s own instructions starts with that same warning: put on safety equipment, unroll the cloth flat, and measure your layout before cutting.
Installing On a New Raised Bed
The cleanest install happens when the bed is empty. Assemble the frame and set it in its final position first. Measure the length and width of the bed’s footprint, then cut your hardware cloth so it covers the bottom and extends a few inches up each side. Cut generously — several guides explicitly recommend leaving extra material rather than trimming too close.
Lay the cloth flat against the ground inside the frame, pressing it snugly into the corners so there are no gaps a vole could squeeze through. If you need more than one piece, overlap the seams by at least a few inches. Reports from extension services and installation guides vary on the exact overlap — some say a minimum of 4 inches, others suggest about 6, and a foot for very large spans. The principle is simple: the seam is the weakest point, so overlap it generously.
Fasten the cloth around the entire perimeter with a staple gun and heavy-duty staples. One guide says staple every few inches, others recommend every 3 to 5 inches. The Home Depot installation sheet describes attaching the top edge with a U-shaped tack or staple, then working your way down, placing a staple every 4 to 5 inches until the sheet is secure. Closer spacing costs a little time and buys a lot of security — a gap between staples is an invitation.
Pull the cloth taut as you work so it lies flat against the frame with no bunching. Then add soil. That’s the whole job for a new bed: measure, cut, lay, staple, fill.
Retrofitting An Existing Bed
If your bed is already full of soil and something is eating your carrots, you have to dig. Remove the plants, shovel out the soil, and expose the bottom of the frame. Then lay the cloth into place, folding it up the sides, and trim the excess after you’ve fitted it.
How you fasten it depends on the frame material. For a wood bed, a staple gun or fencing nails work well, just like on a new bed. For a metal or galvanized steel bed, staples won’t hold. Safer options are self-tapping sheet metal screws with large fender washers, or bolts with washers. One steel-bed user reports success with self-tapping screws and fender washers, and recommends pre-drilling to reduce warping — though that’s field experience rather than an official manufacturer instruction.
One caution applies to any retrofit: keep the mesh flat and prevent it from protruding above the soil line, where it becomes a tripping hazard and can interfere with root growth. After the cloth is secured, replace the soil and replant.
If you’re in the market for the right material, this roundup of the best hardware cloth for raised beds compares mesh options side by side and will help you choose the right roll for your frame.
| Step | New Bed | Existing Bed |
|---|---|---|
| Prep | Assemble frame in place | Remove plants and soil |
| Cut | Cover bottom + 3–4″ up sides | Cover bottom + fold up sides |
| Overlap seams | At least 4″, more for large spans | At least 4″, more for large spans |
| Fasteners | Staples every 3–5 inches | Staples/nails (wood); screws/washers (metal) |
| Finish | Fill with soil | Replace soil and replant |
Optional Extras and Honest Caveats
Some installation guides suggest laying landscape fabric on top of the hardware cloth as an extra weed barrier. It’s optional and not universally recommended — depending on your soil structure, it can affect drainage. If your drainage is good, the extra layer can help; if you’re in heavy clay, skip it.
The one thing to verify before you buy is the mesh size. The extension services and installation sheets in the sources are consistent on the method, but not on a single universal mesh spec for all raised beds. A cooperative extension answer on hardware cloth placement covers the fit guidance, but the right mesh opening size depends on the pest you’re blocking — tighter mesh for voles, wider for gophers. A good rule of thumb: the smaller the opening, the better the protection, at the cost of slightly reduced drainage. If you’re unsure, ask your local extension office what burrower is in your area before you pick the roll.
References & Sources
- Home Depot. “Basic Instructions for Hardware Cloth Installation.” General installation sheet covering safety, measuring, cutting, and stapling intervals.
- Cooperative Extension System. “Which size hardware cloth at bottom of raised bed?” Extension answer addressing hardware cloth placement for raised-bed burrower protection.
FAQs
Do you put hardware cloth under or on top of the soil?
Hardware cloth goes under the soil, laid flat across the bottom of the frame and fastened to the sides. Soil goes on top of it. The mesh sits at the bed’s base so burrowing animals hit wire before they can tunnel up into the root zone.
Will hardware cloth rust in a raised bed?
Galvanized hardware cloth resists rust far better than plain steel wire. The galvanized coating protects it underground for years, though very acidic soil can eventually wear the coating down. It’s a solid value for the protection it provides.
Can I use chicken wire instead of hardware cloth?
Chicken wire is less expensive but much easier for rodents to chew through or push apart. Hardware cloth is stiffer, stronger, and the right choice for stopping burrowing animals. For a permanent install, the extra cost of hardware cloth is worth it.