That hardware cloth trick is underrated, honestly. I’ve seen folks skip the “bend outwards” step and it makes a world of difference—raccoons just hit the wall and dig straight down, but that outward flare really throws them. I’d add, if you’re dealing with rocky soil, anchoring the cloth can be a pain. I’ve ended up using old tent stakes or even rebar cut-offs to pin it in place before backfilling.
It does feel like overkill at first, but after patching holes every spring for a few years, I finally gave in and did the deep dig. Haven’t had a single breach since, knock on wood. One thing I learned the hard way: check for gaps around gates and corners. Those little spots are like neon “welcome” signs for critters. It’s never totally maintenance-free, but it beats chasing raccoons out of the tomatoes every other week.
- Had the same “do I really need to bury this stuff?” debate with myself when I built my raised beds. Ended up skipping the outward bend the first time—big mistake. Raccoons and even a possum just tunneled right under like it was nothing.
- Tried the tent stake trick too, but in my clay-heavy soil, it was a nightmare getting them deep enough. Ended up using some scrap angle iron, which was overkill but actually worked.
- Corners are always the weak point. I once found a rabbit had squeezed through a gap barely bigger than my fist. Never underestimate how determined they are when there’s lettuce on the other side.
- Maintenance is a pain, but I’d rather patch a gap now and then than deal with chewed-up roots or half-eaten squash. Still not convinced it’s 100% critter-proof, but it’s definitely slowed them down.
- Anyone ever try layering mulch or gravel over the cloth? Wondering if that helps, or just makes it harder to spot issues later...
Corners are always the weak point. I once found a rabbit had squeezed through a gap barely bigger than my fist.
Totally agree with you on the corners—mine looked fine until I found a little tunnel right at the edge. What finally helped was using L-shaped brackets and overlapping the wire mesh an extra few inches at each corner. As for mulch over cloth, I tried a thin layer and it did help keep weeds down, but it made it trickier to spot new tunnels. I ended up just pulling it back every couple weeks for a quick check. Not perfect, but better than nothing.
What finally helped was using L-shaped brackets and overlapping the wire mesh an extra few inches at each corner.
That’s exactly the trick—corners are like the VIP entrance for critters. I’ve even seen squirrels treat my fence like a jungle gym, so now I just expect the unexpected. I tried burying the mesh a bit deeper at the corners, too. Not saying it’s Fort Knox, but at least now it’s more of a speed bump than a highway. Mulch over cloth is a mixed bag for me—keeps weeds down, but you’re right, spotting tunnels gets tricky. Sometimes I wonder if I’m gardening or running a small animal obstacle course.
Corners are always the weak spot, right? I’ve tried everything from chicken wire to those “critter-proof” panels, but it’s like the local wildlife gets a memo every time I upgrade. Personally, I ditched the landscape cloth under mulch—too many blind spots for burrowers. Now I use wood chips straight on soil, which makes it easier to spot fresh dirt or tunnels. Not perfect, but at least I’m not constantly playing whack-a-mole.
