When the fence is a highway, not a wall

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.