Has anyone used this style of gopher baskets?  They say that they are stainless steel, but it's obviously very thin gauge which makes it easy to work with.  I'd be skeptical that it would rust out quickly (because it's not listed as 316 alloy) or that the gopher would just chew through it because it's so thin.  Anyone have any experience with these?  (I'm not affiliated nor advertising this product).  https://westernplantingsolutions.com/?fbclid=IwAR2vp6ykxy2gHbJWvN3tKzJPQPLf05pa1sVhod0Hs_OxVr0FwWGmwilBXzY

Matty,

Are the gophers just part of the landscape so to speak by you?

 

Matt, I am dubious about that product also.

I use these stainless steel baskets.  They are very well made.  Sizes larger than 15 gallon seem to have really high shipping costs.  The tree basket is 34 inches diameter with 18 inch high walls.  You can order an extra wall set to make a basket 34 inches diameter by 36 inches high.  Be sure to use stainless wire to tie this assembly.  SS wire is available at any well stocked hardware store.  This company also sell SS hardware cloth by the roll, 48 inches by 50 feet.  Make your own giant basket for your Bismarkia gopher magnet!  

https://gopherslimited.com/product-category/gopher-baskets/

 

Hardware cloth is bullet proof..... errrr gopher proof.

I'm sure you use it and if it ain't broke don't fix it.

 

17 hours ago, Darold Petty said:

Matt, I am dubious about that product also.

I use these stainless steel baskets.  They are very well made.  Sizes larger than 15 gallon seem to have really high shipping costs.  The tree basket is 34 inches diameter with 18 inch high walls.  You can order an extra wall set to make a basket 34 inches diameter by 36 inches high.  Be sure to use stainless wire to tie this assembly.  SS wire is available at any well stocked hardware store.  This company also sell SS hardware cloth by the roll, 48 inches by 50 feet.  Make your own giant basket for your Bismarkia gopher magnet!  

https://gopherslimited.com/product-category/gopher-baskets/

 

I started using this product for lawns after gophers got through the standard galvanized gopher wire in only 2 years! Apparently with the constant moisture in lawns, it rots out quickly. It had completely disintegrated in many areas, leaving only a rusty trace of its former existence. I bought one large pre-made basket from Gophers Limited in Santa Cruz. It feels very sturdy and should last for many years. Perfect size for a 15 gallon nursery container.

On 1/22/2021 at 12:24 PM, MattyB said:

I'd be skeptical that it would rust out quickly (because it's not listed as 316 alloy) or that the gopher would just chew through it because it's so thin. 

No experience with these baskets but plenty of experience with rust in my line of business.  I think you hit on both factors the quality of the ss and the guage.  All stainless steel will rust eventually, even 316, especially in a aaahemmm.... salty environment.  As you point out though when you are dealing with some very thin gauge, you just don't have much to lose.  Fortunately, being a little more urban area I haven't experienced problems with the little buggers.  Just skunks and raccoons digging for bugs in my neighborhood.   If you give them a try maybe start with something your willing to lose to the gophers in short order.

I think that the quibble between 304 and 316 stainless is a moot point.  I live 1.5 miles inland from the ocean.  We have marine influence to the point that the west facing window glass develops a slimy film from the salt laden fog.  I have used the Gophers Limited SS 304 baskets for four years now, and there is no noticable deterioration of the above ground portion of the basket.  

  I don't trust the 'knit sock' product because the wire gauge is extremely thin.

 https://www.metalsupermarkets.com/the-differences-between-304-and-316-stainless-steel/