Galvanized mesh for bottom of raised bed

[swd12422]

I'm finally getting my raised bed built!
We are in a high-burrower area (squirrels, gophers, rats, etc.) so I want to put a bottom on the bed. Instead of a solid bottom, though, I thought I'd use mesh hardware cloth so the soil can drain properly and maybe even condition the ground beneath it so we can dig next year. (It's heavy clay and nearly solid right now.)

BUT, no one here has stainless hardware cloth -- it's all galvanized, which can leach zinc (and other things?) into the soil. I've read mixed opinions online as to whether the amount of zinc that will leach is harmful to the plants and to us if we eat the plants. Does anyone have definitive info on this issue? Opinions? Advice for other materials to use?

[FarmerCathy]

I would think most things you are going to find will be galvanized. I was going to suggest the smaller holed chicken wire, but it is also galvanized, but you can get the plastic coated kind and maybe that will prevent it from leaching? It might be worth a try.

[swd12422]

Thanks, Cathy. I looked around some more, and the plastic coating just seems like it will be nibbled to death anyway, so we went with the plain. I guess there are so many things that are going to kill us someday anyway that I can't possibly avoid them all, although I'll continue to try!

[FarmerCathy]

I know what you mean, its a hard balance to find.

[Erinz]

Ahhhhh I hear you guys. WE found that we couldn't be concerned with that stuff. Stainless will lead you to $500 sheets per 4X8 bed, or that's what we found when we got freaked by it. I have 6 raised because of gophers and I'm moving away from them now, 8 years later, just because they don't have enough room for my grown family. I'll still gladly do carrots and beets and potatoes in them, that is for certain! But we have been able to get on top of the gopher population with the Black Hole trap (google it, it's GREAT!!!) and now worry more about the deer problem........

Good luck to you! And many happy food trails!