The 15-Gallon Gopher Wire Basket is also made of 20-gauge, 3/4 inch hexagonal wire mesh. The wire strands are electro-plate galvanized and hot-dipped galvanized before weaving. The weaving process then creates cracks in the galvanized coating, allowing the basket to break down in 3 to 5 years—which is just enough time for trees to become established and mature enough to resist damage from gnawing gophers, but not so long that growth is inhibited by root girdling.