Last updated: November 2026
Do you need gopher wire under artificial turf in Murrieta?
If your Murrieta yard backs onto open space, a slope, or a neighbor's dirt lot, yes. Gophers tunnel under base rock and leave dips in the turf. We lay galvanized wire mesh under the base before compaction. It adds material and labor to the bid, but it costs far less than redoing a surface.
What we see on Murrieta jobs
Near Bear Creek and the open edges of California Oaks, we find gopher mounds in the old lawn before we ever pull sod. That is the sign.
A flat interior lot behind a block wall is a different story. Gophers can still get in, but the risk is lower, and we say so on the walkthrough.
How we install the wire
After demo, we grade the soil and set the mesh across the whole footprint, overlapping the seams and turning it up the edges. Then Class II base rock goes on top and gets compacted in lifts.
The order matters. Wire laid on top of the base does nothing, because the tunnels run under it.
What it does to the price
Mesh is a line item, not a surprise. On a 1,000 square foot yard we usually land at $10 to $12 per square foot for the whole job, and the wire is a modest part of that. Ask any bidder to itemize it.
Access changes the number more. A 32 inch side gate means base rock moves by wheelbarrow at roughly 250 pounds a load, which adds a day on a bigger yard.
How long does it take?
The wire adds hours, not days, on a typical backyard. Murrieta summers bake the base, so we compact early in the morning and finish seams before the afternoon heat. Turf ships in 15 foot rolls, and we plan seams away from the main sightline.
When you can skip it
- Fully enclosed lots with block walls and concrete footings
- Small patios or side yards with no soil history of gophers
- Installs over existing concrete
Our head foreman Steve G. is on every job site and makes the call with you on the walkthrough. He has 20+ years in landscape contracting. The turf carries a 16-year manufacturer warranty, and the base underneath is what lets it live that long.
See the full scope on our artificial turf installation page, or read how we work in Murrieta. If we installed turf at your Murrieta home, mention your neighborhood and the service in a Google review.