Quick verdict
Six metres of knitted pure copper mesh, 12.7 cm wide, that wraps around pots, raised bed rims, tree trunks and plant stems as a slug and snail barrier, and stuffs into gaps to block rodents. Knitted mesh follows curves and corners that flat tape cannot, and it is not bridged by soil as easily. Copper does not rust and the mesh can be unwrapped and reused. It deters most slugs rather than sealing against all, and it must stay clear of debris.
Strengths
- Knitted mesh wraps curved and irregular shapes
- Copper does not rust or corrode outdoors
- Harder for slugs to bridge than flat tape
- Reusable; unwrap and refit each season
- Also blocks rodents when stuffed into gaps
Weaknesses
- Six metres covers a few pots or one bed rim
- Deterrent, not an absolute barrier
- Tarnishes to brown, which some find unsightly
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
Copper That Bends Around Things
Copper tape works on a straight pot rim and fails on a tree trunk, a curved planter or a rough bed edge. Knitted copper mesh wraps anything. ZJchao’s roll is 12.7 cm wide and 6 metres long, pure copper, flexible enough to twist around a stem and firm enough to stand proud of the surface so soil does not bridge it. The same mesh stuffs into gaps to keep mice out of sheds.
This review is based on the listing specifications and on what is known about copper barriers against slugs and snails generally. We have not used this mesh ourselves and the brand is a generic importer.
Slugs and Copper
Slugs and snails avoid crossing copper, which reacts with their slime. Gardeners and trials agree that copper barriers cut damage substantially without reaching zero, and that a wider or raised band is more effective than a narrow flat one. Knitted mesh is raised by its nature and the roll width gives a broad band.
Applications
Wrap a collar around the rim of a pot and twist the ends together. Run a strip along the top of a raised bed wall and staple it. Wrap a young fruit tree trunk or a hosta crown. Lay a ring on the soil around a prized seedling, pressed in lightly so it stands up. In each case, keep leaves and mulch from touching the mesh, since any bridge is a road.
Durability
Copper tarnishes to brown and then stays that way for decades. It does not rust or weaken, and the mesh unwraps and refits season after season. Tarnish does not affect the deterrent.
Rodents
Stuffed tightly into a hole in a shed wall or around a pipe, copper mesh is what pest controllers use because mice and rats cannot chew it and it does not rust like steel wool.
Quantity
Six metres rings about a dozen large pots, or the rim of one 4 by 8 foot bed with a little over. For many beds, buy several rolls.
Who Should Buy It
- Container gardeners protecting hostas, dahlias and salads.
- Raised bed owners who want a reusable slug band.
- Anyone blocking mice from a shed or greenhouse.
Common Owner Complaints
Slugs that still crossed and the brown tarnish. Bridges explain the first; the second is copper.
Alternatives to Consider
The MOGEHIT 2 inch copper tape suits straight rims at lower cost. Slug collars with a rolled lip protect single plants. Iron phosphate pellets are the organic chemical option.
Verdict
For a slug barrier that fits curves, trunks and rough edges and lasts for years, knitted copper mesh is the right form and this roll is a fair buy. Keep it clear of bridges and most slugs will turn back.
Full specifications
ZJchao 12.7 cm x 6 m Pure Copper Knitted Mesh Roll for Slug and Snail Barriers FAQs
Run a band along the top of the walls, stapled or clipped, so any slug climbing the bed must cross copper. Keep plants from draping over it.
Mesh wraps a pot rim or a trunk without wrinkling, stands slightly proud so soil does not bridge it, and can be reused. Tape is flat and single use.
Yes. The reaction with slug slime does not depend on shine.
Stuffed tightly into a gap, copper mesh is a standard rodent exclusion material because they cannot chew through it.
