Rodent ground mesh guard

Planning to plant kitchen garden inside above gound pool wall in high desert (Joshua Tree).  Instead of digging deeply (2 feet has been recommended) around circumference of inside wall to place rodent barrier hardware wondering how long hardware mesh would need to extend into planting area if laid more shallowly  - like 6 inches?  Anyone have experience with this and know?  Is going down 2 feet the only way?

Depth is determined by species you are dealing with. Moles and Gophers tunnel deeper than Voles, mice and rats tend to run on the surface.

If you are not going to bury mesh the recommended 2 feet deep then you will need to cover the entire underside of the bed with mesh and it needs to extend above the surface at least 8 inches to prevent climb over.

We are having to rebuild some of our raised beds due to wood rot and we will be making the new ones 16 inches tall above ground level, the 1/4 inch 19 gauge mesh will be sunk 2 feet or to bed rock which ever comes first.
This combination should take care of the issues we have been having this year with voles and moles. Currently we stomp down all tunnels we find instead of resorting to mole traps.

Redhawk

Thank you thank you for your very timely and focused response.  Hope your new raised beds meet the needs!  

Have not seen moles or gophers nearby which doesn't mean they are not here.  Has anyone in this area had trouble with moles or gophers?  The yard is at 2700 feet.  Brown squirrels are abundant.