A container for a plant includes a wire mesh that is formed in the shape of a plant pot, and a layer of biodegradable material that is attached to the wire mesh in the shape of the pot. The container provides protection to plant roots from gophers and protection from root damage during transplanting, and can reduce air gaps between a pot and a hole in the ground, saving plants from drying out. The wire mesh provides a supportive frame so that the biodegradable material layer can be thinner, with the biodegradable material quickly softening and/or decomposing to let the plant roots grow through the pot into the soil. The wire mesh can extend beyond the biodegradable material layer at a top of the pot to provide protection against surface foraging rodents.