In this paper, a new method to enhance the stop bandwidth of the compact microstrip bandstop filter based on split ring resonator(SRR) was proposed. To achieve wide stop bandwidth, we incorporated the SRR within the circular etched pattern of the defected ground structure(DGS). By incorporating the SRR within the circular etched pattern, a high magnetic coupling between SRR and signal line can be achieved. The high magnetic coupling enables the proposed structure to achieve a wide stop bandwidth. To verify the feasibility of the proposed structure, the proposed bandstop filter was compared with conventional bandstop filter employing SRRs which have been etched at both sides of the signal line. Simulation and experimental results show that the proposed structure provides an enhanced stop bandwidth compared with the conventional structure.