Some plants would spread uncontrollably without a root barrier. We will show you how you can also install them later.
When planting in the garden, there are a few things to consider. Each plant needs a specific location. This should be in the sun, in partial shade or in the shade. In addition, plants need enough space to develop well. The roots must be able to spread out in the soil in order to be able to supply the plant with sufficient water and nutrients. This is not a problem with most plants. But some representatives like to overdo it a little with their joy of growth and the roots displace neighboring plants and spread throughout the garden. If you don't think about this, you may soon lose the joy of the plant splendor. You can stop the spread of vigorous plants by using root barriers. If you failed to do this when planting, you can breathe a sigh of relief, because root barriers can also be installed later. In the following, we explain how to proceed in detail.
Why do you need a root barrier?
Some plants form underground root suckers, so-called rhizomes. If you want to offer your plants a lot of space, you don't necessarily have to do anything about it. But such a spread is usually not welcomed. After all, there are other plants in the bed and the neighbor shouldn't be flooded with a sea of plants either.
Immediately after planting, all is right with the world. Only a few years later did the plants form so many foothills that they now take up almost the entire garden. Often not only are the other plants pushed out, but pond liners are perforated, slabs are dug out or even pipes and parts of buildings are attacked. Root barriers can prevent this. So don't be afraid to install root barriers afterwards. It'll take some effort, but it will save you from overgrowing your garden and potentially causing even more damage in the future.
Which plants should be root blocked?
There are some plants that grow quickly without a root barriertake over the garden. In this context, the bamboo is usually mentioned first. Bamboo not only grows particularly fast, it also has aggressive roots, which develop unimagined strength and do not stop at stone slabs or ceramics. Raspberries have also formed numerous runners within a few years. You will then have a rich harvest ahead of you, but you will also find the shrubs everywhere in your garden. You do the same with mint. Once planted as a small spice pot, the mint quickly becomes an impressive shrub and also forms numerous runners. Furthermore, ivy, vinegar tree or sea buckthorn should also be provided with a root barrier. Even the rather inconspicuous lily of the valley can multiply uncontrollably.
Tip: Root barriers should be used when planting if possible.
Make sure you use high-quality material and correct installation
The subsequent installation of a root barrier may become necessary if you simply forgot to do this when planting. Maybe they didn't know or didn't get enough advice when buying plants. There may be various reasons. Perhaps you have also installed a root barrier and now have to realize that it did not meet your requirements. This fact can also have various reasons. For example, if root barriers are not closed properly, the roots will find their way through the smallest gaps. Perhaps you have also tried to work with pond liner instead of special liner made of durable plastic. Especially with bamboo, no compromises should be made. The roots are particularly aggressive and seem to easily penetrate pond liner or roofing felt.
In the video you can see how difficult it is to get rid of overgrown bamboo growth. In this case, root barriers were installed during planting, but apparently wrong.
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Bamboo subsequently provided with a root barrier
It is also possible to retrofit a root barrier with bamboo. However, it will cost you quite a bit of effort. The rhizomes are not only found several meters away from the mother plant throughout the garden, they are also particularly robust and hard and therefore by no means easy to remove. It applies to complete all roots that have spreadto remove from the ground. Simply cutting off the rhizomes will not suffice. A spade is usually not enough and the hobby gardener will not be able to avoid using an excavator.
In the case of bamboo, the root barrier should be installed generously, because the bamboo plant needs enough space and does not want to be restricted when it grows.
Tip: Do not dispose of the removed rhizomes in the compost heap, as the bamboo would continue to grow there unhindered.
Retrofitting root barrier step by step
- Remove Roots
- Dig a ditch
- Insert root lock
- Close root lock
- Fill up soil
- Press the earth
- Water the plant
Remove Roots
Before you install the actual root barrier, the rampant root system must be removed. You may not be able to track down all of the roots, but care should be taken. It will take some digging to really get the rhizomes out of the ground.
Dig a ditch and install a root barrier
A ditch is then dug around the plant in question. This should have the appropriate dimensions for the plant and be around 80 centimeters in diameter for bamboo, for example. Remove the plant from the soil and inspect the roots. Then you can better estimate which place you should give the plant. The ditch must also be correspondingly deep. Allow about 70 centimeters for this. Only then is the root barrier introduced. This should not end with the ground, but protrude five to ten centimeters over it, so that the root runners cannot find their way above ground either.
It is important that the root barrier closes tightly. Special rails are available for this, which are screwed to the root barrier. You can also weld the special foil with a welding machine so that there is no gap for the roots to squeeze through.
Summary
| Measure | Explanation |
| Preparatory work | Remove all root suckers that you can see around the plant. Do not dispose of the rhizomes on the compost, they will continue to grow there unhindered. |
| Dig a ditch | Dig a sufficiently wide trench around the plant. This should be about 80 in diameter for bamboo and for raspberriesat least 30 centimeters. Make sure there are no stones in the ditch. These could later be pressed against the root barrier and damage it. |
| Insert root lock | The root barrier should not only be laid underground, but also protrude a few centimeters from the ground to prevent the rhizomes from spreading above ground. The root barrier must be closed well at the ends so that the roots cannot squeeze through. |