Shady Spot: The Importance Of Tree Care

About Me

Shady Spot: The Importance Of Tree Care

Hi. I'm Terry, and I have spent the last decade working as a landscape gardener. In the past, my company would mostly landscape new projects. In recent years, there has been great demand for repairing gardens that have been damaged by natural disasters, particularly storms. Many of the gardens we repair would have suffered less damage if trees on the property had been properly topped, pruned, treated or even removed. Falling trees and flying branches are pretty scary during a storm. They can also leave a garden decimated. I really hope the tips in my blog can save you money by helping you identify problems with your trees and by providing information about the best expertise available.

How to Install a Root Barrier

Tree roots can cause big problems for homeowners if they spread beneath driveways and other structures.  As the roots grow, they'll push their way through any obstruction, including concrete and asphalt, causing cracking and, in extreme cases, subsidence.  You can still enjoy having trees on your land whilst preventing tree roots from impacting on buildings and other structures by installing root barriers.

Root barriers work by containing the roots of growing trees and shrubs, preventing them from spreading out beneath the ground.  Root barriers won't harm your trees or stunt their growth.  Your local arborist will be able supply and install root barriers for you with minimal disruption, or you could opt to do the job yourself.  Read on to find out how.

What you'll need

  • root barrier (plastic, metal or webbing are available—ask your arborist for details)
  • spade
  • watering can or hosepipe and access to a water supply

How to do it

  1. Begin by working out how far away from the tree's trunk you need to install the root barrier.  As a general rule of thumb, install the barrier just inside the spread of the tree's canopy.  This is close enough to keep roots under control, but not so close that you could prevent the tree from growing. 
  2. Root barriers come in panels.  Divide the length of the planned barrier by the width of the panels to work out how many you'll need.  
  3. Next, dig a narrow trench around the intended barrier installation site.  The trench will need to be a couple of metres deep and just wide enough to accommodate the panels that you're going to use.  
  4.  Insert the first root barrier panel into the finished trench.  You'll need to leave a small amount of panel extending above the ground to make sure that the roots don't grow over the barrier.  Overlap each panel so that are no gaps through which the roots can spread.  
  5. Now backfill the trench with the soil you've excavated until it's about one third full.  Compact the soil by pouring water onto it, then add another layer of soil and repeat the process.  Finish off by filling the trench to the top with more soil.

In conclusion

You can still enjoy trees in your garden without worrying that their roots could damage your property.  Install root barriers yourself or ask your local arborist to do the job for you as part of your regular tree maintenance programme.


Share