Plastic sheets, corrugated fiberglass, and fabric are often used as a physical barrier installed in the trench and buried. The depth of the barrier should be at least 3 to 5 feet deep, but roots will eventually grow under it unless it is installed on top of solid rock.

What can be used as a root barrier?

Plastic sheets, corrugated fiberglass, and fabric are often used as a physical barrier installed in the trench and buried. The depth of the barrier should be at least 3 to 5 feet deep, but roots will eventually grow under it unless it is installed on top of solid rock.

How deep do root barriers need to be?

Current information is that root barriers need to be installed to a depth of 30 inches minimum and they must extend above the surface of the soil enough to prevent roots from growing over the top (figure 2).