RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Root Growth Near Vertical Root Barriers after Seven Years
JF Arboriculture & Urban Forestry (AUF)
FD International Society of Arboriculture
SP 23
OP 26
DO 10.48044/jauf.2009.006
VO 35
IS 1
A1 E. Thomas Smiley
A1 Liza Wilkinson
A1 Bruce R. Fraedrich
YR 2009
UL http://auf.isa-arbor.com/content/35/1/23.abstract
AB Vertical root barriers are used to redirect root growth to greater depths in the soil, thus reducing damage to the sidewalks. This study was conducted to examine root growth patterns near a variety of vertical root barriers. Thirty willow oaks (Quercus phellos) were planted in November 2000 and one of the following treatments was installed on two sides of each tree: Biobarrier, DeepRoot Universal Barrier, DeepRoot Universal Barrier with Spin Out, Tex-R, Typar Geotextile 3801, or a no-barrier control. In March 2007, the second 15-tree block was excavated to reveal the root system outside the barrier. All five root barriers significantly reduced the amount of root growth compared with the control trees. There were no differences among the products tested.