root barriers Cancel The title field is required!

1. Bill Brooks

   

   18 posts
   
   10/7/2013 5:10 PM

   We have a green that is getting weaker and weaker each year and I'm sure the ash and oak trees that seem to live right above it aren't helping. So...we are going to cut down the ash trees and trench out and around the oak trees. I need a helping hand as to what types of barriers are out there to put in the trench to keep the oak roots from spreading into the green? Thanks Bill

   
   
   
   
2. Nowakowski Michael J

   
   10/7/2013 5:10 PM

   I do not use any barriers as I have been advised they restrict water flow. Not only that but I find if I root prune I am good for 5 years, then just retrench.
   Removing the Ash should help immensely as their surface roots can be a problem. The Oak on the other hand with their tap root should not be much of a concern at all.

   
   
   
   
3. Keith Pegg

   

   0 posts
   
   10/8/2013 8:10 PM

   Bill Brooks said: We have a green that is getting weaker and weaker each year and I'm sure the ash and oak trees that seem to live right above it aren't helping. So...we are going to cut down the ash trees and trench out and around the oak trees. I need a helping hand as to what types of barriers are out there to put in the trench to keep the oak roots from spreading into the green? Thanks Bill

   
   
   My self I would do a plastic sheet as far form the tree as you can and as deep as possible 3+ feet. If you are going to root prune wahy not make it last for 10+ maybe 20 years.
   Keith
   Japan

   
   
   
   
4. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   10/9/2013 6:10 AM

   Dr. Ed Gillman at the University of Florida has performed extensive research on the use of all kinds of barriers from the commercial products on the market to concrete walls to sidewalks to sheets of metal. In all cases the barriers stopped the root encroachment for a period of time, but eventually the roots went through, under or even over the barriers making them useless.
   
   http://hort.ufl.edu/woody/root-growth-barriers.shtml

   
   
   
   
5. Smith Brent M

   
   10/21/2013 10:10 PM

   I've run into the same problem recently for one of our practice greens. I found a barrier call Bio-Barrier from the east coast and it has herbicidal nodes on one side to inhibit the encroachment of roots. Hope this helps, about $3.45/Ft.
   
   
   Brent Smith
   Golf Club At Newcastle
   Newcastle,WA

   
   
   
   
6. Sean Hoolehan

   

   0 posts
   
   10/22/2013 9:10 AM

   Bill I would trench close to the green rather than the Oak tree, unless you don't mind if the Oak tree dies. I have been using a herbicide impregnated barrier cloth that seems to work pretty good.

   
   
   
   
7. Bill Brooks

   

   18 posts
   
   11/7/2013 9:11 AM

   Thanks for the tips, greatly appreciated

   
   
   
   
8. Kevin Girt

   

   0 posts
   
   11/7/2013 10:11 AM

   I had great sucess by just using a vibratory plow 18 inches deep, minimal surface disruption and would last upwards of 3 years.