Questions about Maples and 'root barriers'

19 years ago

I do have a couple of good size maples in my yard. On one of them the area immediately around it is kind of humped up, making it a bear to mow around. I know all the reasons why many (if not most) of you would say to get rid of the maple, but these trees do provide a lot of needed shade in my yard and they're not going anywhere! I'd like to put a very low 'retaining wall' around the Maple on the tree. Just one row of blocks high, with a cap on top. And then, (I can hear the gasps now) I want to plant minis in that area. Now the question...

This area will extend out about 4 - 4 1/2 feet from the tree trunk. The ground slopes and when I make this very low wall and fill with soil, it will bring that area up about to the level where the tree actually is above the grass at the base of the trunk (meaning I'm not covering tree roots in this very small area by very much additional soil at all.

I'm thinking that I might cover the existing soil (and grass) immediately around the tree with one of two things.

1) That yucky landscaping plastic, like they use under rock borders where you don't want to grow anything at all. I think the sod beneath slopes down enough that excess moisture will drain out to the sides so the fact that it's plastic shouldn't smother the tree or keep the minis sitting in too much moisture. I would put soil on top of the plastic for the minis to grow in.

2) Aluminum screen, like used in a storm door. If I put it down above the existing sod, then put soil above, would the screen provide enough of a barrier to keep those small sucker roots from coming up from below?

I'd appreciate any and every thought on this. Thanks in advance!

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Comments (7)

esther_opal
19 years ago
Search "Spin Out" weed barrier, it works!

Come back with questions when you've done some homework!
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
19 years ago
been there done that.. the maple won ... two times.. different maples.. different yards ...

MAPLES WIN .. period ...

my wall was 4 x 4 treated lumber in 4 feet lengths [the second yard was browken 4 inch concrete] ... so i could make a curved wall .... 4 levels high ... so something under 16 inches... did NOT put in soil above the root flair of the tree ... no plastic ... no root guard ... nothing special in back fill ... just topsoil

in two years ... the maple filled it ... only the most sturdy plants live in it ....

i would think minis will fail .. sooner or later ... no matter what you do ...

how about moving some unkillable hosta in there.. like the undulatas .. and make your mini bed where they will have a fighting chance ...

good luck
ken
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jel48
Original Author
19 years ago
Esther, the Spin Out looks like a great product, but hard to find retail. Texel (a canadian company) makes a product called Tex-R barrier that looks like the sort of thing you'd want, but I can't seem to find anyone who (at least online) has just the fabric itself for sale, although there are a lot of places that have disks to put in the bottom of pots, and a few that have bags as well. I ALso found one site that listed Spin Out coating by the galleon for about $140 a galleon.

Ken, I hear you... Another possibility could be a temp bed for extra hostas that I will be trading, or anything that needed a temporary home. I could always convert it into a bench or picnic table around the base of the tree once it filled in with roots :-) Or, If I do put minis in there this summer, watch carefully and get them the heck out of there once it starts to fill up.

Too bad they're such nice shade trees.... some of the biggest in our neighborhood, actually. sigh....
andi3216
19 years ago
I also did some research a while back on Spin Out, thanks to Esther's recommendation. I have found a site that does sell the fabric... hopefully this helps! I ordered some of the tree bags made of this fabric from MacKenzie Nursery Supply last week, but have yet to receive them. I'll let you know how they work out when I do!

Here is a link that might be useful: Spin-out fabric
esther_opal
19 years ago
Look in your area for greenhouse supply houses, they sell product to put on the floor to keep out weeds, same thing. Or ask a wholesale greenhouse or nursery supplier, they will sell to you if have money. If they won't lie and create a name for your nursery and open an account then buy what you want.

Or, just walk in the door lying.

Big OR this will work, I guarantee by the value of my total net worth.

Build a 4ft by 4ft box with 2X10in treated lumber and fill it with rubber liner just as you might make a little pond. Go to big boxes like Home Depot, they have all the supplies you need and follow the instructions for building a pond. Especially the polybond fiber cloth below the rubber. Now, fill this with compost and mulch, pine fines are good but any mulch hardwood, not cedar. Or bags called "soil conditioner".

Pile this up above the box about 6in and let it fall around the wooden box leaving what looks like a pile of mulch about 14-16 inches tall. Plant, water and fertilize at lower than recommended levels and forget it. You may need to water twice a week.
jel48
Original Author
19 years ago
That's great, Andi, I'm placing my order now.

Esther, the box is a good alternative plan but a whole lot more work, I think! I might just do that later on though, in another spot.

Thanks to everyone!
esther_opal
19 years ago
"Esther, the box is a good alternative plan but a whole lot more work, I think! I might just do that later on though, in another spot."

Yes, it is a little work but once you do it you will never want to plant a hosta any other way.