Does anyone know if Biobarrier (or anything similar) is sold in Australia?

I have a problem with tree roots pushing against an asbestos fence causing it
to lean over. Given the size of the roots and the vigorous growth of the
tree, trimming the roots may only be a short term solution.

Biobarrier is a fabric that you bury in the ground and slowly releases
trifluralin which is some kind of herbicide/root inhibitor. The sales blurb
at www.biobarrier.com says that it works for up to 15 years.

Mike

A good start would be to email them and find if there are any distributors
in Aus


"Mike Buckler" > wrote in message
...
> Does anyone know if Biobarrier (or anything similar) is sold in
Australia?
>
> I have a problem with tree roots pushing against an asbestos fence causing
it
> to lean over. Given the size of the roots and the vigorous growth of the
> tree, trimming the roots may only be a short term solution.
>
> Biobarrier is a fabric that you bury in the ground and slowly releases
> trifluralin which is some kind of herbicide/root inhibitor. The sales
blurb
> at www.biobarrier.com says that it works for up to 15 years.
>
> Mike

You can certainly get ordinary root barrier material in various sizes and
thicknesses quite easily. But why do you want one that leaches a herbicide?
It will kill/inhibit anything that comes into contact with it - maybe things
that you want. And if it is on a boundary and kills your neighbour's plants,
you may have trouble on your hands.
I have used the normal sort to repel/contain such things as running bamboo
very successfully.
Cheers,
Alwynne
"Mike Buckler" > wrote in message
...
> Does anyone know if Biobarrier (or anything similar) is sold in
Australia?
>
> I have a problem with tree roots pushing against an asbestos fence causing
it
> to lean over. Given the size of the roots and the vigorous growth of the
> tree, trimming the roots may only be a short term solution.
>
> Biobarrier is a fabric that you bury in the ground and slowly releases
> trifluralin which is some kind of herbicide/root inhibitor. The sales
blurb
> at www.biobarrier.com says that it works for up to 15 years.
>
> Mike

On Mon, 3 Mar 2003 19:37:12 +1100, "alwynne mackie" >
wrote:

>You can certainly get ordinary root barrier material in various sizes and
>thicknesses quite easily. But why do you want one that leaches a herbicide?
>It will kill/inhibit anything that comes into contact with it - maybe things
>that you want. And if it is on a boundary and kills your neighbour's plants,
>you may have trouble on your hands.
> I have used the normal sort to repel/contain such things as running bamboo
>very successfully.

The roots are pushing against the fence rather than trying to go through it.
A case of too many roots and not enough space. The roots hit the fence just
below the soil surface then dive straight down 50cm, go under the fence and
disappear into the council owned park next door.

The roots vary in size from 2 cm to 10 cm in diameter. A concrete asbestos
fence backed by several tons of sand is no match for this tree. I need
something that will inhibit the growth of the roots once they have been cut
back.




Mike

Hmm. It sounds like a problem tree to me. What sort is is? Are there any
roots doing the same sort of thing to the foundations of the house? Have you
thought about taking it out and replacing it with something more suitable?
Here in Melbourne at least, the prices for removing trees seem to have
dropped considerably. I have just had a quote which would have been double a
couple of years ago. You might find that the root barrier option works out
to be just as expensive as removing the tree - not to speak of the cost of
possible damage to buildings.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Alwynne
"Mike Buckler" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 3 Mar 2003 19:37:12 +1100, "alwynne mackie"
>
> wrote:
>
> >You can certainly get ordinary root barrier material in various sizes and
> >thicknesses quite easily. But why do you want one that leaches a
herbicide?
> >It will kill/inhibit anything that comes into contact with it - maybe
things
> >that you want. And if it is on a boundary and kills your neighbour's
plants,
> >you may have trouble on your hands.
> > I have used the normal sort to repel/contain such things as running
bamboo
> >very successfully.
>
> The roots are pushing against the fence rather than trying to go through
it.
> A case of too many roots and not enough space. The roots hit the fence
just
> below the soil surface then dive straight down 50cm, go under the fence
and
> disappear into the council owned park next door.
>
> The roots vary in size from 2 cm to 10 cm in diameter. A concrete asbestos
> fence backed by several tons of sand is no match for this tree. I need
> something that will inhibit the growth of the roots once they have been
cut
> back.
>
>
>
>
> Mike