On Wed, 07 Apr 2010 12:02:47 -0700, Oren wrote:
:On Wed, 07 Apr 2010 11:41:28 -0700, Dan Musicant
:wrote:
:
:My very large plum tree is north of my tomato plot and the branches
:overhang the northern most tomato plants (the trench for the tomatoes
:runs north and south). Even if and when I trim the tree boughs (so
:sunlight isn't intercepted), the roots invade the root space of the
:northern most 1-2 tomato plants unless I insert barriers to keep the
:plum tree roots out. Unless I block tree root access, the northern-most
:tomato plant or two are pretty scrawny. Last year, the barrier was
:fairly effective, it will be less so this year because the thin veneer
:plywood material is decomposing in spite of the wood preservative I
:applied when inserted last year.
:
:I'm looking for a material I can use for a root barrier that will last a
:few years, maybe last indefinitely. Can I pick up something at Home
:Depot or Orchard Supply Hardware that I can maybe cut into pieces with a
:jigsaw and use for a root barrier that will last a while?
:
:The trench I dig for my tomatoes is generally about 2 feet deep, because
:once I get to that depth (I virtually always do this some time in March)
:the trench has standing water when I get to about 2 feet. The soil is
:pretty heavily clay, so I work in loads of compost when I refill the
:trench, which I make myself. The barriers I've been putting in are about
:2 feet (maybe a bit more) from top to bottom.
:
:I might remove the tree, but of course that's a BIG job. Suggestions
:appreciated!
:
:Dan
:
:
:Email: dmusicant at pacbell dot net
:
:Consider a _ Bamboo Rhizome Root Barrier_ *
:
:"ProPlasŪ Bamboo Barrier Film has proven to be an effective material
:to prevent the unwanted spread of bamboo."
:
:At least 40 mil.
:
:
http://www.professionalplastics.com/BAMBOOBARRIERFILM
:
:Perhaps even a pond liner would work.
This looks very interesting. It's expensive, though. If bought at this
link, the minimum is 2' x 25' of 40mm. As it happens, I also have a
problem with bamboo from the neighbor's hard, but I've just lived with
the problem for many years. It would be a ton of work to install a
barrier at the property line to keep out the bamboo roots. I don't let
any of that bamboo get anywhere above ground, but there's no keeping the
roots from invading. Unless, I install a root barrier.
In fact I only need a maximum of 10' of the root barrier to take care of
the tomato vs plum tree problem. I figure I can probably score 10' of
this or similar (they say it's polyetheylene) locally (I'm in Berkeley),
or close to it,.
Dan
Email: dmusicant at pacbell dot net