BIOBARRIER® ROOT CONTROL SYSTEM HELPS PROTECT HARDSCAPES AND LANDSCAPES FROM ROOTS

Biobarrier® Root Control System is a method of inhibiting tree and shrub root growth from areas you wish to protect. The permanently-attached nodules on the durable geotextile create a zone on either side of the fabric that prevents the division of root tip cells, so when a root reaches the zone, it is diverted to grow in another direction. Placed between the tree and the hardscape or landscape that needs to be protected, Biobarrier works invisibly to prevent tree root intrusion. It is guaranteed for 15 years.

Urban areas particularly need Biobarrier. Trees are vital in cities because they help enhance the quality of air (especially important in those cities under federal mandate to clean up the atmosphere), help alleviate storm water run-off and provide much-needed shade to help reduce summer temperatures. Planning ahead for tree plantings - by creating areas large enough for trees and by using the best tree for the space - is always the preferred method of incorporating vegetation into a landscape. Unfortunately, this is not always possible, and in those circumstances, Biobarrier provides the means that gives you the flexibility to have a tree in a less than desirable space and protect your hardscape.

Biobarrier is a geotextile fabric with permanently attached nodules. Because Biobarrier is porous, water, air and nutrients can pass through it, which is healthier for the tree. Unlike solid barriers, when it's used in a circular installation Biobarrier will not create a swimming pool effect by trapping water, which could drown the tree. In fact, Biobarrier does not have to be used in a circle around the tree; it will fit the contours of the site, so it can be used along a sidewalk, foundation, landscape or other area to be protected to maximize the soil space available for roots. It does not need to protrude above ground where it could be a tripping hazard and costly liability.

The nodules in Biobarrier contain trifluralin and are engineered to slowly release it to create a vapor zone where roots will not grow. Trifluralin is not systemic, so it's not absorbed by the tree and there is no residual or cumulative effect on the tree. Trifluralin affects only the division of root tip cells, the method by which roots grow; when roots reach the zone of trifluralin, they grow away from it. Roots away from the zone are unaffected, and, in many cases, take up the slack by growing more than they might have otherwise so the tree can continue to receive enough nutrients and water.

For more than 35 years, trifluralin has been used between rows of food crops to prevent weed growth; because of this extensive use and numerous research projects, much is known about trifluralin. It has an EPA toxicity rating of class IV, making it less toxic than salt but slightly more so than sugar. Trifluralin has an extremely low water solubility of 0.3 ppm, making it unlikely to leach. It tightly attaches to soil, so it doesn't tend to migrate, and it decomposes in the dirt in six months or less, so it doesn't persist in the ground.

To install Biobarrier, dig a trench along the area you want to protect. Prune tree roots if the tree is already there. Wearing gloves to prevent the trifluralin from staining your hands, place the Biobarrier in the trench, making sure it's between the area to be protected and all tree roots. With the landscape pins that are provided, secure it near the surface so roots don't grow over it and against the wall of the trench opposite the root source. Then backfill the trench and tamp it to ensure there are no gaps in the soil. Remove the installation flap, and store unused Biobarrier in the pouch it came in. Always follow the detailed installation instructions that are included in the package.

Biobarrier is also an excellent method of inhibiting root growth around liquid-carrying pipes and to protect the mechanisms of dams and levees. For Pot-N-Pot nursery production, use Biobarrier inside the larger pot to prevent roots from growing through drain holes; with Biobarrier, less labor is required for harvesting and less damage is caused to roots as trees are removed.

For more information about Biobarrier Root Control System, Biobarrier® II Weed Control System or Biobarrier® II Tree Skirt, call 1-800-284-2780 or (615) 847-7000. The web site address is www.biobarrier.com, the fax number is (615) 847-7068 and the e-mail address is rbergh@fiberweb.com.

--END--