---
title: Do Root Barriers Work? What They Can and Cannot Do
url: https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/do-root-barriers-work/
business: Battle Born Tree Service
address: 6301 US Highway 50 East, Carson City, NV 89701
phone: 775.232.8243
hours: Office Monday-Friday 8:30 am-5:00 pm; phones answered seven days a week; 24-hour emergency service
credentials: ISA Certified Arborist WE-11728A on staff; Nevada Business License # 20131580674; fully insured
type: Tree service (removal, crane work, pruning, stump grinding, defensible space, snow removal, firewood)
---

- [Home](https://battleborntreeservice.com/)
- [The Field Guide](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/)
- Root barriers: when they work

# Do root barriers work, and when are they worth it?

A root barrier is a physical panel set into the soil to redirect roots away from a sidewalk, pipe or foundation. It can reduce root conflicts when it is planned for a specific site, but it does not stop a tree's roots from growing, and installing one beside an existing tree means cutting roots.

Key takeaways

- Root barriers redirect roots; they do not limit how large the tree grows.
- They work best planned before trouble starts, at planting or a landscape change.
- Putting one beside a mature tree means trenching through the root zone, which can hurt the tree.
- The ISA says roots commonly spread many times the width of the crown, so a short barrier is not a wall around a root system.
- Sometimes the answer is a different tree, a different path or removal.

Barriers are one of the services we offer, so we will be plain about them. They are a tool for a certain job. Whether it is the right tool depends on how close the tree is, how big it will get and what you are protecting.

## What is a root barrier?

A root barrier is a panel or sheet, usually plastic or fabric-based, placed vertically in a trench between a tree and the thing you want to protect. Roots meet it and turn, usually downward or along the panel. Battle Born lists root barriers as a service, and a certified arborist assesses the site before the work.

## Why is it hard to say whether root barriers work?

Roots do not stop at the edge of the panel. The International Society of Arboriculture says roots commonly spread many times the breadth of the crown and can extend farther than the tree is tall. A barrier only changes the path of the roots that reach it. Roots that go under it, or around its ends, continue.

That means barrier performance depends on installation details: how deep, how long, how close to the structure and how it is joined. Those are site decisions, and we do not make blanket promises about them.

## The case for installing early

The most reliable use is at the moment of planting or construction, when there are no big roots to cut. University of Nevada, Reno Extension says to plan for mature size, since roots can damage nearby sidewalks and structures, and to choose a site that has room. A barrier adds a margin where the site is tight, such as a narrow planting strip beside a walk.

## The case against trenching an old tree

Digging a trench next to a mature tree cuts roots, and those roots hold the tree up and supply water. The ISA warns that excavation near trees can damage roots and harm or even kill the tree. For a large, old tree beside a slab, the arborist's first question is whether the tree can tolerate the trench at all, and where it can be cut with the least harm.

Sometimes the honest recommendation is not to install a barrier. A tree whose roots are already under the slab may be better served by repairing the paving, or the tree may be a candidate for [removal](https://battleborntreeservice.com/tree-services/tree-removal/).

## Before the trench

- Call 811 so buried lines are marked
- Have the arborist identify which roots matter to the tree's stability
- Decide what you are protecting: a walk, a sewer lateral, a foundation or a pool
- Compare against alternatives: a re-routed path, a flexible paving fix, or a smaller species next time
- Ask what the barrier will not do, and get that in the estimate

## Next step

For a site visit, ask for a free estimate. Our [root barriers](https://battleborntreeservice.com/tree-services/root-barriers/) page lists the service, and our guide to [roots, sidewalks and sewer lines](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/tree-roots-sidewalks-sewer-lines/) covers the cause side. Battle Born Tree Service has two ISA Certified Arborists on staff, including ISA Certified Arborist WE-11728A.

### Sources

- [International Society of Arboriculture, Trees Are Good: Avoiding Tree and Utility Conflicts](https://www.treesaregood.org/Portals/0/TreesAreGood_Avoid%20Utility%20Conflict_0621.pdf) (read October 17, 2026)
- [University of Nevada, Reno Extension: Tips for Healthy Landscape Trees](https://extension.unr.edu/publication.aspx?PubID=2649) (read October 17, 2026)
- [International Society of Arboriculture, Trees Are Good: Why Hire an Arborist](https://www.treesaregood.org/Portals/0/TreesAreGood_Why%20Hire%20An%20Arborist_0321.pdf) (read October 17, 2026)

### Talk to the office

[775.232.8243](tel:775.232.8243)

| Monday to Friday | 8:30 am - 5:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Saturday and Sunday | Office closed, phones answered |

Phones answered seven days a week. 24-hour emergency service.

[Free estimate](#quote)

### Keep reading

- [Root barriers](https://battleborntreeservice.com/tree-services/root-barriers/)
- [Tree roots, sidewalks and sewer lines](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/tree-roots-sidewalks-sewer-lines/)
- [Call 811 before stump grinding](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/call-811-before-stump-grinding/)
- [Arborist consultation](https://battleborntreeservice.com/tree-services/arborist-consultation/)
- [Tree removal](https://battleborntreeservice.com/tree-services/tree-removal/)
- [Tree removal questions](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/tree-removal/)

## More from the blog

Pruning and care October 17, 2026 5 min read

### What should you do with your trees in October in Carson City and Reno?

In October, finish watering while the ground is open, look over your trees for dead or hanging limbs, and clear leaves and needles away from the house. Save most live-wood pruning for the dormant seas

Winter and firewood October 14, 2026 5 min read

### Why does wet snow break tree limbs in Northern Nevada, and what can you do before it falls?

Wet snow adds weight to branches faster than they can bend and recover, so limbs split, tops snap and evergreens splay open. What helps is structure: remove dead wood, deal with weak forks and have an

Pruning and care October 10, 2026 5 min read

### What can you prune in fall in Northern Nevada, and what should wait?

In fall you can remove dead, broken or hazardous branches from any tree. Live-wood pruning is better done when the tree is dormant: late winter for most deciduous trees and fruit trees, and early spri

[All posts](https://battleborntreeservice.com/blog/)

## Questions people ask

Still have a question? Call [775.232.8243](tel:775.232.8243). Phones are answered seven days a week.

### How deep do root barriers go?

It depends on the site and the tree. The arborist decides depth and length at the assessment, and we do not give a single number for every yard.

### Can a root barrier stop roots entirely?

No. It redirects roots that meet it. Roots can go around or under, and the ISA notes roots commonly spread many times the width of the crown.

### Will a barrier hurt my tree?

Installing one beside an existing tree cuts roots. How much harm depends on the tree and the trench, which is why an arborist should assess first.

### Is a barrier better than removing the tree?

Neither is always better. If the tree is sound and the conflict is small, a barrier may help. If the tree is failing or the conflict is serious, removal can be the right call.