Root barriers
A root barrier is a panel set in the ground between a tree and a sidewalk, driveway, foundation or pipe to turn roots downward and away. Battle Born Tree Service installs root barriers after a certified arborist has looked at the tree and the roots involved.
- 4.8 on Google · 44 reviews
- Best of Carson City 2018-2025
- ISA Certified Arborist WE-11728A
- Fully insured
Roots go where the water and air are, and in a dry climate that is often along a foundation, under a slab or beside a leaking pipe. Overgrown roots can cause structural damage to houses, pipes and even septic tanks. A barrier is one way to keep the tree and stop the damage.
At a glance
- Planned by an ISA Certified Arborist
- For sidewalks, driveways, patios, foundations and pipes
- A way to keep a tree that is causing trouble
- Honest advice when removal is the better answer
- Free estimate
What problems do root barriers solve?
Root barriers solve the problems of roots lifting slabs, heading under patios and walls, running toward sewer, water or septic lines, or growing near a newly planted tree or a neighbor's tree. The list below gives each case.
- Sidewalk and driveway slabs lifted by surface roots
- Roots heading under a patio, a pool deck or a wall footing
- Roots running toward a sewer lateral, a water line or a septic tank
- A new tree being planted close to pavement
- A neighbor's tree whose roots cross into your yard
Our guide to tree roots, sidewalks and sewer lines explains how roots actually get into pipes and under slabs.
How does a root barrier work?
A trench is opened between the tree and the thing being protected, a rigid barrier is set in it and the trench is backfilled. Roots that reach the barrier are deflected down or sideways instead of growing straight on toward the slab or the pipe.
A barrier works best as prevention, before the roots are large. Once a big root is already under a driveway, installing a barrier means cutting that root, and that is the part that needs an arborist's judgment.
Why does an arborist need to check first?
Because roots hold the tree up. Cutting large roots close to the trunk can leave a tree unstable or start decay at the base, and the effect may not show for a few years. The arborist looks at how big the tree is, which side the roots are on, how close the cut would be and what the tree would fall on.
Sometimes the right advice is not to cut. The choices are laid out in root barriers: when they work.
| Situation | What the arborist may recommend |
|---|---|
| Young tree, roots not yet under the slab | A barrier now, before damage starts |
| Mature tree, small roots lifting a walk | Selective root pruning with a barrier |
| Mature tree, large roots at the trunk | Leave the roots, change the pavement, or remove the tree |
| Declining tree with root damage already | Removal and stump grinding |
Which trees cause the most root trouble here?
The fast, thirsty trees planted on old Nevada lots. Cottonwoods, poplars, willows, Siberian elms and silver maples all grow wide, shallow root systems that chase water. In newer subdivisions the usual problem is simpler: a street tree planted in a narrow strip between the curb and the sidewalk with nowhere else to grow.
The tree guide has a page for each of these species, including what their roots tend to do.
What about city sidewalks and street trees?
If the tree or the sidewalk is in a public right-of-way, ask the city before any digging. Reno's tree ordinance requires anyone working within 10 feet of a publicly owned tree to contact the City's Urban Forester before digging. In Carson City, check with Carson City Public Works for trees in the right-of-way.
On your own property, buried lines still matter. 811 is the free national before-you-dig service, and utilities need a few days to mark their lines before a trench is opened.
Sources
- Truckee Meadows Water Authority: Local Tree Ordinances (read October 1, 2026)
- Common Ground Alliance: Call 811, how 811 works (read October 1, 2026)
What is included
- An arborist's look at the tree, the roots and the damage
- A recommendation: barrier, pruning, removal or leave it
- Installation of the barrier where it will do the job
- Clean-up of the work area
Talk to the office
| 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.
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Straight answers
Root barriers questions
Still have a question? Call 775.232.8243. Phones are answered seven days a week.
Will a root barrier kill my tree?
A barrier placed with care on a suitable tree should not. The risk comes from cutting large roots close to the trunk, which is why an arborist decides where the barrier goes or whether to install one at all.
Can roots grow under or around a barrier?
Over time they can. A barrier redirects roots; it does not stop a tree from growing. It buys years of protection for the slab or pipe when it is installed in the right place.
Do roots break sewer pipes?
Roots usually enter a pipe that is already cracked or leaking at a joint, then grow inside it. A plumber deals with the pipe. We deal with the tree and the roots.
Should I just remove the tree?
Sometimes that is the answer, mainly when the tree is declining or the roots that must be cut are too large. The estimate will set out both options.
Free estimates
Get a free, detailed estimate
A certified arborist looks at the job before any work starts. Tell us what you have and our office will set up a time.
- 4.8 out of 5 on Google from 44 reviews (October 17, 2026)
- Best of Carson City, Best Tree Service, first place 2018 through 2025 (Nevada Appeal readers' poll)
- ISA Certified Arborist WE-11728A on staff
- BBB accredited since 2015, A+ rating
- Carson City based since October 2013
Phones answered seven days a week. 24-hour emergency service.