The hardy wisteria quickly reaches impressive proportions. This is often desired, at least for the above-ground parts of the plant. However, growing underground is less popular. You can definitely consider a root barrier.
Is a root barrier necessary for wisteria?
Is a root barrier necessary for wisteria? A root barrier is not absolutely necessary, but may be useful. Wisteria has strong roots that can cause damage. If necessary, a sturdy root barrier made of stone or concrete should be used to restrict root growth.
How do the roots of my wisteria grow?
The wisteria has very strong and fleshy roots. On the one hand, they grow quite deep into the ground, but they also spread widely. This means that wisteria often sprouts in a place in the garden where you wouldn't expect it. The underground part of your wisteria is about the same size as the aboveground part.
Can the roots of wisteria cause damage?
Since the roots of wisteria are really quite strong, they can very well cause damage to your garden. They are often responsible for the fact that paved paths and/or squares rise and one or two tripping hazards form there.
If you have a gas pipe in your garden, then as a precaution you should not plant wisteria near it. It can be assumed that the roots can crush the pipe, similar to how the above-ground shoots have destroyed many a rain gutter.
What should a root barrier for wisteria look like?
Considering its vigorous growth, a root barrier for wisteria should be extremely solid. You won't get very far with a barrier made of fleece, as is often offered in hardware stores (€15.00 on Amazon). Even wood doesn't keep this climbing plant down for long.
It is better to drive with a barrier made of stone or concrete when dealing with wisteria. However, it should go deep enough into the ground so that the roots cannot grow under it. Ideally, however, you should choose a location where your wisteria cannot cause any damage and can at least spread unhindered underground.
The most important things in brief:
- Root barrier not necessary, but may be useful
- has both taproots and shallow roots
- strong roots can easily cause damage
- Keep an eye on root growth
- Removal of roots often complicated
Tip
A root barrier is usually not necessary for wisteria, but it would have to be very stable if necessary.
