To stop the vigorous roots of the vinegar tree, a normal pond liner is not enough. The material must be sturdy and thick so that the roots cannot drill holes in it.
Which root barrier is best for the vinegar tree?
To prevent vinegar tree spread, you need a root barrier made of robust material such as at least 2 mm thick HDPE film or a bottomless stone container. Conventional pond liner or clay pots are not sufficiently resistant to strong root growth.
Shallow root system
Vinegar trees develop a highly branched root system, consisting of a main root and numerous side roots. The main root can reach up to two meters deep into the ground. The lateral root system extends flatly through the upper layers of the soil. It can move up to ten meters away from the mother plant and sprout in other places. This property makes the vinegar tree a feared ornamental tree, because uncontrolled spread causes the native flora to be displaced.
Inappropriate measures
Root barriers help to stop the spread. These are sunk into the ground directly when the bushes are planted and act as a barrier to the roots spreading. Vinegar trees develop strong lateral roots. Therefore, a conventional pond liner is not sufficient. The bushes use the root tip to drill holes in the material and overcome the barrier.
There is also a risk with clay pots because the material can become brittle due to the moisture in the substrate. Vessels that are too small also achieve little success. The fast-growing trees can quickly break through the pots with their strong runners.
Suitable root barriers
Choose a sufficiently large stone container without a bottom or a rain barrel with the bottom end cut off. After a few years, the vinegar tree has rooted through the area within the barrier. Due to the lack of space, many bushes become stunted and look unsightly. You can easily rejuvenate such trees using cuttings. A film made of high-pressure polyethylene (€34.00 on Amazon) is a stable alternative to containers. It should be at least two millimeters thick.
Advantages of HDPE film:
- high root strength
- can be individually cut to size
- environmentally friendly material
It is difficult to subsequently put a rhizome barrier into the ground. You must cut through and dig up all runners in advance so that they do not sprout again. To sink closed containers, you either have to dig up the entire rootstock or put the barrier over the tree. Both approaches damage the tree, which promotes the development of shoots and shoots. HDPE film can also be laid subsequently in the floor.
