Contain plants: A bucket serves as a root barrier

Created: 06/17/2022, 16:00

By: Ines Alms

Berry bushes or herbs like mint have strong, rampant roots.

To prevent them from getting the upper hand, a bucket is used as a root barrier.

Munich – What can you have against a lush growing mint in the garden?

Actually nothing, but before you know it, the plant forms strong proliferating roots underground and many offshoots sprout from the surrounding soil, the growth of which soon becomes difficult to control.

For plants that do not have deep roots, such as herbs and berries, you can use a simple bucket.

Contain plants: A bucket serves as a root barrier

Buckets or plastic tubs are easy and effective root barriers, especially for mint.

(Iconic image) © imagebroker/Imago

Anyone who has ever tried to track and remove uncontrolled growing subterranean foothills into the neighbor's garden or under paving stones will be happy to do without it in the future.

A so-called root barrier, which prevents the plants from spreading, is a good solution.

You can buy professional foil root or rhizome barriers at hardware stores or garden centers, but for herbs, raspberries or blackberries you can also use a simple discarded plastic bucket, construction bucket or clay pot.

Because these plants are rather flat-rooted, their roots only reach about 30 to 50 centimeters in depth.

It is best to find out in advance whether the plant you want is deep-rooted or shallow-rooted, so that you don't have any trouble later.

Simply build the root barrier yourself

It is better to plan more generously with the root barriers so that the plants still have enough space to form their roots and absorb nutrients.

Pond or roof foil or a solid garden fleece, which are laid down to the appropriate depth, are also alternatives that you can make yourself.

And this is how you build a simple root barrier for shallow-rooted plants in your garden:

• Dig a sufficiently large hole in the garden that is at least 40 centimeters deep.

• Place the plant in a pot with drainage holes and the soil inside.

  The pot should of course be large enough for this and ideally hold 20 liters.

  If the bucket is larger or goes deeper, the bottom of the bucket is not necessary.

• Let the bucket protrude a few centimeters from the ground if it is a plant that can also form above-ground runners.

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While a root barrier is not a must for shallow roots, a rhizome barrier in the bed is essential for bamboo, for example, since the plant spreads its roots very stubbornly and is then particularly difficult to remove.