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A normal pond liner is not enough to stop the vigorous roots of the vinegar tree. The material must be sturdy and thick so that the roots cannot poke holes in it.
Vinegar will spread quickly if left unchecked
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 runs flat 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 dreaded ornamental tree, because the native flora is displaced by uncontrolled spread.
Inappropriate measures
Root barriers help to stop the spread. These are sunk into the ground when the shrubs are planted and block the spread of the roots. Vinegar trees develop strong lateral roots. Therefore, a conventional pond liner is not sufficient. With the root tip, the shrubs bore 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. Pots that are too small also achieve little success. The fast-growing shrubs can quickly break through the tubs with their strong runners.
Suitable root barriers
Choose a sufficiently large stone vessel without a bottom or a water butt with the bottom cut off. After a few years, the vinegar tree has rooted through the area inside the barrier. Due to the lack of space, many shrubs wither and look ugly. You can easily rejuvenate such trees with cuttings. A high-density polyethylene film is a stable alternative to vessels. It should be at least two millimeters thick.
Advantages of HDPE film:
- high root strength
- can be cut individually
- eco-friendly material
It is difficult to subsequently bring a rhizome barrier into the ground. You have to cut through and dig up all the runners in advance so that they don't sprout again. In order to sink closed vessels, you either have to dig out the entire rootstock or put the lock over the tree. Both approaches damage the tree, which promotes the development of saplings and shoots. HDPE foil can also be laid later in the floor.