Skip to content
FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS
FREE SHIPPING
HDPE Tree Root Barrier Roll

HDPE Tree Root Barrier Roll

SKU LD-80-Sample
$19.99 - $1,257.85
$19.99
$19.99 - $1,257.85
$19.99
Free Shipping

80 Mil HDPE · Continuous Roll · Five Depths

80 mil HDPE tree root barrier supplied on a continuous roll rather than in panels. At 5/64" (2 mm) the sheet gives a smooth, impenetrable face — roots reach it and run along it instead of through it. Because it arrives in one long length, a panel barrier's 49 joints per 100 feet become none, and the seam is where every root barrier fails. Five depths from 18" to 48", made in the USA, rated for up to 100 years in the ground.

Depths
18–48"Five options
Roll Length
100 ft80 ft on the 48"
Thickness
80 mil5/64" · 2 mm
Lifespan
100 yrIn-ground, UV stabilised
  • Made in the USA
  • Cuts with a utility knife
  • Chrome-rolled deflection side
  • Doubles as a water barrier
  • Free shipping on all orders

01 80 mil HDPE roll

One Continuous Roll, Almost No Seams

This is 80 mil HDPE tree root barrier supplied on a continuous roll rather than in panels. At 5/64" (2 mm) the sheet gives a smooth, impenetrable face — roots reach it and run along it instead of through it — and because it arrives as one long length, you install a whole run without stopping to make connections.

That is the entire argument for a roll. Whatever barrier you use and however you join it, the connection between two pieces is where roots get through. A panel barrier in 2' sections needs 49 joints to cover 100 feet. This needs none.

Available in five depths from 18" to 48". Made in the USA from UV-stabilised HDPE, rated for up to 100 years in the ground, cuts with a standard utility knife, and ships free.

49panel joints this barrier avoids per 100 feet

Panel barriers come in 2' pieces. This comes in 100' and 80' rolls.

02 Why fewer seams matter

The Seam Is Always The Weak Point

No barrier fails through the middle of the sheet. It fails at the joint. That is true of any product and any joining method, which is why the number of connections in a run matters more than almost anything else about the barrier you choose. On most residential jobs a single roll covers the whole run with zero connections — and where a run does need two rolls, a 4-foot taped overlap handles the one seam you have.

Download Spec Sheet

03 Product data

Specifications

Available depths18", 24", 30", 36" and 48"
Roll length100 feet continuous — 80 feet on the 48" depth
Material thickness80 mil — 5/64" (2 mm)
MaterialHigh density polyethylene (HDPE), UV stabilised
Deflection sideChrome rolled for a superior protection surface
In-ground lifespanUp to 100 years
JoiningVertically or horizontally with connection tape, 4' overlap
CuttingStandard utility knife, no special tools
RecyclableYes
OriginMade in the USA
CarrierUPS — free shipping
Doubles as a water barrier. Because the sheet is solid HDPE rather than a jointed panel, placing it against a foundation wall protects against root intrusion and water in one installation.

04 Where it gets used

Applications

Designed to contain roots from trees of all sizes and varieties. The ultra-thick sheet gives a smooth, impenetrable face — roots meet it and run along it rather than through it.

Tree planting areas Perimeter runs outside the canopy Sidewalks & footpaths Driveways Foundations Retaining walls Property lines Fence lines Utility protection Bamboo containment Japanese knotweed Invasive shrubs Garden beds Large-scale urban projects

05 Choosing a depth

Depths And Roll Lengths

Every depth is the same 80 mil HDPE with the same chrome-rolled face. Choose the depth for your species and site, then check the roll length — the 48" comes on a shorter roll because the sheet is taller.

Barrier depth Roll length Trench depth Typical use
18"100 ft16–17"Beds, fence and property lines, light paving
24"100 ft22–23"Sidewalks, driveways, street trees
30"100 ft28–29"Deeper-rooting species, higher-value paving
36"100 ft34–35"Vigorous species, structural paving, foundations
48"80 ft46–47"Deep utilities, most aggressive species

Trench depth is the barrier depth less 1–2", so the top edge stands proud of the soil. Typical use is a guide only — root depth varies with species, soil, climate and rainfall.

06 Roll or panel

How HDPE Roll Compares To Panel Barriers

We sell both, and neither is universally better. The honest answer is that it depends on where the barrier sits relative to the tree.

Far fewer connections

This barrier ships in a 100-foot continuous roll. Panel barriers come in 2' pieces that snap together, so the same run needs 49 joints. Whatever the joining method, the connection is the weakest point — fewer connections mean fewer chances for a root to find its way through.

Thicker, and thicker consistently

At a full 80 mil the sheet is thicker overall than most panel barriers, which run anywhere from 40 to 80 mil depending on where you measure them. A rolled sheet is the same gauge across its entire face.

Better at turning

Because it arrives on a roll, it follows a curve or a full circle without argument. Panels snap together on a built-in joint; bending that assembly into a circle puts load on the joint, which can pull apart, deform or break.

When a panel is the better choice

In a tight concrete cutout, a roadway median, or any install sitting very close to the trunk, panel barriers win. Their integrated vertical ribs steer roots downward, which the tree needs for stability where there is no room to spread. That is a job for DeepRoot panels, not a roll.

The short version. Running a perimeter outside the tree canopy, along a property line, a fence, a foundation or a long stretch of sidewalk? Use the roll — you get one continuous barrier with almost no seams. Working inside a cramped cutout right up against the trunk? Use panels for the vertical root guides.

07 Installation

Installation Overview

  1. Dig the trench. Around the tree, or between the tree and whatever you are protecting. Dig to the barrier depth less 1–2" so the top edge stands proud of the soil — a 24" barrier wants a 22–23" trench. A visible top edge lets you spot and clip any surface root trying to cross over. If you are encircling the tree, make the circle as large as the site allows so the root plate has room to establish.
  2. Set the barrier in the trench. Chrome-rolled deflection side facing the tree. Joining two lengths? Overlap them by 4 feet and tape the seam both vertically and horizontally — the taped overlap is what stops roots working through the joint.
  3. Backfill. Work around the barrier, keeping it vertical, and leave the top edge exposed.
Cutting and joining. The sheet cuts cleanly with a standard utility knife. For seams, use Tree Root Barrier Connection Tape — one 20' roll covers a 4' overlap taped on both faces, top and bottom.
HDPE tree root barrier roll installed in a trench
Barrier set in the trench with the top edge left proud of grade.

08 Sizing the depth

How Deep Do I Need To Go?

There is no single answer, and anyone who gives you one is guessing. Root depth varies with the species, the soil, the climate and how much rain the site gets — the same tree roots very differently in sandy soil than in heavy clay.

If you do not know how deep your tree's roots run, find out before you order: dig an exploratory hole and look, or have a certified arborist assess the site. Guessing shallow is the expensive mistake, because a barrier a root can travel under does nothing at all.

Bear in mind the trench is the real cost on deep installs. At 48" you are excavating four feet; the barrier is rarely the deciding line on that budget.

09 Thickness

Why 80 Mil?

Comparison of HDPE barrier material thicknesses
Thickness options compared.

At 80 mil — 5/64", or 2 mm — this is the gauge to specify where root overgrowth would cause real property damage. Thinner sheet has its place on lighter containment work, but it does not belong next to a foundation or under a sidewalk you do not want to rebuild.

Mil ratings are hard to picture until you handle the material, which is why the comparison above is worth a look before you commit to a gauge.

10 Free shipping, every order

Shipping Transit Times

Free ground shipping on every order, with no minimum. Most orders ship the same day if placed before 12:00 PM EST. Transit times on the map are business days — typical, but dependent on stock levels. If your order has to arrive by an exact date, call us first to check stock.

Root barrier shipping transit time map of the United States in business days
Click to enlarge.

11 Buying from us

Why Buy Root Barrier From Landscape Discount

We stock both roll and panel

We sell HDPE rolls and DeepRoot panels, so we have no reason to push you toward the wrong one. Tell us where the barrier sits relative to the tree and we'll tell you which to use.

Professional-grade material only

Full 80 mil HDPE, made in the USA, UV stabilised for decades of in-ground service. No thin off-brand sheet sold as a root barrier.

Labour is the expensive part

Trenching costs more than the barrier on nearly every job. Installing something that fails and reopening the trench is the expensive mistake — do it once, do it right.

We answer the phone

When you call you quickly reach a helpful, live person happy to answer your product and order questions. (M-F 5:00 am - 3:00 pm Pacific Time)

12 Documentation

Specification Sheet

Material properties and dimensional data for the HDPE root barrier range, covering every depth and thickness we stock.

Download Spec Sheet

13 Related options

Accessories And Alternatives

Tree root barrier connection tape, 20 foot roll

Connection tape

Required if you are joining two lengths. One 20' roll tapes a 4' overlap on both faces, vertically and horizontally.

View Connection Tape
DeepRoot Universal Barrier panel

Working in a tight cutout?

DeepRoot panels have integrated vertical ribs that steer roots downward — the right choice close to the trunk or in a concrete cutout.

View DeepRoot Panels

14 Common questions

HDPE Root Barrier FAQs

How much barrier do I need?
Measure the run you want to protect. Rolls cover 100 continuous feet, or 80 feet on the 48" depth, so most residential jobs take a single roll with no joins at all. If your run needs more than one roll, allow an extra 4 feet for each overlap.
Should I use a roll or panels?
Roll for perimeter work — outside the tree canopy, along a property line, fence, foundation or a long sidewalk run — because you get one continuous barrier with almost no seams. Panels for tight concrete cutouts and medians right up against the trunk, where their vertical ribs steer roots downward and give the tree stability.
Which depth should I choose?
It depends on the species, soil, climate and rainfall — there is no universal figure. The depth table above gives typical uses as a starting point, but if you are not sure how deep your tree's roots run, dig an exploratory hole or have a certified arborist assess the site before ordering.
How deep do I dig the trench?
The barrier depth less 1–2". A 24" barrier wants a 22–23" trench, a 48" barrier wants 46–47". You want the top edge standing proud of the soil so you can spot and clip any surface root attempting to cross over the top.
Why is the 48" roll shorter?
The 48" depth comes on an 80-foot roll rather than 100 feet, because the sheet is a third taller and the roll would otherwise be unmanageable to ship and handle. The material and thickness are identical.
How do I join two lengths?
Overlap them by 4 feet and tape the seam vertically and horizontally with connection tape. The taped overlap is what prevents roots working through the joint. Never butt two edges together.
Which side faces the tree?
The chrome-rolled deflection side. It gives the smoother, harder face for roots to run along rather than catch on.
Can I cut it on site?
Yes, with a standard utility knife. No special tools, no heat welding, no proprietary cutters.
How long does it last in the ground?
Up to 100 years. It is UV-stabilised HDPE, so the exposed top edge holds up as well as the buried sheet.
Will it stop bamboo and knotweed too?
Yes. The same 80 mil HDPE sheet is what we supply for bamboo rhizome and Japanese knotweed containment. Aggressive rhizomes and tree roots fail against a solid barrier for the same reason.
Does it work as a water barrier?
It does. Because the sheet is solid rather than jointed, running it against a foundation wall protects against root intrusion and water in the same trench.
Is there volume pricing?
Yes, on orders totalling over $5,000. Call (800) 524-4161 or request a written quote.
What does shipping cost?
Nothing — free ground shipping on every order. Most orders ship the same day if placed before 12:00 PM EST.

15 Larger projects

Not Sure Which Depth Or Which Type?

Tell us the species, the run length and how close the barrier sits to the trunk, and we'll tell you whether to use a roll or panels and at what depth. Volume pricing on orders over $5,000. Shipping stays free at every quantity. Questions? Call (800) 524-4161.

Request A Written Quote