NDS SM-1220 root barrier sheet material roll

NDS root barrier sheet material product information diagram

Root barrier sheet material installed alongside a hedge and sidewalk

Sealant used to join root barrier sheet material ends

Root barrier sheet material roll standing upright

Root barrier sheet material set in a trench alongside hardscape

Backfilling gravel against installed root barrier sheet material

Root barrier sheet material installation in progress

Root barrier sheet material along a gravel edge

Root barrier sheet material surround application around a root ball

NDS SM-1220 Root Barrier Sheet Material

Name: NDS SM-1220 Root Barrier Sheet Material
Brand: NDS
SKU: SM-1220
Price: 119.62 USD
Availability: InStock

SKU SM-1220

$119.62 - $119.62

$119.62

$119.62 - $119.62

$119.62

Free Shipping

NDS · Root Barrier Sheet Material · Model SM-1220

A 12″ × 20′ roll of molded HDPE root barrier sheet material with vertical root-deflecting ribs. Installed vertically between a tree and the pavement, foundation or services you are protecting, it creates both a water and a root barrier — and the ribs steer approaching roots downward rather than along the face. Cuts to any length with a utility knife, and suits linear runs alongside hardscape or a surround around a single root ball.

Roll Size: 12″ × 20′20 linear feet per roll
Minimum Order: 6 rollsShips from regional stock
Thickness: .040–.060″Molded HDPE
Face: RibbedRibs face the root ball

Water barrier as well as a root barrier
Ribs steer roots downward
Cuts to any length
Made in the USA
Free shipping on all orders

Minimum order: 6 rolls. Install the barrier 2″ above finished grade to stop roots crossing over the top, and secure joints with 6″ landscape staples if the ends are not compacted with soil.

Free Shipping - Please submit a Quote Request for quantities larger than listed below.

Quantity	Price Per Unit (Free Shipping)
1	$119.62
2+	$113.64
3+	$107.66
10+	$101.68

01 NDS · SM Series

Root Barrier Sheet Material For Linear And Surround Planting

Root barrier sheet material is molded HDPE supplied on a 20-foot roll, installed vertically between a tree and whatever its roots would otherwise reach. It creates both a water and a root barrier, preventing the costly damage to pavements, roads and building foundations that water and roots cause when they follow the loose backfill under a slab.

What separates it from a plain sheet is the vertical root-deflecting ribs molded into the face. Roots meeting a flat wall run along it looking for a way past; roots meeting a ribbed face are steered downward, below the depth where they can lift pavement. The rolls cut to any length with a knife, which makes them equally suited to a long linear run alongside a sidewalk or a ring around a single root ball.

20linear feet per roll — cut to any length

Four depths from 12″ to 36″, all on the same 20′ roll. Panel thickness runs .040″ to .060″.

02 Why it works

Ribs Steer Roots Down

The ribs only work if they face the right way. Installed with the vertical root-deflecting ribs toward the root ball, an approaching root is guided down the face instead of along it. Reversed, the barrier is just a smooth wall and the roots will hunt for its ends. This is the single most common installation mistake on ribbed barrier, and it is invisible once the trench is backfilled.

03 Choose a depth

Sizes And Minimum Order Quantities

Depth is set by how deep the roots you are stopping actually travel, which varies with species, soil and rainfall. Minimum order quantities differ by size — check the row before you plan an order.

Roll size	Model	Minimum order
12″ × 20′	SM-1220	6 rolls	View 12″ × 20′
18″ × 20′	SM-1820	4 rolls	View 18″ × 20′
24″ × 20′	SM-2420	4 rolls	View 24″ × 20′
36″ × 20′	SM-3620	30 rolls · 6–8 week lead time	View 36″ × 20′

The 36″ roll is a special order. It carries a 30-roll minimum and a 6–8 week lead time, so plan it into the schedule rather than treating it as a shelf item. The 12″, 18″ and 24″ rolls ship from regional stock.

04 Product data

Specifications

Series	SM — Root Barrier Sheet Material
Brand	NDS
Material	High-density polyethylene (HDPE)
Panel thickness	.040″ – .060″
Linear feet per roll	20
Depths	12″, 18″, 24″, 36″
Face	Vertical root-deflecting ribs
Cutting	Cut to any length
Origin	Made in the USA
Shipping	Free on every order

05 Where it goes

Applications

Anywhere roots or subsurface water would otherwise reach something expensive.

Sidewalks & pavements Roads & curb lines Building foundations Driveways Linear street tree planting Individual tree planting Retaining walls Buried services Patios & hardscape Planting beds

A water barrier as well as a root barrier — HDPE stops both.
Cuts to any length, so there is no waste on an odd run.
Suits linear or surround installations from the same roll.

06 Two ways to install it

Linear Or Surround

The same roll does both jobs. Which one you choose depends on whether you are protecting a structure or containing a tree.

	Linear application	Surround application
What it does	Shields a specific structure from roots approaching it	Contains the root ball, directing roots down and out
Where it goes	Directly alongside the hardscape being protected	Circled around the root ball at a distance allowing proper backfill
Rib orientation	Ribs face the tree	Ribs face the root ball
Joining	Overlap the ends to connect one raised rib	Overlap the ends to connect one raised rib
Typical use	Sidewalks, curbs, foundations, driveways	Individual tree planting, tree pits, planters

07 Installation

Five Steps

Cut to length. Cut the desired length of molded roll material with a utility knife. No specialist tooling is needed.
Set the barrier. For a linear run, install directly alongside the hardscape being protected. For a surround, circle the root ball at a distance that still allows proper backfill.
Face the ribs correctly. The vertical root-deflecting ribs must always face the root ball.
Join the ends. Overlap the ends to connect one raised rib. Use staples 2″ apart if needed, or compact with soil to secure both ends.
Backfill and finish. Back fill with existing native soil, then finish to grade without distorting the barrier.

Leave 2″ above grade. Always install the barrier 2″ above the finished grade to prevent roots crossing over the top — and so a surface root that tries can be seen and cut.

Backfill sizing matters. If gravel or crushed rock is needed for drainage, avoid material smaller than 3/4″ or larger than 1-1/2″. Fines clog and oversize stone distorts the sheet.

Add 6″ Landscape Staples

08 Other root barriers

Comparing Root Barrier Types

Sheet material is the flexible, cut-to-length option. Where the run is short and tight, or the job calls for a rigid modular panel or a chemical barrier, a different type may suit it better — the comparison hub covers all four side by side.

Compare All Root Barriers

09 Free shipping, every order

NDS Root Barrier Shipping Time:

NDS orders typically ship same day if the order is placed before 12:00 noon EST. Transit times displayed in the map are listed in business days, are approximate and are specific to this model number only. Transit days can increase up to a total of 5 business days if low stock is experienced at your closest warehouse (this is vary rare). The day that the order is shipped is not counted as a transit day.

The transit times displayed on the map are for standard ground shipping.

The 36″ roll is the exception. SM-3620 requires a 6–8 week lead time and carries a 30-roll minimum, so the transit map does not apply to it. For an exact estimate on any size, call (800) 524-4161 or submit a quote request.

NDS ground shipping transit time map of the United States in business days — NDS ground transit times in business days. Click to enlarge.

10 Documentation

Guides And Literature

Product information sheet

Sizes, rib detail and the linear and surround installation diagrams for the SM series.

View

Installation diagram

Linear and surround applications, rib orientation and the 2″ above-grade detail.

View

NDS landscape catalog

The full NDS landscape line, including the SM sheet material and EP panel ranges.

Download

11 For specifiers

Additional Technical Information

Root Barrier Sheet Material Guide Specification 4 13 15Word DOC
Root Barrier Sheet Material Sec 32 94 13Word DOC

12 Common questions

Root Barrier Sheet Material FAQs

Is there a minimum order?

Yes, and it differs by size. The 12″ roll has a 6-roll minimum, the 18″ and 24″ rolls a 4-roll minimum, and the 36″ roll a 30-roll minimum with a 6–8 week lead time. Check the size table above before planning an order.

Which way do the ribs face?

Toward the root ball, always. The vertical ribs are what steer roots downward rather than along the barrier, so a reversed sheet is functionally just a smooth wall. It is the most common installation error and cannot be seen once the trench is backfilled.

How deep should the barrier be?

Deep enough that roots cannot travel underneath it, which depends on the species, soil and rainfall on your site. Depths of 12″, 18″, 24″ and 36″ are available. If you are unsure, dig an exploratory hole to see where the roots actually run, or have an ISA-certified arborist assess it.

Can I cut it to length?

Yes — cut the desired length of molded roll material with a utility knife. Each roll holds 20 linear feet, and lengths join by overlapping the ends to connect one raised rib.

How do I join two lengths?

Overlap the ends so one raised rib is connected. Use staples 2″ apart if needed, or compact soil against both ends to secure them.

Why install it 2 inches above grade?

To stop roots crossing over the top of the barrier, which is the other way a correctly installed barrier gets defeated. A visible top edge also lets you spot and cut a surface root before it establishes on the far side.

What should I backfill with?

Existing native soil, then finish to grade. If drainage requires gravel or crushed rock, avoid material smaller than 3/4″ or larger than 1-1/2″, and take care not to distort the barrier as you fill.

Does it stop water as well as roots?

Yes. Because it is solid HDPE, the sheet creates a water barrier as well as a root barrier — which is part of why it protects pavements and foundations, where water movement does as much damage as roots.

How much does shipping cost?

Shipping is free on every order at Landscape Discount, on all four sizes.

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