[Knoblauch]

I am growing some veg right next to a  privet hedge, after I covered some of it with weed membrane the roots had really spread under it when removed and the land dug.

So what I am thinking of is using some left over pieces of pond liner, stapling them to stakes, and creating a vertical barrier of about 1ft to block off anything growing onto my veg patch.  Has anyone else ever done this, is it the best solution?

[elibump]

No idea but someone will be along soon who knows.  Honest!!    Sounds good to me BTW

[penance]

Do you mean a barrier to stop the spread of roots?

[Stree]

Would it not be easier just to leave more room between the hedge and the crop?

[sunshineband]

I am growing some veg right next to a  privet hedge, after I covered some of it with weed membrane the roots had really spread under it when removed and the land dug.

So what I am thinking of is using some left over pieces of pond liner, stapling them to stakes, and creating a vertical barrier of about 1ft to block off anything growing onto my veg patch.  Has anyone else ever done this, is it the best solution?

I tried to do this to stop the spread of roots of nettles etc from our school wildlife area into our neighbour's garden. Took ages pushing plastic into slit trenches with about six inches sticking up but it was a waste of  time really because roots worked their way under and over somehow.  :PNot sure about privet but I think I'd explore alternatives before undertaking this 

[8doubles]

I think that the plastic barrier would be more of a pain to dig close to than the the roots. Anyone who`s found a stray plastic sack when digging will know what i mean.

[sunshineband]

and didn't someone (sorry can't rmember who) say that wireworms seem to be attracted to plastic under the ground 

[tam]

Paving slabs sunk on their ends might be more effective

[PAH48]

Had a similar problem on my plot.
Managed to get hold of some corrugated strips 18-24", made from some sort of
clear fiberglass, anyhow buried them in an upright possition along the lenght
of the plot...that was 2 years back now and touch wood I've had no problems
since.
The hedge was/ is made up of brambles , elder ,nettles and
some sorta dog rose.
As I say so far so good....said bed has been dug over many times since...
seen nowt yet when digging.....

[Trillium]

I've done similar in my garden between me and the neighbour. Their couch kept crawling into my yard so I've got a combination of 4.5" high rigid plastic barrier, leftover strips of cut up metal garage door and galvanized gutter strips. Be sure to overlap well and tightly or roots will slip through those tiny gaps.

[Knoblauch]

Yes - to stop the roots and also ground elder originally in my garden but now in the neighbour's.

I like the last 2 ideas - in fact now I think of it there are some corrugated iron sheets sunk into the ground on the opposite side - looks pretty hideous though!

[Trillium]

Mine are mostly buried and the top bits quickly disappear when the flower plants in front start growing. At best, you can always paint the exposed bits with paint for metal in brown or green, or paint for plastic if using fibreglass.

[8doubles]

Mine are mostly buried and the top bits quickly disappear when the flower plants in front start growing. At best, you can always paint the exposed bits with paint for metal in brown or green, or paint for plastic if using fibreglass.

No Health and Safety in Canada then ? 

[Trillium]

Very much but I assumed the fibreglass panels referred to are the ripple type plasticky things. If we were to eliminate fibreglass then all car bodies would have to go, same with a lot of motor boats, lawn tractor and rotovator covers, etc. We live in a fibreglass world which is infinitely better than an asbestos world.

[8doubles]

Half buried in the plants it sounds like a trip over and 20 stitches in the face and arms job.