BioBarrier is a durable, flexible geotextile fabric studded with nodules of trifluralin. Once installed, it creates a protected zone around your hardscape and landscape where roots and weeds simply stop advancing. Trifluralin has more than 40 years of agricultural use behind it, and BioBarrier’s toxicity rating is lower than caffeine, table salt, aspirin or lipstick.
Two systems, one fabric
Root control. Installed between the tree and the structure you want to protect, BioBarrier redirects roots away from the zone while roots outside the barrier keep growing naturally — no damage to the tree.
Weed control. Used like a landscape fabric under two inches of mulch, gravel or soil, BioBarrier stops vegetation above and below the fabric. It replaces repeated trimming and herbicide spraying in hard-to-reach areas.
Where it is used
- Roads, sidewalks, curbs and paved parking areas
- Building foundations, underground reservoirs and below-ground structures
- Septic systems and sewer lines threatened by tree roots
- Hydro and telecom substations, pipelines and antenna sites
- Guardrails, fencing, medians, playgrounds and flower beds
- Phragmites and invasive vegetation control
No project is too big or too small: BioBarrier is installed everywhere from a single flower bed to a 70,000 sq. ft. Hydro-Québec power station.
Documents & case studies
- Toxicity classification
- VIA Rail — vegetation control
- Septic system — tree roots
- Hydro-Québec — 7 years later
- Phragmites control, Joliette QC
- Protecting paved roads from roots
- Green roof, Ajax ON
- Golf course putting surface
PDF downloads
- BioBarrier overview video
- Toxicity classification
- Brief description
- Brochure
- Installation guidelines
- 40 years of protecting structures & landscapes
- How BioBarrier works
- BioBarrier effective life
- FAQ
- Material safety data sheet
- Commercial label
- Domestic label
- Scientific American — protecting an archaeological site
- Chattanooga, Tennessee finds success with BioBarrier
- Davey Tree report
- Zimmerman report
- Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories
- Canada — PMRA approval
- TYPAR product selection chart
Projects & installations
2 photosVIA Rail — vegetation control along the tracks (project 2)
Typar BioBarrier was installed under the ballast during a bridge rebuild for VIA Rail, keeping the track structure free of weeds and brush for years without herbicide. The…
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4 photosVIA Rail — railway bridge approaches (project 1)
Brush growing at the approaches of railway bridges creates fire hazards, blocks inspections and drives up maintenance. BioBarrier was laid over the prepared subgrade before the ballast went…
See more →More case studies (PDF)
- Septic system 2 — tree roots
- High rise building roof — vegetation control
- Septic system 1 — tree roots
- Preventing tree roots from damaging a paved road
- Phragmites control, Joliette QC
- West Windsor Hydro — vegetation control
- Steep slope application for weed control
- BC Hydro — Lynn Valley substation
- Vertical installation for invasive roots
- 7 years later — Hydro-Québec, Shawinigan
- Hydro-Québec — 70,000 sq. ft. power station
- Hydro-Québec power station, Schefferville
- Hydro-Québec power station, Sorel
- Root system, Vaudreuil QC
- Weed control, Laval QC
- Levee
- Playground
- Guardrail for Transport Québec
- Vinegar tree roots invading a swimming pool
- Park stands and bleachers
- Soucy Park, Delson QC
- Ultramar service station, Mascouche
- Ultramar service station, Piedmont
- Ultramar St-Laurent pipeline
- Astral communications antennas
- Electrified fences for Transport Québec
- Bell, Rogers and Vidéotron telecommunications sites
- Underground reservoir for a school
- Gaz Métro natural gas pressure reduction stations
- Weed free barrier for Agropur
- Municipal park in Montreal
- Metal grills
- Green roof, Ajax ON
- Phragmites control, Beauharnois
- Phragmites control, Bois-des-Filion
- Medians
- Golf course putting surface
- High Street project, Surrey BC
- Controlling plant growth, St-Laurent
- Flower mosaics
- Fire hydrants
- Bicycle path — Route verte
- Septic field
- Below ground structures
- Sewer pipes
- Building foundation, Montreal
- Building foundation, Ottawa
- Flower bed, Pincourt
- Flower bed, St-Laurent
- Flower bed, Val-David
- Grass does not grow, but weeds do — Pincourt
- Driveways & walkways
- Field horsetail
- Spruce tree roots
- Swimming pool, Dollard-des-Ormeaux
- Swimming pool, Gatineau
- Swimming pool, London