It’s best to consult or hire a horticulturist for this step. If the roots are pruned too close to the root ball or too much, it could kill the tree. [4] X Research source
You could use concrete as an alternative.
If you go with plastic, choose a root barrier that’s at least 0. 060 inches (0. 15 cm) thick and made from polypropylene, polyethylene, or polystyrene. [12] X Research source
If you want to learn how to stop tree roots from growing back, a chemical root barrier is your answer.