How to Use Landscape Fabric to Control Weeds
Landscape fabric seems to be the perfect solution to keep weeds from appearing in your yard. It lasts a long time, is easily trimmed to fit any room size, and is relatively inexpensive. But even though this substance is used all over the country, few homeowners know how to use it properly. Here’s what you need to know about best practices, when and how to use landscape fabric, plus key maintenance tips. And if fabric isn’t the best choice for your situation, there are also a few alternatives to consider.
Landscape fabric, also known as weed barrier or weed control fabric, is typically used to repel weeds while allowing the movement of moisture both in and out of the soil. However, it is not a permanent solution to controlling weeds (nature will find a way). Even if you use landscape fabrics, you still have some weeding to do.
Where to use landscape fabric
It is best to use landscape fabric under inorganic materials such as rocks, gravel or sand. Landscape fabrics are less effective when used under organic mulch such as wood chips or bark. As this mulch decomposes, it effectively forms a new layer of soil over the landscape fabric. After a short time, weed seeds will germinate and send roots through the tissue itself, making these weeds more difficult to uproot. However, when leaves and other plant debris accumulate on inorganic materials such as gravel, the resulting tiny nests of soil can also be enough for weeds to gain a foothold.
If you’re thinking of using landscape fabric over existing weeds and grass to smother it, it’s not recommended. The area you wish to cover should be cleared of all vegetation first to prevent tough weeds from poking through the material. Once holes in the fabric have been opened up, they create an opportunity for more grass to settle.
Landscape fabric has limited use in annual and perennial gardens where you plan to do a lot of digging and add soil amendments like compost. It is easiest to use in places where you don’t want anything to grow, e.g. B. under a terrace or landscape paving stones. You can also use it in smaller areas, e.g. B. Around a tree where you intend to tear up the fabric and replace it every few years.
How to install Landscape Fabric
Most types of landscape fabric are made from a variety of organic, synthetic, and recycled materials and can last for several years. Weed barriers are available in a variety of thicknesses and durability, so care should be taken when deciding which one is right for your intended use. To avoid common issues and get the most out of the product, learn how to properly install Landscape Fabric here.
Step 1: Prepare the ground
Landscape fabrics should be applied to bare ground, so all weeds and other vegetation should be removed as necessary. If the area is to be planted, mix in any fertilizer, compost, and other soil amendments. Then level the ground to avoid holes and depressions that can collect water and cause drainage problems.
Step 2: Lay out the fabric
After the area has been prepared, measure out the amount of fabric you will need to cover it. Be sure to leave a few inches of overhang on all sides. Lay the fabric on the surface of the earth so that the edges of the pieces overlap by 6-8 inches. This keeps weeds from growing through the seams and allows for a little movement.
Step 3: Attach to the floor
One of the biggest mistakes people make when using landscape fabric is not securing it with anything other than mulch. If the mulch collapses or shifts, unsecured fabric can shift and become an eyesore. Use landscape pins, also known as garden pegs, to secure the fabric to the ground. About a foot between the pins is enough to hold the fabric in place. Excess fabric along the edges can be folded back or buried in the ground.
Step 4: Add Plants (Optional)
If you’re planning a new garden in the area, place your plants on the secured fabric where you plan to grow them. Then cut holes in the fabric just big enough to fit into the plant’s root ball, leaving the pieces of fabric still partially attached. Cut-outs can be slit down the center and after the plants have been placed the fabric can be redone around the plants to avoid exposing the soil around the base of the plants.
Step 5: Add toppings
After all plants are placed, add bark mulch, gravel, rocks, etc. across the tissue at a depth of about two to three inches. Water all plants, directing the water to their base.
maintenance tips
Over time, landscape fabrics degrade, crack, and in some cases biodegrade. Annual maintenance is key to keeping the weed barrier safe and functioning. If metal pins rust or break, replace them as needed to keep the fabric in place. As organic mulches degrade, they should also be removed and replaced. Regularly remove leaves and debris that build up on inorganic mulches to prevent them from giving weeds a place to grow. Eventually your landscape fabric will wear out to the point where it will no longer stop weeds and you will need to remove it and replace it when necessary.
Landscape fabric alternatives
Some planting styles can reduce or even eliminate the need for landscape fabrics. In semi-natural gardens, for example, the plants are grown close together to block weed competition. Another alternative for landscape fabrics is to use cover crops. Also known as “green manure,” cover crops not only help deter weeds, they add nutrients and organic matter to the soil after you’ve finished growing.