Minimizing weed growth in garden bed is an issue for all gardener . There are several weed management practices available , one of which is the use of landscape fabric . The fabric is laid on the soil surface and mulched over , to keep the germination of surface weeds and weed seeds . The idea of hold what looks like a relatively permanent solution to break off dope emergence is very likeable . However , there are drawbacks . We will explore the options and present some of the good and not - so - good use of this product .
What is Landscape Fabric ?
There are a variety of landscape painting fabric product on the marketplace . Agricultural fabric ( photograph above ) is used to hold down weed growth in areas around crop plant . This is a exclusive year use of a plastic product that can make sense to minimize weed growth , albeit in an unsustainable way .
The landscape material that is sometimes used as a smoke roadblock in non - agricultural gardens is typically a woven charge plate or a spun polyester fabric . It is marketed using claims of a retentive - term power to suppress sens while allowing air and water to permeate through it , providing a honest soil environment for plants . It is sold in rolls at garden centers and is wide used by commercial landscape gardener . It can offer a scant - term weed direction result when installed straightaway on the soil and cover with an organic mulch .
Does Landscape Fabric Do What It Claims ?
The fabric does prevent sess growing for a while and its claims about pee and aviation insight are valid , initially . The idea that it provides a “ forever ” locoweed solution is misleading .
The material allows water and air to move through it for a short period , but it becomes progressively clogged with soil particle , diminishing air and water permeableness . finally some weed from the soil beneath the fabric will discontinue through and grow anyway . And , weed seeds blowing onto the surface mulch will germinate above the material as the mulch breaks down . If the mulch used is the fine grind type unremarkably used commercially , it disintegrate during the first year , give up surface come to grow above the fabric . To make matter worse , stem from surface dope can penetrate downward through the fabric creating a gage - deplume challenge that can jerk the fabric to the Earth’s surface , creating coverage and appearance exit . In addition , trying to plant through the fabric , which typically require cutting it with a cut pawn , is thwarting at well . Finally , the fabric degrades when exposed to the sun , ultimately depositing plastic into the soil .
The photo above demonstrate a bed ( from a neighbor ’s lot , not mine ) that was cover with landscape painting fabric and then mulch with 2 inches of finely ground hardwood mulch a small less than two years ago . The mulch has decomposed and fret , exposing the textile , showing how the aerofoil weed seeds germinated in the remaining mulch and that the roots grew through the framework into the soil below . The bottom line is that landscape painting fabric is at best a shortsighted term weed deterrent that is cursed with many longer - terminus issues that make its exercise in garden beds ill - advised .
What is the beneficial weed command alternative ?
There is no known way to prevent weed growth forever . Weeds are subsister that are rugged if not unimaginable to eliminate . There are practice however that can minimize weed issues if applied cautiously and regenerate as needed .
There are chemic and herbicidal weed killers available . They can kill weeds but conduct other health and environmental drawback and are not urge here . Some more desirable resolution are listed below .
One possible action is to mechanically remove sess prior to mulching to minimize immediate growth of surface locoweed . When overlay with a thick constitutive mulch this praxis can avail cut back weed generation . I have had succeeder using a stirrup hoe to cut Mary Jane more or less below the soil surface and below the plant cap , most often killing the sens while leaving the organic matter from its ancestor to break up in the ground .
A more strong-growing option is to utilise newspaper , a few sheets thick and overlap a bit , to cover the bed , and then mulch liberally on top of it . This allow a short terminus weed roadblock but will at long last permit air , water supply and critter to move through to the soil control surface . As the mulch decomposes , it will bestow organic subject and food to the soil . pick out the newspaper with some care . Colored printing is ok , but do n’t use glossy newspaper publisher which has too many undesirable components . Rolls of landscape painting or construction newspaper are also appearing in home melioration and garden supply establishment as the public desire to keep plastic out of the soil addition .
Single thickness cardboard , overlapped to avoid gaps for sess to pass through , is another likely weed barrier . It takes longer to break up than the newsprint but will break down in a year or two . Moisten the reason and the cardboard prior to adding mulch . Be sure to remove plastic tape and label from cardboard and do n’t utilize any glossy Cartesian product .
Use of coarsely ground wood chips or arborist waste as mulch allow a longer permanent cover than fine ground wood mulches . When a thick layer is applied ( expert typically paint a picture 3 to 6 column inch ) , it provides protection against extensive dope outgrowth , although it must be supplement , typically per year , to keep on to be successful . Most commercial-grade landscape architect seem to use the fine - priming mulch materials that look dainty and smell honorable but disintegrate quickly and give in to surface - seed - mother mourning band growth within the first year . Coarser chips may be viewed as less stylish , but they offer better air and moisture permeability and a importantly longer life .
Other mulch possibilities include pine acerate leaf , straw , and shredded leaves . They break down faster than wood chips and have a different esthetic but can help restrain skunk growing , specially if a layer 4 to 6 inches thick is applied .
Use of non - organic mulches ( charge plate and India rubber ) and rock mulch are not recommend . Covering the open with organic fabric that will ultimately demote down and beef up the soil is a far more sustainable approach .
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It ’s good not to haunt over weeds . We have discussed a duet of round-eyed ways to start a layer without major weed infiltration in the first year , but weed growth is essentially inevitable over time . Using paper - ground ground report along with a sound layer of coarsely ground wood or other constitutive mulch is a pragmatic way to minimize weed invasions , although it will call for regrooming periodically to maintain the bed ’s appearance .
In any case , non - organic landscape painting fabric , while it may start out off appear successful , inevitably causes problems with weed growth , soil precondition , and flora health . As usual , summate organic material to the soil provides the best solution for long term horticulture success .
SOURCES :
Featured Photo : Weeds and tree shoots growing through landscape fabric . Photo : R Morini
The disadvantage of landscape fabric | Illinois Extension | UIUC
Landscape Fabric | Nebraska Extension ( unl.edu )
“ The Myth of Landscape Fabric,”Microsoft Word – B&B # 17 – landscape cloth.doc ( wsu.edu)(Linda Chalker - Scott , Ph.D. , Extension Horticulturist and Associate Professor , Puyallup Research and Extension Center , Washington State University )
Putting an End to My Landscape Fabric Nightmare ( psu.edu )
Should I utilize landscape fabric to keep weeds out of my perennial garden ? | Extension ( unh.edu )
Knowing Better : The Appropriate Use of Landscape Fabric | Extension Marketing and Communications ( ncsu.edu )
Landscape Fabric : A Good Option for Controlling gage ? | Gardening in the Panhandle ( ufl.edu )
Mulches for Home Grounds – 7.214 – Extension ( colostate.edu )
