How to Use Landscape Fabric (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to use landscape fabric? ›

When laying landscape fabric, fuzzy side face down is the standard to capture soil moisture. Make sure to read the instructions on your landscape fabric to determine which side should touch the ground. Align the landscape fabric throughout your project space.

You should only use mulch on top of landscape fabric if you are using it in a permanent planting bed. It's important to understand that any soil or mulch that contains seeds that is placed on top of the landscape fabric will risk growing weeds on top of it.

Measure and mark out the weed barrier before it's installed, cutting holes where each of the plants is going to go in the bed. In this method, plants are placed first before the weed barrier is gently pulled over the top of them.

Yes, you can use landscape fabric to suppress weeds. It works by creating a barrier between the soil and the weed, preventing light and water from reaching the weed. Be sure to overlap the fabric and use a lot of pins to secure it in place. Additionally, you should remove existing weeds before installing the fabric.

Permeability - At the store, landscape fabric usually can be found in two forms: 1) a woven fabric created by weaving thin strips of plastic and 2) a spun fabric created using polyester fibers. These landscape fabrics are somewhat porous in both cases, meaning they allow water and air to move through.

Landscape fabrics are less effective when used under organic mulch such as wood chips or bark. As this mulch decomposes, it effectively creates a new layer of soil above the landscape fabric. Before long, weeds seeds will germinate and send roots through the fabric itself, making those weeds more difficult to uproot.

Landscape fabric damages soil fertility. Landscape fabric drives out microbes, earthworms, and other beneficial insects that maintain soil health. Exposed material can ruin your landscape aesthetic. Garden fabrics or inorganic mulch provide no nutritional value to soil.

Types Of Perennials That Can Grow Through Fabric

Perennial herbs are often tolerant enough to push up between rows of landscape fabric. This includes sage, oregano, thyme, lavender, chives and mint. Many flowering perennials such as daisies, poppies, and black-eyed Susan's will also thrive in these conditions.

Double-layer landscape fabric in the garden is never a good idea. It promotes unhealthy soil by preventing water, air and nutrients from entering the soil.

Will roots grow through landscape fabric? ›

In this process you may end up damaging the root systems of your landscape plants too, as tree, shrub, and perennial roots may also grow through the landscape fabric. Even if weeds are not an issue, landscape fabric seems to invariably become exposed.

Tuck the fabric underneath the edging, and then lay out the rocks or stones you want to use. Layer the rocks and add a little bit of gravel to protect the landscape fabric. Rake over the stones to ensure that they are distributed evenly. Make sure there are no spots where you can see the fabric.

To explain, the way that this fabric is installed is to be above the soil and below the mulch. Since the fabric is below the mulch, it will not prevent the growth of weeds in the mulch. The weeds are going to be prevented in the soil where they are deeply rooted.

A good rule to remember when installing landscape fabric is to set it a few inches close to the plant roots but never too close. It will warm up the soil too much during the summer season and inhibit the exchange of air, water, and nutrients.

Landscape cloth is like a thin rug. The slightly shiny side is meant to face up; the duller fuzzy side to face down, because that adheres well to the soil.

Cardboard makes an excellent, biodegradable, plant-friendly alternative to using conventional landscape fabric. Sheet mulching is what inspired the idea of using cardboard as a way to control growth of weed. Before using it, make sure to remove all staples, pins, tape and any inorganic material attached to the box.

Do you have to remove the old grass before putting ground cover on top of it? Yes. Grass is vigorous and will grow through just about anything. It's better to work with a clean slate than trying to deal with weeds poking through the ground cover.

Using landscape fabric or gravel can help prevent soil erosion, but it's important to note that no method is 100% foolproof.