I cannot believe this stuff is sold as “weed control.” It does not do that at all. It’s so mind-boggling how the industry has managed to convince so many people that this is a necessary part of landscaping. It’s literal garbage in your yard.
I saw this in a store the other day and want to try to get out ahead of this for spring garden planning. Don’t use it.
I see this stuff in clients’ yards all the time and it can be a real mess. Not all “fabric” is the same but the end result is NOT no weeds. It’s often a tangled mass of roots and plastic, the soil is in terrible shape and so are the plants. It’s hard to dig into it to put new plants in and there are lots of weeds. Not a great plan. Avoid it unless you are working with stone. This can include paths but guess what—you’re still going to have weeds.
Alternatives: 1. Mulch—either bark mulch or wood chips, both of which will break down over time and offer nutrients to your plants. I suggest 2”-3”. Weed BEFORE putting mulch down if you can because most of them can come up right through it if they’re already there. 2. “Living” mulch (plants). There are limited places for weed seeds to land and germinate you won’t have a lot of weeds. This can take a long time to establish but worth the investment 3. Some people put down cardboard and then mulch, to extend the effectiveness of that. (Don’t use cardboard with shiny, colorful coating because it can have chemicals in it. And some others do as well so look into this.)
About me: I’m a garden coach and consultant in zone 6 in the Boston area but almost all of the principles I talk about are applicable to any garden. Go here to schedule consultations, download pruning guides and more: Website:
#youcandoitgardening
Should You Use Landscape Fabric? Absolutely Not For Country: United States. City: Cypress, Dallas, Green Bay, Santa Clara, Santa Rosa
