Landscape fabric can be an effective solution for controlling weeds. Although, not everyone would agree since weeds sometimes sprout even with it installed. Like all weed control methods, landscape fabric is not a guarantee.
But, if a quality material is purchased and correctly installed, there will be fewer weeds than without the fabric. It will also be much easier to remove weeds or grass because the roots will not be deep. Below are our tips for using landscape fabric in different garden areas.
Rock Beds
Using a heavy-duty, non-woven, professional-grade fabric is recommended because it should weather through several seasons. This will increase the longevity of your landscaped area. It will also help resist punctures from sharp edges and keep any weeds under the soil from puncturing through. When installing rocks, be careful not to add unnecessary gravel or dirt, which could create a viable surface for weeds or grass to grow.
Flower Beds
Flower beds need water to flow through the fabric. So a woven, lightweight fabric is recommended to allow water, nutrients, air, and light to reach the roots. We still recommend buying a quality, durable landscape fabric to reduce holes or weeds from puncturing through. Weed or grass seeds may blow into the top layer of mulch, wood chips, etc. But weeds will be much easier to remove.
Tree and Shrub Areas
Trees and shrubs will also need a lighter-weight, woven fabric to allow water, nutrients, and air to penetrate the surface. However, unless there is a frequent planting of flowers around the trees and shrubs, a slightly heavier grade of fabric should be used to increase the longevity of the landscaped areas.