Landscape Fabric Weed Control! We are achieving very good weed control using the landscape fabric for weed control. We installed the landscape fabric about 50 days ago and so far it is doing the job. The fabric we are using was chosen based on several criteria, including price, dimensions, light and rain penetration, durability, and ease of handling. We purchased one roll from Costco for about $30.00 with dimensions of 4′ X 200′ giving us 800 sq. ft. to work with. This seemed to be less expensive than other fabrics of similar dimensions that we evaluated, although it is thinner than some. This fabric allows both light and water to penetrate the surface. It is easy to cut with a pair of simple kitchen scissors, but is quite durable in resisting punctures, and tears. We walk on it regularly. I would estimate that it provides about 75% shade, which still allows enough direct sunlight for weed seed germination underneath the fabric. The weeds that germinated underneath have been unable to penetrate the fabric, with the exception of yellow and probably purple nutsedge. We have yellow nutsedge. If nutsedge appears anywhere in our lawn or garden, we pull it immediately. The nutsedge will pull through the fabric with minimal damage, if any, to the fabric. It is our intention to re-use the fabric as long as we can, as we reconfigure the garden from season to season and year to year. We can foresee layering new fabric over old fabric. The fabric is held down by landscape staples which are about 1 1/2 inches wide and 6 inches long. These can be a little bit pricy purchased in small packages, but the cost per stable can be reduced greatly if purchased in larger quantities from a supplier that sells to commercial landscapers. You will use more of them than you might first estimate. We do walk on the fabric, however it is important that you do not walk on it so close to the root zone that you compact the soil, especially when the soil underneath is wet or very moist. When you walk on the fabric you still need to do so when the soil is dry or limit your travel to narrow pathways like you would if the fabric was not there. You can place flat stones or flat bricks to make a stepping stone pathway which can also be used to hold the fabric in place.
[print_link]