When it comes to ways to tackle weeds, a landscape fabric is among the top options. However, many gardeners have pointed out that it may not be the ideal weed control strategy.
In this post, we’ll delve into why landscapers feel it may be more trouble than it’s worth.
1. Weeding Becomes Complicated
Landscape fabric does not stop 100% weed growth. Some weeds will penetrate through the fabric, and over time, you may have more significant weed problems than before.
What’s worse, the only way to get rid of the weeds is to remove the entire fabric.
2. It Can Lead to Soil Compaction
Loose and crumbly soil allows the easy passage of air, water, and nutrients to the plants for optimum growth.
After installing a landscape fabric, you may notice that the soil becomes rigid and compact, doing more harm than good to your plants. The hard soil can also make digging and planting more difficult!
3. There Is Little Room for Adjustment
Do you move some of your annuals to a different area on your landscape every year? Or perhaps you prefer your plants to reseed themselves.
Transplanting or reseeding may not be easy with a landscape fabric in place. Poking holes in the fabric to accommodate essential changes in your gardens may render it ineffective in the long run.
4. It Contains Harmful Chemicals
The most common landscape fabrics available are made of petroleum and other non-biodegradable products.
Unsurprisingly, gardening experts warn against using petroleum products around plants, especially around edibles like vegetables.
5. It is Expensive to Install
Many landscapers agree that installing landscape fabric is expensive, whether for a small flower garden or a large yard.
The fabric, labor, time, and additional materials like pins required to keep it in place are some of the costs associated with the installation.
What Are The Alternatives to Landscape Fabric?
If you’re ready to replace the landscape fabric with another viable weed control method, here are some better alternatives you can consider:
- A thick layer of wood mulch — try shredded wood mulch for the best results.
- A layer of cardboard or newspaper.
- Organic weed control methods such as corn gluten or salting.
- Regular weeding.
- Herbicide applications — highly recommended products include Roundup and Preen.
A landscape fabric may have its place in weed control, but its cons far outweigh its benefits. For this reason, we highly recommend that you consider other pocket-friendly alternatives that help you tackle weeds effectively and protect your soil and plants.
Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.