Even The Best Landscape Fabric Has Its Limitations



Posted: Tuesday, November 21, 2006

by
The Landscape Design Site

Landscaping fabrics can be an extremely helpful tool for puting together easy low maintenance gardens and landscapes. However, Consumers are often mislead into believing that it will do more than it actually will.

If you've looked into it at all, you've probably found a lot of different and conflicting information in reference to the use of weed barrier and its realistic abilities.

As a general practice, my own company uses landscaping fabrics in almost every garden we construct. And we always brief the design client about exactly what kind of results they'll see. And while we use nothing but the highest quality weed barrier on the market, even it has its limitations.

As a do it yourselfer or homeowner, here's what you should expect from a high quality professional landscape fabric.

First, weed barrier, or should I say, quality weed barrier only stops weed seeds and grass roots that are already present in the soil. They do absolutely nothing for seed that is blown or washed in. There's nothing that will prevent this from happening.

Regardles of what kind of barrier you choose to apply, the only way to get rid of weeds that takes root is good old fashioned pulling and poisoning. Weed and grass seeds can take root even if there is zero dirt in your groundcover. I've seen roots spread out for several feet and thrive under decorative rock while growing right on top of the landscape fabric.

You can also be prepared for undesireable weeds that already exist in the soil to try and come out through any opening. Regardless of how well you install the cloth, seeds or roots that are already present in the soil will grow and make it to the top surface.

Even though it has its limitations, I still suggest that you use fabric in all groundcover areas that you don't want to spend a lot of time in weeding. There's no such thing as a no maintenance landscape. However, by using weed barrier in these areas, what little weeding that will be required is very minimal compared to maintaining an entire landscape.

Simply be aware of what its capable of before you put your trust in it.

Written by Steve Boulden. Steve is the creator of The Landscape Design Site.com which offers free landscaping advice to do it yourselfers and homeowners. For more information on landscape fabric, visit his site at: http://www.the-landscape-design-site.com/landscapefabric.html

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