Should you use landscape fabric? What causes it to fail? Are there any alternatives to a synthetic weed barrier? What should be considered as a long term solution?
Landscape or weed fabrics create an impassible barrier that stops the upwards growth of plants from underneath. For this barrier to work properly though, an application of mulch is needed. As a short term solution for reclaiming a weedy bed, the fabric can help you out.
DISADVANTAGES OF LANDSCAPE FABRIC:
Synthetic weed barriers can accomplish a task, but they are no silver bullet. Wood based mulches are biodegradable, so they slowly break down, forming a layer of soil. That upper layer can be a perfect rooting medium for fresh weed seeds. Before long, you may start to see that your beds are just as weedy as they were before.
All the while the microbial processes that rejuvenate your soil are being hindered by this synthetic, barrier. Earthworms and various arthropods cannot freely pass from below the soil up to the surface.
Your perennial plants become girdled as they grow wider and wider. Clumping and rhizomatous plants get trapped underneath. And creeping or layering plants cannot properly root as they get entangled in the fabric.
A BIODEGRADABLE ALTERNATIVE:
A free, biodegradable alternative is simple old cardboard. This idea is a form of sheet mulching. In permaculture, sheet mulching can be done to reclaim an area of land that might have been weedy or even covered with grass.
Cardboard is applied. Then a layer of mulch. In creating a highly fertile site, a gardener may put several layers of materials. Leaves, compost, grass clippings, straw, etc. But in more conventional landscape applications, it would certainly work to just put a wood based mulch.
Weeds or grasses will be unable to pass up through the cardboard. With the inclusion of mulch you smother these unwanted plants, making way for new plantings. Over time, that cardboard is eaten by earthworms and won’t interfere with biological processes.
LONG TERM STRATEGY:
Do you want to reduce mulching requirements? How can you keep out weeds? Nature abhors a vacuum. So your final landscape or garden should be designed in a way that fills those large empty spaces.
Plan out multiple layers of trees, bushes, shrubs and herbal plants. Allowing these to fill in your beds, choking out any weeds that make their way into your property. To cover large areas of ground, without relying on grass, consider using ground covers.
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46 Comments
Thanks buddy
But doesn’t this Block earth worms, etc?
An alternative to cardboard is a 10 sheet layer of newspaper. You may even be able to get a good supply from your local newspaper seller. They don't return unsold newspapers so you should be able to get them for free next day.
Great idea! I use many layers of newspaper and flyers from the recycle bin with lots of mulch on top 😁
Does this work with rock landscaping too?
Did you put the cardboard over the weeds?
Thanks all words has a meaning! No dig garden is great:)
Around the foundation of my house, where rain doesn't fall and there is no natural moisture, I had planned to put down landscape cloth and then lava rock. I thought that if I wanted any decorative plants there, I could add potted plants with saucers on top of the lava rock. Would there be any problems with this?
Do you take the cardboard out later? Or does it stay? This might be a dumb question. 😅
What about Japonese knotweed?😵💫😄
I REALLY THINK YOU
AL: Nice video! With the knowledge you've presented here, I am seeking your advice! Here in Colorado water is expensive. I bought some thick fabric with the intent to do xeriscaping in sections in my front yard. It entails tons of rocks placed over the fabric. Much work I know…Many residences do this here. SHould I get the thickest fabric? Use a strong weed killer underneath the fabric for a week or two? People spend so much money to do their yard yet keep getting weeds and not removing them. Any suggestions or ideas please? Thank You very much! Jeff
My lilac and crepe myrtle roots are now on top of the fabric (cloth and plastic) and the deteriorated mulch is like sand. Somehow I don't think that's very composty – not nourishing. Keep covering w/more mulch. And, I keep getting pokeberry growing up within and close around the crepe myrtle and lilac since that's where the soil is. Very difficult to get out w/o poisoning it – very carefully. Fabrics were here when I moved in; I would never use it. But, hey, I'm old so what do I know. I'm back to cutting the darn stuff up and tearing it out. You have to weed it or spray it so why not enjoy flowers which are difficult to have with the fabrics in place? Fabric – another great idea like rabbits in Australia and loosestrife in the USA.
fabric my landscaper put down, now i can’t dig to plant flowers! i hate it!
Thanks aah kid nice to see the colonials thinking about gardening over there, don’t normally see any gardening on the USA sourced programming. I’ve actually got the same problem that you’ve described in that we have a large garden area with fruit trees from an ancient orchard , trees, very old, then overtaken with huge brambles. I’d just left the RAF but soon after this I developed an arthritic hip which meant any efforts I did could not overtake the progress of our burgeoning blackberry brambles problem, we decided to completely clear the garden using a local landscaper, so out went the brambles and trees found the whole garden was completely clay zone, so we got them to lay, you’ve guest it a good quality weed fabric to stop the brambles from coming up again, layered on top with a layer of chipping”s. We were left with a wide area of chipping”s.
Now we’re trying to re landscape it with a large pond, a raised bed under one of the apple trees, a good old russet my mum used to like the taste of, and some metal sheds for storage purposes.
We had a different landscaper lay out paths using self binding grit and sand because it lets through the rain to the under soil. We also have a bent tear drop shaped patch still with the weed suppressor and chipping’s left to sort out. Guess what I’ve been collecting for a while. Yep all the cardboard I can collect, cut up the suppressor and expose the clay soil so I can lay down the cardboard and lay an addition some thin tree limbs and leaves also collected just for this job. I will have to get some topsoil and compost to lay over the top of this lot to make a lower raised bed which the worms will re invigorate and I will plant a my collected trees, bushes shrubs, bananas, and plants to make a shrubbery to walk around.
All this just to validate with you my acquired idea of using cardboard and wood chips to make a new fertile garden bed. Oh! I’m going to try to break down the clay with gypsum, compost the wood chips and leaves.
Wish me luck luck Albo I’m going to need it.
Cheers aah kid
What about Preen
I have heard that if you have a black walnut tree, you can gather up the green husks and put them in 5 gallon buckets, fill it with water and let it set–and it'll make a weed killer…since blackwalnuts tend to suppress a lot of vegetation beneath them.
Would appreciate your advice how to keep weeds to a minimum, back yard Bed approx 30’x6’, sandy soil, golfers as visitors. No interest to grow any thing in the soil. Can have plants in containers an other type decorative ideas for the coverage of the bed.In my research and observation, I have come across pathways and beds covered with decomposed granite 2 1/2” thick, or fine pebbles that I see in your garden. And perhaps lay thick cardboard underneath as you have done. One Gardner has suggested this idea, also to roll down/compress the bed and use wood/metal/ plastic edgers for boundary.
I would appreciate your advice.
Thanks
Oscar Dias, San Francisco.
Raondup is cancerous and long lasting toxic chemical . I wont eat anything grown near this chemical used
Wow, a wealth of valuable information and tips! Thank you so much for your content.
When I fenced off a short area for a garden… buckets, pots….I tacked down roll roofing. I did not want any grass, weeds. Covered whole thing with mulch. Then put the pots and plants in the garden.. I have zero grass, weeds. That worked for me. I had weed barrier. It is worthless. Burlap is better.
I was told dont put wood mulch near your house as termites will come
How about newspaper?
HOT WATER AND VINEGAR, keep the cloth for arrears that you want no growth, pathways and driveways
I have steps just put in by a worker. How can I keep them from deteriorating in the rains? Ideas?
Now you wouldn’t use wood mulch in veggie garden on top cardboard? Other ideas.? I’ve used straw .
why would panels of vinyl siding work and cover with rock
Boy am I happy I came across your video. Well done. Can’t wait to start collecting cardboard
I used cardboard and it became a breeding place for wasp. Yikes! Looks like the movie! BIRDS.
But…but…I didn't get to see the rest of your shirt! It looks so funny! Seriously though, this is the only method I feel can really sustain the soil. And even though you have to remove the mulch once or twice per year, seems totally worth it compared to constantly weeding!
Cardboard has been the best thing I've found. It even kept off horsetail weed for a season or two. I put landscape fabric in 2 areas. It screwed up the bed with all sorts of weeds it didn't have the year before.
won't the cardboard attract termites?
So how do the roots and worms get through the cardboard. Where will the water drain if you put cardboard in a bed?
Awesome
No drainage
Instead of the dreadful "Roundup" pour on white vinegar!
Cardboard will decompose quickly.
beautiful ty!
Brilliant video mate 👏 . So simply explained that even the most novice gardeners will be able to understand the horticultural reasons of why you would take this approach. Very well done 👍
Living in the desert in AZ…many here have rock or gravel.which deveops weed issues. Because of high winds from monsoons..weed fabric ..cardboard..newspaper and mulch are not an option. It blows to neighboring yards creating neighbor and HOA issues. .My husband had been using salt and vinegar which not only kills weeds but the soil becomes the wrong ph to grow anything…salt can destroy ph up to 4 years. Great for gravel areas with Potted plants. Great for environment. Some weeds are very stubborn and require 3 or 4 applications…but then are gone for 6 months to years! NOTE..this method will kill your lawn or any plants.
Absolutely brilliant! I’m definitely going to try this next Spring! Thanks for the informative video!
Thanks mate weeds at mine been driving me crazy
If you need cardboard go to any warehouse and they will almost certainly give you some.
I have a large front yard, should I use cardboard to cover my whole yard? And then add mulch.
I'm a garden rookie and this was very useful!
I plan on adding flowers to the front & back yard because it's needs some color. The last tenants did absolutely nothing to these yards! Mine & my neighbor's yard are the only ones that look very sad lol
Because of this video, I did this. It worked so much better. BUT it didn't help the damn tree suckers. THANKS.