How To Use Landscape Fabric In A Raised Bed (2024)

You use landscape fabric to improve the look of your outdoor space, but what about your raised bed garden? Can you use landscape fabric in a raised bed? You’d be surprised by the many ways to use landscape fabric in a raised bed garden. Read this guide to find out!

Contents [hide]

    Should you put landscape fabric in a raised bed? Why use landscape fabric under raised garden beds?
    • Prevents soil erosion in a raised bed Boosts the life of the raised bed Promotes water retention Prevents nutrient loss
  1. How to install landscape fabric in a raised garden bed?
    • Step 1: Measure the raised bed Step 2: Installing the liner Step 3: Work on the soil Step 4: Installing the landscape fabric on top of the raised bed

Should you put landscape fabric in a raised bed?

It depends on what you’ll use the landscape fabric for. The fact is, landscape fabric is not a necessity if say, you want to control weeds because the confined space makes it easier to control weeds. But, you can use landscape fabric as a raised bed liner for other reasons, such as preventing soil erosion or improving the life of the raised bed itself.

Why use landscape fabric under raised garden beds?

How To Use Landscape Fabric In A Raised Bed (1)

Landscape fabric is beneficial for raised garden beds, here are just a few of the many reasons why you should use landscape fabric for raised bed gardening:

Prevents soil erosion in a raised bed: As a liner, landscape fabric lets water drain away from the soil while leaving the soil intact. While raised garden beds have a wooden bottom, the soil could still wash away in nooks and crannies each time you water the plants. The landscape fabric works as a filter, letting water drain away while preventing soil particles from washing away whenever you water your plants.

Boosts the life of the raised bed: Landscape fabric minimizes wear and tear that could otherwise speed up the deterioration of the raised bed, boosting its integrity and increasing the structure’s life. The fabric works as a protective barrier against the plant roots, which can weaken the raised bed’s structure as the roots expand within the soil. The fabric also protects the raised beds from decay caused by exposure to moisture.

Promotes water retention: For looser soils that cannot hold water well, adding landscape fabric as a liner helps retain moisture for longer. Although made from permeable material, the fabric delays the water flow because it’s an added layer. Water doesn’t gush out of the raised bed as quickly.

Prevents nutrient loss: Soil loss from watering can lead to nutrient loss too. Using landscape fabric as a raised bed liner prevents erosion and minimizes nutrient loss risk. The liner is especially useful for maintaining water-soluble nutrients from the soil. The fabric won’t stop nutrients from being washed away, but water cannot gush out too quickly by holding the soil.

How to install landscape fabric in a raised garden bed?

How To Use Landscape Fabric In A Raised Bed (2)

Getting all the materials needed to make installation a breeze is essential. You can buy the materials separately or get our bundles here to build a raised bed garden much more quickly. We have different bundles to choose from:

Landscape fabric and heavy-duty staple bundle: 3″ x 50″ weed barrier landscape fabric with your choice of 8 or 11 gauge staples.

Raised garden bed bundles: your choice of raised garden bed design + herb kit, landscape fabric, and heavy-duty staples.

Raised Bed with Herb Garden Kit Bundle

Elevated Raised Bed with Herb Garden Kit Bundle

Tiered Raised Bed with Herb Kit Bundle

Once you have all the necessary materials, you can start the installation. Here is a step-by-step guide to installing landscape fabric into a raised garden bed:

Step 1: Measure the raised bed

Getting the measurements right is the most crucial part of installing landscape fabric. You need to know how much material and staples you’ll need per raised bed. So get your tape measure and start listing down the dimension of the raised bed. Allow some excess for good measure.

Step 2: Installing the liner

If you are installing the landscape fabric as a liner, cut the fabric according to the raised bed’s dimension and lay it out, fuzzy side down and the shiny side up. Go flush with the borders and set it in place with the raised bed staples. Don’t skimp on the staples because the liner could move and tear if you use too few.

Step 3: Work on the soil

After installing the landscape fabric as a liner, you can add a layer of gravel or rocks over it or simply fill the raised garden bed with soil. Once the raised bed is filled with soil, amend it with organic fertilizer, remove the weeds and other debris, and break compacted soil for a smoother, looser texture. Any soil amendments, do it before laying the landscape fabric on top of the soil.

Step 4: Installing the landscape fabric on top of the raised bed

Once done with the soil amendments, you can start laying the landscape fabric on the raised bed. Using a hand rake, level the soil surface; it should be smooth and flat. Lay the appropriate size of landscape fabric across the entire area, then use rocks to weigh the fabric down. Cut the excess but leave a few extra inches around the edges of the raised garden bed so you can set it in place with the staples.

After cutting the excess, get your mallet and hammer the staples. If there are existing plants, make X-cuts or holes using a utility knife or scissors so you can insert the plant through the fabric. Finish up with a 2 to 3 inches layer of mulch on top of the material.

If you use a herb kit, you can plant the seeds directly into the soil after filling the raised bed or grow the seedlings in a shallow dish and then transplant them afterward. Cutting the appropriate hole size is essential to give the seedlings room to grow.
As you can see, installing landscape fabric in a raised bed is easy; you can do it on your own using a few garden tools. It’s even easier to do if you have all the materials you need in one fantastic bundle. Check out our raised bed bundles here if you’re ready to transform your blank space into a raised bed garden.

How To Use Landscape Fabric In A Raised Bed (2024)

FAQs

Should I put landscape fabric in my raised garden bed? ›

Landscape fabric is beneficial for raised garden beds, here are just a few of the many reasons why you should use landscape fabric for raised bed gardening: Prevents soil erosion in a raised bed: As a liner, landscape fabric lets water drain away from the soil while leaving the soil intact.

What should you put at the bottom of a raised garden bed? ›

Start with a layer of landscape fabric to prevent soil from washing out. Above this, a layer of gravel or small stones can aid in drainage. Then, fill the bed with a mix of topsoil, compost, and other organic matter. This layered approach ensures good drainage while providing a nutrient-rich environment for plants.

Should I line my planter box with landscape fabric? ›

- Landscape fabric allows for proper drainage while also preventing soil from escaping through the gaps in the wood. - Place the landscape fabric inside the planter, making sure it covers the bottom and sides, with excess fabric hanging over the edges.

What are three mistakes to avoid when gardening with raised beds? ›

Seven Beginner Raised Bed Gardening Mistakes to Avoid
  • Picking The Wrong Spot.
  • Not Thinking About The Water Source.
  • Raised Beds Placed Too Close Together.
4 days ago

Is landscape fabric safe for vegetable gardens? ›

And yes, it's safe to use landscape fabric in a vegetable garden as long as it is installed correctly. Some growers use it to warm up the soil, so temperature-sensitive crops can grow and bear fruits beyond the growing season, while others do it to start the growing season early.

What are the cons of landscape fabric? ›

Landscape fabric inhibits water from getting to the roots of your plants. With fabric, plants are forced to grow roots along the surface directly under the fabric to get water. Plants will struggle and many will eventually die, 2.

How to fill a raised bed cheaply? ›

Fill the bottom half with broken branches, twigs and general forest waste. Add green material like grass clippings, weeds (without roots or seeds) comfrey cuttings, kitchen vegetable waste. Top up with 6 inches of topsoil and home-made compost mix.

What is the best material to line a raised garden bed? ›

“You can line your raised bed to make it more durable and to prevent toxics from leaching into the soil. For lining, use landscape fabric found at gardensupply stores or cloth fabric from clothing. Avoid non-porous plastic, as it can retain too much water and discourage beneficial insects and worms.”

Why put cardboard in raised beds? ›

It acts as a physical barrier to block out pernicious weeds. Usually, 2 – 3 layers of cardboard will suffice, though you may want layers in more weed-prone areas. The damp environment created by the cardboard is conducive to earthworms and other beneficial soil microorganisms.

Do you put soil on top of landscape fabric? ›

Landscape fabric works fine on its own, but it's usually best to cover it with a decorative mulch, rock, or other ground cover. The fabric separates the cover material from the soil, keeping stone and gravel clean and slowing the inevitable breakdown of organic mulch.

Will roots grow through landscape fabric? ›

Not a perfect system: Plant roots in search of air and water can grow through the cloth, breaking the weed barrier.

How deep should a raised garden bed be? ›

Vegetable Beds: On the other hand, when it comes to vegetable beds, the bed must be approximately 12 to 18 inches deep to ensure adequate depth for the roots of your plants. This is especially important if your raised bed is placed on cement or the patio, which will inhibit roots from growing deeper into the ground.

What are the disadvantages of raised garden beds? ›

The cons of raised beds

The soil mix also can be a significant, albeit one-time, expense. Raised beds need water more often since the soil is more exposed to air and dries quicker. Similar to growing in containers, the extra watering can leach nutrients out of the soil quicker than in-ground gardens.

How do I improve the soil in my raised garden bed? ›

With raised beds, as with any container garden, soil will settle and lose its key minerals over time. You can prevent this by adding an inch or two of compost layers or composted manure once a year. Do this each spring before you start planting to ensure a nutritious growing ground for your plants. Use soil amendments.

What is the problem with raised garden beds? ›

Cheap plastic or wooden beds can deteriorate over time, leaching chemicals into the soil and harboring pests and disease. And even metal-raised beds can become a problem. Aluminum bed don't last very long, and can also leech industrial chemicals into your soil.

Why should I use fabric under my planter box? ›

Landscape or weed fabrics create an impassible barrier that stops the upwards growth of plants from underneath. So the soft stems and leaves get trapped beneath. When used in a home landscape though, an application of mulch is commonly placed on top.

Do you put a membrane in raised beds? ›

We recommend using a geotextile membrane liner which should be placed in the bottom of the raised bed, as it will allow for better drainage.

Do fabric raised beds work? ›

The strong felt fabric allows both water and air to flow between the outside and inside surfaces, keeping your plants from both drowning and overheating. Be sure to place your raised bed somewhere where it can freely drain and avoid water-sensitive surfaces.

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