Pros and Cons of Landscape Fabric | Davey Blog | Davey Tree (2024)

Planting a new crop of bright vegetables or tending toadelicate flower garden can be so calming.

That is untilpesky weeds disturb our garden of bliss.

Is landscape fabric all we need to get rid of those pesky weeds for good?

Should I use landscape fabric inmy flower or vegetable garden orunder rock/gravel?

What islandscape fabricmade of?

Itcan beall kinds ofmaterials,likelinen,polyesterorrecycledplastic.Usually, it’s awoven cloth laid ingardenbeds to help keep weeds at bay.

What are the pros andcons oflandscapefabric?

Pros

• Discourages weeds:Itstops sunlight from reaching weed seeds, which reducesoreliminatesthem.
• Cost-effective: Fabric can last for years, so there's no need tobuyweed control every season.
• Environmentally-friendly:This clothlimits the need for harsh weed control chemicals. Plus,some are made from recycled materials.
• Beats the competition:Unlike plastic alternatives, landscape fabric has tiny holes that allow water to reach plant roots.
• Conserves moisture: Adding thisreduces surface evaporation,so less watering is needed.

Cons

• Not flexible:Each time you dig a hole,thefabric becomes less effective. So,it's notpracticalfor gardeners who like to changeitup.
• No morenatural nutrients: Organic mulches,like grass clippings or shredded leaves,can'treach the soil towork their magic.
• Restricts movement of soil-mixing organisms:This barrier prevents earthworms, insects, and beneficial fungi from moving through different layers of the soil. So, they cannot mix organic material on the surface deeper into the soil.
• Less effective overtime: After a while, soil packed underneathloses breathability,and plant roots can suffer from lack of air and water.
• Not a perfect system: Plant roots in search of air and water can grow through the cloth, breaking the weed barrier.

Are there goodusesforlandscape fabric?

Yes, it’sa great match fordensegroundcovers you don't want to lay directly onthesoil.So,it workssuper wellunder rock or gravelbutisn't the best option for vegetable gardens. Digging into the fabric every year to replenish vegetable seeds will eventually make it ineffective.Plus, that’s a lot of work!

Bottom line: Landscape fabric has its benefits, but all in all,there are better ways to tame weeds.

What alternatives are there?

1. Leave it to mulch! If it’s thick enough,mulchcan block weedsfrom getting the sunlight they need to grow.
2. Usea pre-emergentherbicidetoprevent weed seeds fromgerminating.
3. Laycardboard or newspaper underyourmulch.It’s another wayto bar weeds from sunlight, andyou won't have to worry about clean up sincepapersafely dissolvesinto the soil.

Ready to mulch your garden beds? Use this step-by-step guide.

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