Instruction on Choosing the Ideal Landscape Fabric for Your Garden
In the world of gardening and landscaping, landscape fabrics have become an essential tool for maintaining a neat and healthy garden. These materials prevent weeds from taking over gravel pathways or desert landscapes, while allowing air and moisture to pass through, promoting plant health.
This year, three landscape fabrics stand out as the top recommendations for weed control and garden maintenance: DeWitt Pro-5 Weed Barrier, ECOgardener Premium Weed Barrier, and Topoguard™.
The DeWitt Pro-5 Weed Barrier, a heavy-duty polypropylene fabric, is UV resistant and boasts a 20-year lifespan. Its 12-inch planting guides help with spacing while maintaining weed control on slopes and walkways. Ideal for large gardens, slopes, and commercial landscaping, this durable fabric is a reliable choice for those seeking long-term solutions.
ECOgardener Premium Weed Barrier, on the other hand, is a lightweight, dual-layer needle-punched fabric that is breathable and allows water and air flow. This eco-friendly fabric is perfect for smaller garden areas, raised beds, and flower beds. Although it requires immediate covering with mulch to prevent UV damage and fraying at cut edges, ECOgardener offers excellent weed blocking capabilities.
For large-scale or commercial projects, Topoguard™ offers a robust woven fabric designed to suppress weeds effectively while supporting soil conditions and reducing maintenance costs and chemical use. This premium fabric is ideal for large-scale agricultural, commercial, and infrastructure projects.
When choosing a landscape fabric, it's essential to consider the material's permeability, UV resistance, and ease of installation. Most effective landscape fabrics allow air, water, and nutrients to pass through while blocking sunlight to suppress weeds. UV resistance greatly extends fabric life; fabrics without this property require mulch covering to avoid degradation. Ease of installation and cutting varies; some fabrics like DeWitt are heavier and tougher to cut but more durable, while lighter fabrics are easier to handle but may be less long-lasting.
Landscape fabric has practical uses beyond weed control, such as preventing soil erosion and controlling water flows. It is placed around trees, flowering plants, and shrubs, and kills weeds by blocking out the sunlight weeds need to grow. Always clear the landscape fabric of garden debris such as fallen leaves, flowers, etc., to inhibit weed growth. Water the plants as close to the stems as possible when using landscaping fabric.
Landscape fabric comes in different grades, with some being more durable than others due to tighter weaves. Thicker landscaping fabrics are generally more durable because they do not tear easily. Landscaping fabric keeps organic mulch from breaking down quickly, and can be repositioned over the soil to create the perfect fit after planting.
Landscaping fabric is easy to install and comes in different materials, including woven and non-woven varieties. Woven landscape fabric is the most common type and is made from either polypropylene or linen. Thin landscaping fabric is best for gardens with delicate plants with fragile root systems. Spun Landscape Fabric can be used to keep unwanted critters at bay without affecting the soil and the plants.
Perforated Landscaping Fabric is lightweight and perfect for areas of the garden with minimal foot traffic. Landscaping fabric made with breathable material allows for optimal light, nutrient, and moisture absorption. Always clear the landscape fabric of garden debris such as fallen leaves, flowers, etc., to inhibit weed growth. Perforated Landscaping Fabric is best suited for gardens with lots of annual plants.
When using multiple pieces of fabric, overlap the edges by at least 8 inches. Non-Woven Landscape Fabric allows for some water movement and drainage to the soil below. Replace the mulch as it decomposes and never reuse in other parts of the garden. Spun Landscape Fabric is a type of non-woven landscaping fabric made from bonded fabric. Perforated Landscaping Fabric is the most affordable landscaping fabric on the market.
Landscape fabric is a versatile tool for maintaining a healthy and weed-free garden. By understanding the key features and ideal use cases of the top recommended landscape fabrics, gardeners can make informed decisions and enjoy a beautiful, well-maintained garden all year round.
The versatile DeWitt Pro-5 Weed Barrier, ideal for large gardens, slopes, and commercial landscaping, is a heavy-duty fabric that offers long-term solutions with its 20-year lifespan and 12-inch planting guides. For smaller garden areas, ECOgardener Premium Weed Barrier, a lightweight, dual-layer needle-punched fabric, is perfect due to its breathability and excellent weed blocking capabilities.
In addition to their weed-controlling properties, landscape fabrics also play a role in preventing soil erosion, controlling water flows, and inhibiting weed growth by killing weeds through blocking out sunlight. When choosing a landscape fabric, factors such as permeability, UV resistance, and ease of installation should be considered.
