Even though you’ve got a range of different protective mulch choices to choose from for your topsoil, you may want to think about using landscape fabric as an alternative. Available in rolled sheets, landscape fabric provides a barrier to weeds and creates a brilliant aesthetic for a garden border or shrub grouping. Fabrics vary in depth and material type, but each provides a valuable usage in your home garden.
Non-Woven
Usually made of polyester or polypropylene, non-woven landscape fabrics offer a permanent solution to weed management. Although they do allow some water movement and drainage to the soil below, non-woven fabric may suffocate plant roots if used in a flower bed since it does not have a highly porous construction. This fabric type works nicely under gravel or stone landscapes. The fabric prevents weeds from overrunning a gravel trail or desert landscape and also prevents the gravel by settling into the soil.
Woven
Generated from linen or polypropylene, woven fabric offers miniature holes within the material’s construction for nutrient and water exchange with the soil. This landscape fabric is ideal for garden beds, trees and shrubbery. It’s vital, however, to refill and until your soil prior to applying the woven fabric, since it might need to be taken up in order to do this after it’s installed. As soon as you cover the amended area, you create holes in the fabric which are big enough for your plants to grow into the soil. Water readily penetrates to the ground and disappears naturally for a wholesome garden ecosystem.
Thickness
Each manufacturer offers a different material thickness for each fabric type; thicker stuff will last longer, but costs more initially. Your lawn program dictates the depth level. As an example, fabric underlying heavy stones needs to be somewhat thicker than material used in a herb garden. Although landscape fabric’s main job is to prevent weeds, a thin material may allow tough weeds to penetrate upwards, especially if the fabric gets damaged or torn.
Ultraviolet Damage
Irrespective of the program, landscape fabric has to be covered with synthetic or natural mulch. However, a drawback to organic mulch throughout the fabric is new weed seed germination; it could be required to pull weeds in the flux should they have a chance to sprout over the fabric. But allowing the fabric to weather the elements with no protective mulch layer reduces its lifespan. The ultraviolet radiation of sunlight contributes to the fabric’s decline. Manufacturers do offer some fabrics with UV treatments to stop chemical breakdown, but it is still good practice to maintain sunlight from the fabric.