Laying down Weed Membrane for Your Garden (2024)

FAQs

How many layers of weed barrier do I need? ›

Two layers of cardboard works well. Wet down the cardboard as you go to keep it in place and to shape it around obstacles. Work around existing plants by ripping and folding the cardboard. It's easier to rip once wet.

While it's best to clear as many weeds out of a bed as possible before installing a weed barrier, it is possible to place a weed barrier directly over existing weeds. The weed barrier should be able to smother any existing weeds and kill them, especially if mulch is used on top of the barrier.

Soil and dust that blows onto the top of the fabric can build up and eventually support the germination of weed seeds. Any organic mulch applied over the fabric inevitably breaks down into soil, creating fertile ground for weeds and grasses.

You only need to spread one layer of landscape fabric in your planting bed. Installing two landscape fabrics at a time, with one layer over the other, may prove detrimental to your plants. Combining two layers of different fabrics might ruin the benefits of another.

In areas prone to very invasive or aggressive weeds/grasses such as Mare's Tail, Bindweed, Crocosmia, Ground Elder, Couch Grass, nettles and brambles, make sue to apply a weed killer first and a double layer of membrane.

Weed blockers, or weed membranes, provide amongst the best alternatives to herbicides by removing the conditions needed by seeds to germinate. They do this whilst also stopping the growth of already active seedlings.

Permeability - At the store, landscape fabric usually can be found in two forms: 1) a woven fabric created by weaving thin strips of plastic and 2) a spun fabric created using polyester fibers. These landscape fabrics are somewhat porous in both cases, meaning they allow water and air to move through.

When laying landscape fabric, fuzzy side face down is the standard to capture soil moisture. Make sure to read the instructions on your landscape fabric to determine which side should touch the ground.

The best way to use cardboard weed barriers effectively is by placing them under pavers or in garden beds. While it may not look the best in the beginning, having a cardboard layer under pavers or mulch in your garden bed will ensure weeds will be smothered and cannot grow!

Whether your raised garden bed ideas require a new form of weed control or you're battling weeds on your lawn, the cardboard will come in handy. 'It is thick enough to smother weeds, but unlike landscape fabric, it'll rot over time,' John says.

Should I put sand under weed membrane? ›

First, rake out the area below the slab, getting it to the correct level and height. Next, compact the the ground. Then, lay your weed matting. If needed, you can use some sand as a bedding to further level the slabs before-laying them.

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.

Weed barrier clothes are not a great option for gardens, or any area that you would like to grow plants, as the barrier will prevent proper bio-activity in the soil, making the soil unsuitable for plants. The barrier also does not let enough water reach the plants.

Place the membrane – lay the weed membrane over the selected area. As you do so, ensure that the membrane is rolled out smoothly and evenly. Secure the membrane in place – this step is required if you are not using edging. Using either pegs or garden staples, fix the weed membrane in place.

You can make it as thick as you want. It should probably be at least 5-6 pages thick. It will act as a weed barrier until it breaks down in a year or two. But, if your beds are 6-8 inches deep, you probably will not have weeds sprouting after that time anyway, as the weed seeds won't be getting any sunlight.

It's best to use landscape fabric under inorganic materials such as rock, gravel, or sand. Landscape fabrics are less effective when used under organic mulch such as wood chips or bark. As this mulch decomposes, it effectively creates a new layer of soil above the landscape fabric.

Ground staples should be installed every 8 to 12 inches along the edges of the fabric and 12 inches apart in the center of the fabric. You may also want to use a staple when you cut a planting hole to ensure it doesn't look baggy around the plant. Don't skimp on the ground staples!