Using Weed Mat

Uses for weed control fabric weed control fabric can be used under walking paths and decks.

Using weed mat.

If you want to prevent weeds in your garden one common solution is to use a weed mat. Helps retain soil moisture by reducing evaporation. This barrier is made of a porous plastic material that allows water to move down into the soil but prevents new weeds from growing up into the garden. It may be bad under bark dust mulch soil or compost but it works very well under river rock gravel decomposed granite or flagstone.

Reduce the need for weeding by laying down a weed mat also known as a landscape. Now the plastic weed barrier stops the decaying mulch from entering the soil. Whichever you use you just add more as it decays and you see patches of bare soil. I ve seen landscapers lay down weed barrier cut holes plant shrubs and perennials and then top it off with shredded hardwood mulch.

And don t do this. Limits the need to use herbicides for weed control. Weed control fabric is also great as a cover in the garden if you do not use mulch. Ideally you ll penetrate the soil deeply enough to get under the roots and lift out the whole weed roots and all.

Use a hoe with a swinging motion bringing the blade down toward the ground and slightly back toward your body striking the ground at approximately a 45 degree angle. Places where dust and dirt will not find their way between the weed barrier and the surface so weeds can not grow. So if you put dirt or mulch or stone on top of the material weeds will eventually grow in the dirt mulch or stone and will will root into the mat material and pin it down. Weed seeds blow in the wind and are dropped by birds and other animals.

For all that weed cloth does have a use. Weeding is to gardeners as cleaning dirty dishes is to cooks a never ending tedious but necessary chore.