| Choosing the correct landscape fabric for weed | | | | penetrate the openings between the weave in the |
| control can be a very time consuming and frustrating | | | | fabric or in separations that have occurred between |
| exercise, as anyone who has gone through the | | | | pieces of fabric. Weeds can germinate in the smallest |
| process will gladly confirm. The manufacturers of | | | | amount of soil and hence will grow on top of the |
| landscaping fabrics produce and publish specifications; | | | | fabric, if there are the tiniest amounts of earth, sending |
| however the major problem is that their largest market | | | | fine root hairs through the fabrics weave on a quest |
| is construction. Hence, they produce their specifications | | | | for nutrients and moisture from the soil. To prevent |
| with the construction market in mind. If you have an | | | | weed and grass growth appearing through the fiber's |
| unlimited amount of time and a lot of patients you can | | | | weave consider the use of a spunbonded fabric |
| read through all of the manufacturers' specifications | | | | because of its microscopic mesh size. |
| and try to garner some useful comparison information | | | | 3. There is a fine balancing act with respect to the |
| that will be useful in weed control and prevention. | | | | porosity of the landscaping fabric. You want the mesh |
| When choosing a fabric for landscaping, there are | | | | to be fine enough to prevent weed and grass growth |
| three primary areas to consider: | | | | but you want the holes in the mesh to be large enough |
| | | | to provide sufficient water and air to enter the soil. The |
| 1. The strength of the fabric is relative to the amount | | | | fabric's ability to breath; to allow oxygen and moisture |
| of air and water flow that will permeate through the | | | | to pass through the fabric and aerate and water the |
| fabric. Stronger materials allow less water and air to | | | | soil so that the plants will be hardy and not starved of |
| flow through the fabric. When choosing a fabric for | | | | essential life sustaining material. It is this feature that |
| your landscaping project you should identify one that | | | | separates the average landscaping fabrics from the |
| has adequate strength for the application, any | | | | superior ones. This is why the use of plastic sheeting |
| additional strength is counter productive and will cost | | | | as a weed deterrent does not work. It may prevent |
| you more. | | | | the growth of weeds and grasses but it also prevents |
| 2. You want to choose a fabric that has a consistent | | | | air and water from entering the soil. A fabric that does |
| and even dispersal of fibers. The mesh size should be | | | | not have good permeability will create the problems of |
| as small as possible in order to prevent weedy | | | | water run off which will wash away any coverings |
| grasses from penetrating the fabric's openings. Weeds | | | | such as bark or mulch that may be lying on the |
| and grasses do not grow through the fabric they are | | | | surface of the fabric. |
| attracted by any minute quantities of light that may | | | | |