Using Weed Mat

If you want to prevent weeds in your garden one common solution is to use a weed mat.

Using weed mat. Weed control fabric is also great as a cover in the garden if you do not use mulch. It may be bad under bark dust mulch soil or compost but it works very well under river rock gravel decomposed granite or flagstone. Weed seeds blow in the wind and are dropped by birds and other animals. 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.

A weed mat can indeed be useful in many situations but it is not a one size fits all solution by any means. For all that weed cloth does have a use. 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. Prevents weed seeds buried in the soil beneath from sprouting.

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. Places where dust and dirt will not find their way between the weed barrier and the surface so weeds can not grow. Weeding is to gardeners as cleaning dirty dishes is to cooks a never ending tedious but necessary chore. Now the plastic weed barrier stops the decaying mulch from entering the soil.

Ideally you ll penetrate the soil deeply enough to get under the roots and lift out the whole weed roots and all. In fact ross nw watergardens typically uses it under these materials. Reduce the need for weeding by laying down a weed mat also known as a landscape. Uses for weed control fabric weed control fabric can be used under walking paths and decks.

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.