Unfortunately, landscape fabric is often used for landscaped beds or borders in gardens. But I always advise my clients not to use it. Here are some of the reasons why I don’t think landscape fabric is a good idea and how to do it better.
Landscape fabrics are mostly made from fossil fuels and must be stored underground if we are to have any chance of limiting global warming.
Over time, microplastic particles and harmful compounds break down and enter the environment. This can be especially problematic if you grow edible plants (which you absolutely must). But even if it’s not a food production area, it’s still a potential environmental problem.
One of the main reasons I always recommend avoiding landscape fabric in gardens is that using it can seriously damage and degrade the soil ecosystem underneath.
Landscape fabric can compact the soil underneath. As you probably know well, soil ecology is very important. Compacted soil will not be healthy because nutrients, water, and air will not effectively reach the roots in the rhizosphere.
If the landscape fabric is uncovered or there are gaps in the mulch, the darker material can heat up, warming the soil underneath and causing more damage to the soil grid.
In my experience, while the fabric is water-permeable, it does not allow water to effectively penetrate the soil, so it can be especially harmful in areas with low water tables.
The main problem is that the microbes in the soil do not have effective access to the air and water they need, so soil health is deteriorating. Moreover, soil health does not improve over time because earthworms and other soil organisms cannot absorb organic matter into the soil below when landscape structures are already in place.
The whole point of using landscaping fabric is to suppress weed growth and create a garden that requires less time and effort. But even for its main purpose, landscape fabric, in my opinion, does not meet the requirements. Of course, depending on the specific fabric, landscaping fabrics are not always as effective in controlling weeds as some might think.
In my experience, some grasses and other weeds break through the ground over time, if not immediately. Or they grow from above when the mulch breaks down and the seeds are deposited by wind or wildlife. These weeds can then become entangled in the fabric, making them difficult to remove.
Landscape fabrics also get in the way of truly low maintenance and self-sufficient systems. You won’t help plants thrive by promoting soil health and maintaining a healthy soil environment. You don’t create water-saving systems.
Moreover, native plants that would otherwise create lush, productive, and low-maintenance spaces are less likely to self-seed or spread and clump when landscape structure is present. Therefore, the garden will not be productively filled.
It’s also harder to punch holes in the fabric of the landscape, change plans, and adapt to garden changes—taking advantage and adapting to change are key strategies in good garden design.
There are better ways to reduce weeds and create a low maintenance space. First, avoid placing plants in areas covered with landscape fabric and imported mulch. Instead, choose eco-friendly and sustainable natural options to make life easier in your garden.
Post time: May-03-2023