Landscape fabrics, also called geotextiles, are used as weed barriers and erosion control. They are usually composed of a synthetic such as polypropylene, and can be
perforated, woven, nonwoven or spun-bonded. It is important to understand the characteristics and limitations of landscape fabric before choosing to use or not use it for a project.
Let us look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of using landscape fabrics:
On the positive side, landscape fabrics
- permit air and water movement into the soil;
- help control weeds; and
- help maintain even soil temperatures.
Landscape fabrics are practical and may be used for large areas such as:
- shrub and ornamental flower beds where there is definite spacing between plants - for instance, ornamental grasses, daylilies and Rudbeckia that are not expected to spread;
- around trees;
- under stone sidewalks;
- under decks;
- behind retaining walls; and
- under large expanses of stone and mulch-decorated natural areas where the intention is to achieve a "Japanese garden sort of look."
On the negative side, they
- are expensive as compared to sheet plastic (black plastic) mulch;
- photo-degrade (break down in the presence of UV light);
- usually need mulch cover to slow photo-degradation and improve appearance of fabric-covered areas;
- only last approximately 5 years
The worst aspect of using landscape fabric is forgetting that it is only a barrier that prevents germinating weed seeds from emerging from soil into landscaped areas. Seeds will land and germinate in both organic (wood chips) and inorganic (stones) mulches covering the fabric. Fine feeder roots from these germinating seeds easily penetrate these porous fabrics. The unpleasant result of neglecting to remove volunteer seedlings is a weed / mulch / landscape fabric sandwich firmly attached to underlying soil. (See picture above.)
An often-overlooked characteristic of landscape fabrics is that they are effective for only about five years before breaking down and needing replacement. In addition, mulch settles and in situations like on slopes, this settling causes shift and sometimes movement of mulch leaving large patches of fabric showing. Landscape fabrics are not an "install once and forget" method of landscape maintenance.
However, when used properly, there is definitely an acceptable benefit for using these fabrics in landscape maintenance. So much so, that each year more types and sources become available in both commercial and precut residential sizes.
Here are some examples and sources of landscape fabrics:
- DewittTM, black, woven, Dewitt Co., Sikeston, MO
- DuonTM, gray, spun-bonded, Blunks Wholesale Supply Inc., Bridgeview, IL
- TyparTM, gray, spun-bonded, Remay, Inc., Old Hickory, TN
- VisqueenTM, black, woven, Visqueen Film Products, Richmond, VA
- TEITM, white, woven, Dupont, Baltimore, MD
- ExxonTM, white, spun-bonded, Landscape Supply Inc., Roanoke,VA
The two articles in this Landscape Fabric series discuss:
- Using Landscape Fabric: How to Determine Benefits
- Installing Landscape Fabric: How to Analyse and Prepare Project Sites
Text and photograph by Georgene A. Bramlage, June 2006. Reproduction without permission prohibited.
