While it's best to clear as many weeds out of a bed as possible before installing a weed barrier, it is possible to place a weed barrier directly over existing weeds. The weed barrier should be able to smother any existing weeds and kill them, especially if mulch is used on top of the barrier.
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The downside of using a weed barrier directly over preexisting weeds is that these weeds can self-sow seeds in the soil that will attempt to germinate and push through the weed barrier in the next growing season.
Depending on how many holes you end up cutting in your weed barrier to allow for planting, this can cause the weed barrier to be broken.
Tips for Using Weed Barrier Over Existing Weeds
If you plan on using a weed barrier over existing weeds without trying to pull them, here are a few ideas for making sure that existing weeds aren't resurrected in the coming spring:
' Use a pre-emergent weed spray on the bed before installing the weed barrier. This will help kill any existing weeds and their seeds before they have a chance to self-sow.
' Place the weed barrier down in a bed with no plants in it so that you don't have to cut any holes in it until the next season. This will give the weed barrier a chance to completely smother any weeds in the soil before you cut into it during the next planting.
' If you are placing down the weed barrier while winterizing a plot, it can be a good idea to withhold mulch until after planting so you can see the weed barrier clearly to cut through it to get to the soil beneath. Keep in mind that planting this way will make the task much more tedious and will require you to cut larger holes in the weed barrier for seedlings.
Putting down a weed barrier directly over a bed full of weeds can be a good way to knock the weeds down quickly, but it's still a good idea to pull as many of the weeds as possible out of the bed as you can before putting down the barrier. This will help the weed barrier do its job more efficiently.
There are two major ways to lay a weed barrier down around plants, and either way, the weed barrier should be placed before the plants themselves. Weed barriers can be placed around preexisting trees and shrubs, but it is much more difficult to achieve a solid barrier this way.
Instead, weed barriers should be laid down around plants in the following ways:
' Lay the weed barrier down over the soil of the bed before cutting holes in the weed barrier to place shrubs or saplings. It can often be difficult to dig deep enough for these plants once a weed barrier has been installed without having to cut large holes in it to fit the plant's root system through and to dig a deep enough spot, so this is not the optimal method.
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' Measure and mark out the weed barrier before it's installed, cutting holes where each of the plants is going to go in the bed. In this method, plants are placed first before the weed barrier is gently pulled over the top of them. Installing weed barriers in this way is much more efficient, but it isn't always possible if you're trying to install new plants in a bed with an old weed barrier.
When installing a weed barrier, it's a good idea to think ahead as much as possible and figure out how the bed will be laid out before you start marking and cutting the barrier. This kind of project in the garden is a project where the adage 'measure twice and cut once' will come into play.
Taking notes on paper can help you figure out and measure the spacing on your planting before you start installing the plants, and this, in turn, can show you exactly where you'll need to cut your landscaping fabric to let them through.
Weeds can be a major challenge here in North Texas where they tend to thrive year-round. You might feel as though you're doing all the right things to get rid of weeds and yet they keep coming back. When dealing with weeds, you have to be aggressive and take a multi-faceted approach.
One of those strategies includes using weed barrier fabric.
Weed barrier landscape fabric works to discourage weeds by blocking sunlight from reaching weed seeds in the first place.
As with most things, there are pros and cons of landscape fabric and you'll even find that while some landscapers use it, others don't bother.
Grassperson's take on weed barrier fabric is that it can be part of an effective weed control strategy if it is installed properly. But that's a huge 'if.' If the fabric is not installed correctly, it can be more of a hassle than a help.
In this article, we'll dive into more of the pros and cons of landscape fabric and how it fits into our approach to addressing weeds.
Landscape Fabric Pros and Cons
There are a few different pros and cons of landscape fabric that are important in terms of having realistic expectations of what it can and can't do.
What are the Pros of Landscape Fabric?
Let's look at some of the upsides to using a weed-control fabric.
- One of the big pros of using a weed barrier fabric is that it is cost-effective. When installed properly, it can be an effective, long-term solution that does not have to be regularly re-installed. While it may eventually require replacing, it's not something that has to be done often.
- A good weed barrier fabric can also help conserve moisture in the soil as it will reduce evaporation. The blocked sunlight not only prevents weed seeds from growing (as they require sunlight in order to germinate), but it also prevents the sun from evaporating all of the water needed for your plants to thrive.
- In terms of comparing fabric to other weed barrier materials like plastic, we also love that fabric allows water to amply reach the plant roots of your desired plant material. Plastics will not do this and are also not an environmentally friendly material.
What are the Negatives of Landscape Fabric?
As we've said from the start, weed barrier fabric should be PART of a weed control strategy. If you expect weed fabric to be enough of a solution by itself, you're going to be disappointed.
- Weed barrier fabric can also have some downsides like restricting some of the movement of soil-mixing organisms, like earthworms. When these creatures move through the different layers of soil, they mix organic material in the process.
- Weed barrier fabrics also become less effective over time. They aren't a 'forever solution.' However, if you're on the search for that 'magic bullet' solution, you're not going to find it.
- Finally, weed barrier fabric is also not a 100-percent fail-proof solution'but what is? That's exactly why we recommend it as one part of a multi-faceted approach.
A Thorough Approach to Weed Control
We have always been clear that the best weed control is a multi-faceted, year-round approach. Managing weeds in North Texas takes commitment, persistence, and a good amount of time and energy.
That's why partnering with a pro makes sense.
As we've mentioned, we do believe in using weed barrier fabrics when it makes sense. We believe that there are enough pros to make it a worthwhile effort.
At Grassperson, we use a weed barrier fabric for new landscape bed installations. We believe that when installed correctly, and used with other strategies, it can help control some weed breakthroughs.
We also use pre-emergent herbicides that work by preventing weed germination in the first place. And we'll even pull weeds by hand if necessary. Getting the bed in the best possible shape ahead of installing plant material is important as weeds are highly aggressive.
And even with all of this work, you're still going to see weeds breakthrough. They're that persistent! During the spring and summer months, your plant beds will require even more attention since weeds grow faster and with more vigor during this time.
It doesn't take long for a plant bed to become full of weeds.
An effective weed control strategy also needs to include target-treating weeds that do pop up. Pre-emergent herbicides work to prevent germination from happening.
However, post-emergent weed controls work on weeds that do not reproduce via seed or those that have already sprouted.
The best weed control approach will typically include both types of herbicides, depending on bed configuration and what you have growing there. A landscape professional can help you devise a customized weed control strategy for your property's needs.
Choosing Landscaping Services Near Flower Mound, TX to Address Weed Control
If you've spent time on our blog before, you know that we take weed control seriously. After all, weeds here in North Texas are a legitimate foe. We happen to have some types of weeds that are really hard to get rid of (and that just keep coming back).
That's why persistence is key. There is never going to be a singular strategy that gets rid of weeds forever. It has to be a comprehensive and ongoing effort.
It's also helpful when you work with an expert who will have the eye to recognize weed varieties and know how to best deal with them. A key to weed control success is being able to identify and properly treat whatever it is that you're dealing with.