Weeding the garden seems to be a never-ending chore; everyday brings more sprouts between the carefully planted herbs and flowers. For many busy homeowners weeding on a daily basis is impossible, making it difficult to keep the yard looking its best. Many gardeners, particularly those trying to get a home ready for market, turn to landscape fabric to thwart the weed issue. However, there are both benefits and drawbacks to this material
Although landscape fabric is known for its porous composition, it is extremely helpful in controlling erosion. On property with hills and slopes; a garden without erosion control will simply slough away during a large rainstorm. As a solution, gardeners lay the fabric down underneath a layer of mulch. Plant roots extending into the soil under the fabric are protected from flowing rain water and soil washout that can leave them exposed to damage and disease.
Weeds steal nutrients away from the garden's main plants, causing the plants to become stunted and produce with less flowers and fruit. Landscape fabric makes it possible for smaller and hardy plants to grow larger over time without the detriment of weeds. Once the plants are established, the shade the larger plant casts make it difficult for weeds to find the sun they need to grow.
One of the main drawbacks to landscape fabric is its effect on the soil's nutrients. The mulch on top of the fabric cannot biodegrade into the soil. The naturally occurring composting within the soil is effectively halted with the fabric barrier; dead leaves and other organic material cannot reach the soil, so the nutrient levels drop substantially within the garden. Hardy plants may still grow well in nutrient-poor gardens, but more sensitive plants, like roses, can suffer.
Some gardeners enjoy moving plants around or adding new ones as the mood strikes. However, landscape fabric is not meant to be versatile. Holes must be made in the fabric to allow the main plants to penetrate down to the soil; a gardener who adds and moves plants will need to make multiple holes and create patches during the gardening process. As a result, the fabric cannot work as well.
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