There are several ways gardeners try to stop weed growth, and one of them is landscape fabric.
This is a synthetic or organic sheet placed on soil to suppress weed growth by blocking sunlight and preventing seeds from sprouting, while still allowing water, air and nutrients to pass through. Getting rid of weeds is an inevitable part of gardening because their seeds are constantly spread by wind, animals, and people so gardeners are always trying to keep them at bay and control unwanted growth, including using landscape fabric.
However, as one Facebook user pointed out, it often ends up costing homeowners more money over time and may not be effective.
Gardener Gabriella the Garden Sage shared a post showing photos of kniphofia plants with squished, stunted roots that couldn’t push through a layer of landscape fabric buried under a few inches of mulch. She explains that although mulch normally decomposes and enriches the soil with nutrients, the fabric acts as a barrier, stopping those benefits from reaching the clay soil below.
In the caption of her post she wrote: “Builders and landscape companies convinced homeowners to roll out acres of the stuff, extolling it as a key tool to make landscaping low maintenance and weed free. Not to mention that weeds grow quite happily on top of the fabric!
“For the sake of your plants, your soil, the planet, and your friendly local garden sage, just say no to landscape fabric!!!” Several gardening fans left supportive comments on Gabriella’s post, such as one who said: “Yup. Our backyard is full of the stuff, it’s so frustrating!!”
Another shared: “I have had decent luck with either layers of newspaper or cardboard, then mulch on top. They added: “Weed suppression lasts about two years with this method.”
A third agreed with Gabriella as they commented: “Exactly!” A different Facebook user remarked: “Wow!! That’s good to know!!! How about laying newspapers down?”
Though landscape fabric might seem like an easy way to rid your garden of weeds, many experts caution that it often causes more problems than it solves. It can hinder root development, deprive the soil of air and moisture, and eventually become a hassle when weeds start growing on top.
Removing it is not an easy task and can demand hours of exhausting labour. Instead, homeowners might consider more sustainable and soil-friendly options, such as transforming their lawns with native plants, clover, buffalo grass, or opting for xeriscaping – which involves replacing lawn with soil, rocks, mulch, or native plant species.
These alternatives not only reduce upkeep and lower water usage but also support pollinators, which are essential insects that play a key role in our food system. Even converting a portion of your garden can save time and money while boosting soil quality and promoting a healthier ecosystem.
