Does weed barrier (landscape fabric) work? - Ask Extension
A landscape service my wife and I hired put down bark mulch, last fall, without, unbeknownst to us, any underlying weed barrier. Now that spring has ...
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Does weed barrier (landscape fabric) work? #828942
Asked May 08, 2023, 11:49 AM EDT
A landscape service my wife and I hired put down bark mulch, last fall, without, unbeknownst to us, any underlying weed barrier. Now that spring has arrived, there are hundreds of dandelions growing up through the bark. The service’s owner has now told my wife that the reason that they did not use weed barrier is that it categorically doesn’t work. Is it true that weed barrier does not work at all to control weeks? Is there any standard reference publication to which you can direct me that discusses the efficacy of weed barrier? Thank you in advance for you reply.
Eagle County Colorado
Expert Response
Hi Robert,
I do not recommend the use of weed barrier in gardens either. True weed barrier (not landscape fabric which is commonly referred to as weed barrier) can work well for pathways under rock mulch but otherwise it is not very useful in landscape plantings. When bark mulch is applied on top of weed barrier, the weeds tend to grow on top of the weed barrier in the bark mulch. Weed barrier also is not very permeable so water cannot get to the soil, this is especially true over time as soil particles fill in the pore spaces of the fabric. Landscape fabric, which is what is typically used in landscape plantings, does little to stop weeds long term and quickly becomes a challenge to maintain. Homeowners often want to remove their landscape fabric within a few years because it becomes an eyesore and removal is very challenging because the plant roots grow into the fabric.
Here are some references from other University Extensions and an article on Mulches for the Home Garden from CSU Extension that mentions weed barrier:
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/mulches-for-home-grounds-7-214/
https://extension.psu.edu/putting-an-end-to-my-landscape-fabric-nightmare
https://extension.unh.edu/blog/2019/05/should-i-use-landscape-fabric-keep-weeds-out-my-perennial-garden
https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2021-06-25-disadvantages-landscape-fabric
Thank you for your question!
Best,
Denyse
I do not recommend the use of weed barrier in gardens either. True weed barrier (not landscape fabric which is commonly referred to as weed barrier) can work well for pathways under rock mulch but otherwise it is not very useful in landscape plantings. When bark mulch is applied on top of weed barrier, the weeds tend to grow on top of the weed barrier in the bark mulch. Weed barrier also is not very permeable so water cannot get to the soil, this is especially true over time as soil particles fill in the pore spaces of the fabric. Landscape fabric, which is what is typically used in landscape plantings, does little to stop weeds long term and quickly becomes a challenge to maintain. Homeowners often want to remove their landscape fabric within a few years because it becomes an eyesore and removal is very challenging because the plant roots grow into the fabric.
Here are some references from other University Extensions and an article on Mulches for the Home Garden from CSU Extension that mentions weed barrier:
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/mulches-for-home-grounds-7-214/
https://extension.psu.edu/putting-an-end-to-my-landscape-fabric-nightmare
https://extension.unh.edu/blog/2019/05/should-i-use-landscape-fabric-keep-weeds-out-my-perennial-garden
https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2021-06-25-disadvantages-landscape-fabric
Thank you for your question!
Best,
Denyse
