How Does Weed Barrier Cloth Work?

What Is Weed Barrier Cloth?

Weeds are notorious for competing for nutrients with landscaping plantings, therefore people look for ways to control the weeds. The old-fashioned method entails plucking out weeds one by one, and on the other extreme is the use of herbicides. Plucking weeds out by the root requires patience and may not be possible if your landscape covers a large area. Chemical herbicides may affect your desired plantings along with the weeds, and the chemicals have been implicated in polluting groundwater. The safer alternative is the weed barrier cloth. Weed barrier cloth is used to control weeds in the landscape. It is made from synthetic polymers that are woven to resemble cloth--earning the name geotextiles. This cloth is designed to allow air and water to pass through it.

How to Apply Weed Barrier Cloth

Weed barrier cloth is applied to a garden location after it has been cleared. The first step involves laying the cloth down as flat as possible and securing it into place. You can use rocks, pegs or mulch to hold the barrier cloth in place. Using a knife, cut the slits into the cloth where you are going to place your plants. Make sure that the plants are correctly spaced and placed since you do not want to have to cut more slits and compromise the effectiveness of the weed barrier cloth. Once you have finished planting, cover the entire cloth with mulch, making sure you cover all traces of the cloth.

Function of Weed Barrier Cloth

The design of weed barrier cloth blocks the growth of weeds. By putting the plants through the cloth they are allowed to grow unfettered by the cloth. Plants can still receive water and air through the cloth.

Cons of Weed Barrier Cloth

One of the drawbacks of using weed barrier cloth is the fact that it does not allow the natural soil aerators earthworms through it. Weeds can still grow through the weed cloth but from the top. They grow in the mulch and have no problem running their roots through the cloth to the soil underneath. Another drawback is the weed cloth barrier stops the natural accumulation of organic debris into the soil, inadvertently keeping the soil in a stagnant state.