What is Weed Matting?
Weed matting, also known as landscape fabric or weed control fabric, is a porous material used to suppress garden weeds by blocking sunlight and creating a barrier. Weed matting is laid flat on the surface of the soil with holes cut to accommodate existing plants, then covered with a layer of mulch, sand, gravel, or pine needles. With weed matting properly installed, weeding should be virtually eliminated, though results can vary in the long run depending upon the type of matting used, garden-specific grasses and other environmental factors.
Though we think of weeds as springing up from the soil, they also invade our gardens by air. Wind carries pollen to flowerbeds where it is deposited on top of mulch, which decays into a fertile bed. Weeds not only try to penetrate weed matting from below, but can also grow on top of it. Depending on the type of weed matting used, these weeds can be very easy or very difficult to remove.
A large variety of weed matting is available, made from various materials offered in many different price categories. The three main classifications of weed matting are: thermally spunbonded (e.g. polypropylene), needle punched, and woven.
Of these, thermally spunbonded is reportedly the most resistant to weed growth, as the threads of the fabric are locked in place providing little give. While tiny roots might penetrate this fabric over time, they are easily removed because the roots can’t tangle themselves within the fabric. Needle punched weed matting contains loose threads that can more easily allow weeds to push through; and woven weed matting, although strong, offers spaces within the weave pattern for tiny roots to penetrate. In the latter case, weed roots can actually network throughout the woven weed matting, making the weeds difficult to remove without displacing or even destroying the fabric.
Before installation it is generally recommended that soil be prepared by adding compost and other necessary nutrients. Weed matting will make it more difficult, though not impossible, to add food and nutrients later.
While weed matting can reduce the need to spend time maintaining a flowerbed, some gardeners report poor plant growth over the long term after installing weed matting. Others claim that after leaving weed matting in place for several months, the soil beneath seemed to “die” or appeared like “cement.” Accordingly, conditions purportedly reverse with the weed matting removed. Some people substitute layers of newspaper or cardboard for weed matting, as these decompose with time and are organic. Others rely on a thick layer of mulch minus any type of weed matting.
Applications for weed matting that receive high praise all around include installation beneath patio or walkway stones to prevent weeds from coming up between the stones. Weed matting can also be installed beneath a thick layer of sand in a child’s play yard, or used to create a weed-free parking area. It also reduces erosion and may be useful for keeping soil in place in certain types of landscaping designs.
If you have a project that would be perfect for weed matting, you can find it online or at your local home improvement center. In all cases be sure to cover weed matting with a thick layer of mulch or other organic material to prevent premature decay of the fabric, and to maintain a more natural looking plant bed.
Written by R. Kayne
