300 Homeowners Share What They Use For a Weed Barrier

300 Homeowners Share What They Use For a Weed Barrier

Some homeowners have as much beef with landscape fabric as they do with the weeds they're meant to prevent. We asked 300 homeowners what they've found works best as a weed barrier. Their responses show just how hard it is to stop weeds and how wide the opinions are on landscape fabric. Here are some of our favorite written responses:

• "Nothing works. Weeds gonna weed."

• "Landscape fabrics aren't meant to stop all weeds. They work well at what they're intended for: keeping many weeds back, but not all, and serving as a layer between your top layer and the soil."

• "One of my friends told me landscape fabric was more trouble than it's worth. I didn't listen. Spread the word — it's a royal pain, and it really doesn't work."

• "It's more about finding ways to make it easier on yourself to get the weeds out. Very few people have the luxury of not having to maintain weeds. The rest of us just have to find set-ups to make it easier."

It's clear stopping weeds is hard work. But let's take a look at some of the ways homeowners have found to do a decent enough job to make their work easier.

Key Results

Understanding Weed Barriers in Landscaping

It is easy for weeds to be one of the worst problems in lawn care. They spread fast. They rave within flower beds. Many species are invasive, which can cause other plants to lose the sunlight, water, and nutrients they need because of the weed's high growth rates. 

Everyone does their best to keep them back. You might use chemical herbicides. Or, you might lay down physical weed barriers like landscaping fabric in an attempt to prevent weed seeds from germinating and spreading by blocking the layer of soil at ground level.

Homeowners use lots of materials for weed barriers. Others don't use any weed barriers (56 votes). They feel landscape fabrics are too much trouble, and they're better off preventing weeds by tending to the overall health of their garden.

RELATED: Homeowners share how to get rid of weeds

What is Landscaping Fabric, and is it Effective?

Landscaping fabric, or weed barrier fabric, is a porous, flexible product constructed of woven or non-woven fabrics. It lays flat over the top of your soil, blocking sunlight so, in theory, weed seeds don't germinate while still allowing water, water, air, and nutrients to get in. 

As evidenced by our survey, homeowner opinions vary (we’re of the opinion that they’re more trouble than they’re worth). Some have had decent luck with them, while tons of others say that they break down over time, let weeds through, and become a garbage pile of ineffective, bad-looking fabric.

Landscaping fabrics are ineffective mainly because nature is persistent. You lay it down and get it set like a pro (or hire a pro). Over time, the wind blows dirt up into that area, a squirrel comes by and adds a little dirt and poop, a bird transfers a weed seed, leaves and debris compost, and now there's a ripe environment for weeds on top of your weed barrier.

At the end of the day, landscaping fabric isn't going to prevent every weed, but it might be helpful to separate the soil from whatever you want to lay on top and to keep that aggregate from sinking. The majority of survey takers (26.3%) still use it as their weed barrier of choice. 

Types of Landscaping Fabrics  

Landscape fabrics aren't one size fits all. Homeowners choose different types to help meet their need. There are four basic landscaping fabrics: spun, woven, non-woven, and perforated.

Spun Fabric: Spun landscape fabrics are produced by bonding polyester fibers with compression and heat. 

They're often used in flower beds and hedges to promote water flow and to block out the sun.

Woven Fabrics: These fabrics are made of interwoven polypropylene or polyester fibers. They are tough, so you can use them in areas with frequent foot traffic, like pathways or over heavy mulch. They're hard to puncture. Many homeowners use them around trees and shrubs. They have small holes to allow air, water, and other nutrients to get through.

Non-Woven Fabric: These materials are not as permeable. They're good for areas where you don't want much water to get through. They're thicker and more resistant to wear.

Choosing the right landscaping fabric is about knowing which type to use based on the situation. Weather is one factor to consider. Spun or woven fabrics are ideal for rainy areas because they let the water flow out and don't give weeds the water they need. Non-woven fabrics retain water better and prevent evaporation, so they're a good choice if you live in a dry climate.

Your soil type is also important to consider. For example, sandy soils need non-woven materials to keep water, while clay soils demand spun or woven fabrics that drain more effectively. What types of plants do you have? Deep-rooted plants need a fabric that allows for root growth (go for one that's woven or spun). Those plants with more shallow roots can benefit from non-woven types.

Keep in mind that fabrics that are strong and UV-resistant might cost more up-front, but they won't need to be replaced as often.

RELATED: Homeowners Share the Weeds They Leave Alone (Some are Actually Good)

Geotextiles as a Weed Barrier

Geotextiles and landscape fabrics look similar and share some similarities. Geotextiles, though, are used in projects like building roads, railways, dikes, and other construction and stabilization applications. They're not typically used in residential landscape settings, but a handful of survey-takers (14 votes) said they've successfully used these materials as a weed barrier.

The use of geotextiles in civil engineering and agriculture means they provide some permeability and weed prevention. They're usually made of polyester or polypropylene and are designed to provide soil stabilization, erosion management, and drainage for various outdoor uses.

Homeowners claim geotextiles act as a weed barrier by keeping out sunlight and stopping them from germinating. Geotextiles come in non-woven and woven textures, so they maintain stable soil moisture through reduced evaporation, a feature that can come in handy in dry climates.

Geotextiles are installed like landscaping fabrics. They're typically laid flat on mowed ground and then filled with mulch, gravel, or rocks. This covering layer not only looks good, but it also shields the fabric from UV radiation and wear and tear. Since they're dependable and lasting, geotextiles are ideal for high foot traffic areas, hillsides, and garden pathways where regular landscape cloth can become brittle faster.

RELATED: Chemical-Free Weed Control: Easy and Effective Methods

DIY Weed Barriers

For homeowners looking to save money and use what they have lying around as a weed barrier, there are some popular picks — cardboard (58 votes), newspaper (28 votes), and feed sacks (9 votes) made the list as popular DIY weed barriers.

Survey-takers said these items function much like landscape fabric. They block sunlight and block weed seeds from getting into the soil. For cardboard or newspaper, apply a large amount directly on the soil with overlapping edges to almost cover the entire area and fill it in with mulch.

The school of thought here is that these will break down over time and contribute to the soil through composting. Some respondents noted that they had no luck with cardboard and newspaper. Apparently, they broke down quickly once mulch was added.

Quick Summary

We asked 300 homeowners what they choose to use for weed barriers. Despite many who aren't fans of it, landscape fabrics (79 votes) were the top choice.

Many homeowners don't use barriers at all. They prefer to fight off weeds by tending to their lawns, ensuring they know their soil and grasses, and mowing, watering, and applying herbicides like they need to.

We found that many believe DIY weed barriers work well. Homeowners included cardboard, newspaper, and feed sacks in the vote tally.