Landscape Fabric vs Viscious Weeds!?

[timiano]

Hi all

Put down some heavy duty landscape fabric about 6 weeks ago on the pathways between beds. Added about 1-2 inch of chipped bark over it as a mulch and it all looked pretty dandy.

However, today I discover that some of the weeds have actually managed to poke through the fabric!!! It's almost like they have burst/ate their way through. Any similar experiences? I was expected that to be the end of it except ones finding their way from the edges. Clearly not.

They are easy to pull, but I'm still amazed they got through something that is designed to errrrr,....keep them away?!

Help!

[timiano]

[SMP1704]

Yes, happened to me as well.  I used woven landscape fabric and I think that was the problem.  In other areas I used a non-woven porous fabric and nothing is getting through that.......(yet)

[cambourne7]

sorry to put a dampener on it but ihave the non woven stuff and the weeds just grew on top!

[Tee Gee]

Sounds like a great deal of expense for nothing it seems.

Personally I just treat my three main walkways, i.e. the ones between my beds are just hoed to keep the weeds down.

How I do it (as I think I have described before) is to cut old compost bags down either side thus forming a strip of black plastic about five foot long and of a width suited to paths.

Once laid in place I cover with wood shreddings supplied FOC from the council.

Cost!! none!!

[manicscousers]

that's the way we did our fist ones, tg..worked really well..since we've got the new plot, we can't get the same amount of wood chips or ash so we put down really thick cardboard, weed control then chips as and when we get some  :)

[SMP1704]

Sounds like a great deal of expense for nothing it seems.

Found some good deals on ebay and bogoff at Wilkos - not exactly for nothing - you should see the area that I haven't covered :o :o

[dtw]

Has anybody used this stuff?
Is it cheap?

http://www.lbsgardenwarehouse.co.uk/product.asp?pf_id=R-GCP&recno=2

[SMP1704]

DTW

I think that would be OK for annuals, but then a hoe does a good job for a lot less dosh!

It looks like the woven stuff that I used and perennials will find a way thro although, it is still better than no suppression.

I think that it is expensive - I got mine from ebay - £24 for 4mx50m

Happy weeding..........

[Barnowl]

Might be worth checking out this thread.....

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,27585.msg272019.html#msg272019