Pros and Cons of using Landscape Fabric?

[plowhog]

I'm getting tired of constant weed eating along irrigation ditches. It takes a long time and I'm looking for a better solution.

The ditches are near fence lines, ranging from 1-5 feet from the fence and meandering around. So it is hard to get power equipment on the "other side" of the ditch to mow, plus the terrain is uneven and there are some rocks.

I'm thinking of putting landscape fabric between the fence and the ditch, then pinning it to the ground and covering it with something. Maybe gravel, or rocks, or mulch? Hopefully to preclude anything from growing. I don't envision ever planting bushes or trees on the narrow space between the ditch and the fence.

What are the pros and cons of using landscape fabric for a project such as this?

 

[boomer1025]

Landscape fabric is nice for a short while, then the weeds grow in the rock or mulch and the fabric itself. Spray it with Roundup if your worried about the fish or standing water, use a produce called Rodeo, it's made to use around bodies of water like ponds ect.

 

[mikester]

I'm getting tired of constant weed eating along irrigation ditches. It takes a long time and I'm looking for a better solution.

The ditches are near fence lines, ranging from 1-5 feet from the fence and meandering around. So it is hard to get power equipment on the "other side" of the ditch to mow, plus the terrain is uneven and there are some rocks.

I'm thinking of putting landscape fabric between the fence and the ditch, then pinning it to the ground and covering it with something. Maybe gravel, or rocks, or mulch? Hopefully to preclude anything from growing. I don't envision ever planting bushes or trees on the narrow space between the ditch and the fence.

What are the pros and cons of using landscape fabric for a project such as this?

I find at least 4 inches of mulch works better at making weeding easier than the landscape fabric. Once the weeds grow through the fabric they are near impossible to manually remove.

 

[MossRoad]

As others have mentioned, I've found that landscape fabric works for a while, but then roots grow through it, and it's impossible to pull out. I'd look for some type of ground cover to plant that grows thick and that'll discourage weed growth.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

Landscape fabric is the devil's invention.

 

[plowhog]

I'm forming an impression that if I put this stuff in I need special clothing during installation. Like a set of horns and a pitchfork.

 

[ovrszd]

Landscape fabric is the devil's invention.

Wish I would have invented it. Reckon there's any profit in that crap????

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

I'm forming an impression that if I put this stuff in I need special clothing during installation. Like a set of horns and a pitchfork.

If you post a pic, I might have some ideas for you.

 

[stuckmotor]

When we tried it, Bermuda grass found it's way to the top in a year or two. Black plastic didn't work well, either. I found mowing less trouble.

 

[fishheadbob]

I disagree. I use landscape fabric a lot with a few inches of mulch on top. Sure weeds will appear eventually but I think there's not nearly as many, and they pull out more easily. And I have tough weeds, I'd put mine up against anybody's in a knock down drag out fight. I also think that liberal usage of mulch helps the desirable plant grow a little better - stuff like moisture retention and less competition from weeds - which helps shade out weeds to some degree.

 

[KennyG]

I've had good luck with landscape fabric. As noted, if you put mulch on it, weeds will appear but be easier to pull. I've had better luck with stone. 3 or 4 inches of stone over the fabric pretty much stops everything. I have areas I did about 8 years ago and so far, no weeds at all.

Whatever you do, do not use black plastic. The previous owner of my place put down black plastic and covered it with mulch. I'm still finding it buried and creating a muddy mess.

 

[Streetcar]

Irrigation ditch will collect silt which will allow weeds to grow in and through fabric. Do not use fabric in the ditch

 

[oldballs]

Hardly anything man made is "forever". I think landscape fabric, the good brands, do what they intend. I've used it in garden paths with shredded cedar branches as a mulch. Yes the dirt washes over it and some weeds do grow in and thru it. But I am able to maintain it rather easily by pulling or slicing a hoe between the fabric and the weed. I've also use such fabric with a rock (solid or decorative) covering it. That works to my satisfaction...e.g. where i park my equipment trailer.

But I'd doubt that using fabric in you application would be worth the cost or effort.

Cheers to finding what will work best
Mike........

P.S, How about filling in the ditch with dirt to level it up enough to mow.???

 

[MossRoad]

When bark mulch rots, it turns to dirt. Then you have dirt over landscape fabric, the weeds root in dirt, spread their roots through the fabric, and its a lot harder to pull out VS just in dirt. I've given up on landscape fabric and just throw on an inch or two of fresh mulch ever year or two and I'm good.

The only places I use solid plastic sheeting is in an area on a slight slope where I want any rain water to percolate downhill away from my house. That works pretty good, especially if you put rocks over the plastic. Mulch tends to wash off it.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Crab grass grows thru landscape fabric...
Weeds in my garden grow under it, and are now pushing it apart.

 

[plowhog]

How about filling in the ditch with dirt to level it up enough to mow.???

There is 120 gallons per minute of water flowing through the ditch during irrigation season.

There seems quite a variation of experience both pro and con with this landscape fabric stuff ...

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

You can *make* landscape fabric work, like anything else, at least for a while, if you maintain it. As a former landscape designer I've pulled up more than my share of the stuff. Never installed it. I talked people out of it because these were people who wanted a *low-maintenance* solution. Most of these people find that after 1-4 years the LF system fails, i.e., there are just as many weeds as before plus a lot of ugly fabric poking out--and it's a bear to pull up at that point.

I think the point is, after the first year, you're still weeding, and almost as much as before, because weeds begin seeding themselves into the mulch, dirt, or rocks on top of the material. Pretty soon, every weed you pull disturbs the material. The fabric starts poking up, especially on the edges, which looks awful. It also begins to tear and the weeds take advantage of that. Frost-heave and heavy rains will also do a number on it. Soon, every weed you pull also requires some kind of repair to the fabric, doubling your work, and the whole thing looks like HE double-hockey-sticks.

I hope it continues to work for you, Fishhead. Sounds like you don't mind maintaining it. I still believe it's not the best solution if you want *low maintenance*.

 

[CADplans]

what about,,,

Pramitol 25E Herbicide Concentrate, 2.5 gal. at Tractor Supply Co.



It worked wonders for us around barns, silos, anywhere we did not want to mow,,, EVER!!

If you put down mulch, the mulch decomposes, and makes the soil MORE fertile,,, MORE WEEDS!! :confused2:

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

Most weeds prefer poor, acidic, dry soil.

 

[4570Man]

It seems like we’re mostly on the same side here. Landscape fabric is terrible. I don’t like mulch either. Rocks probably cost 5 times as much but it’s a forever project. Mulch needs it every year and no insect problems with rock.