Ground Cover & Weed Control

Moffo · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 11 Feb 2009 Posts: 3

Hi, This may seem like a silly question, but here goes anyway.

We have a new garden and I would like to have a border on 3 sides of the lawn.
There is also a bank on 3 sides as well. I am planning on having the border about 2 metres wide all round, as the garden is about 25m x 12m. I would like to plant a mixture of Trees, Shrubs and Ground Cover plants.

The question is, do you put down weed control fabric, if you are planning on having a ground cover plant that will need to spread ?

Thanks for your advice.

medieval knievel · Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 12:18 pm Post subject:

in my (limited) experience, weed control fabric is only good for a year or two, if you're putting down bark mulch on top. leaves, etc., landing on the bark mulch and rotting with the bark provide a growing medium.

James Kilkelly · Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 11:15 pm Post subject: Re: Ground Cover & Weed Control

brian.shaugh · Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 8:55 am Post subject:

would agree with other comments. Weeds will grow on top of the membrane if there is bark mulch on it. However they would be easily hand weeded out.
Secret to weeds is just to keep on top of them, don't let them get out of control but spending 5 minutes every week pulling them up.

Sarah Evans · Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 9:09 am Post subject:

Depending on the quality of the weed membrame you should get more than a couple of years out of them. Whenever we are doing any improvements I find the membrame that the previous owner used and that was over 12 years ago that he put it down

The one issue I have with it is that if you use it in an area with any element of foot traffic it is prone to compaction. Our own soil is clay and all that happens is you get a layer of clay that the membrame clogs so the water just sits on the top.

In terms of an environmental aspect it is not the greatest of products and you could always use cardboard instead with a good layer of mulch on top.
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brian.shaugh · Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 11:32 am Post subject:

Cardboard - thats actually a really good idea thanks

appsy · Guest

appsy · Guest

Oh I forgot to mention. use harder fabric. The cheap garden centre stuff is no good. Found that out at my peril!

Alan

Geranimojess · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2014 4:23 pm Post subject:

I laid Membrane on a Pebbled area covering approx' 1/4 acre...it was the good stuff at least that's what my Wallet told me...anyway 2yrs later it's still paying dividends...and once a week I walk the area having to actually look for the weeds and if I find a handful that's my lot...and like you said 99% are weeds growing from the stones...only one weed "Horse Tail" manages to make up the 1% that actually manages to break through the Membrane...but all in all I reckon it was a sound Investment...
The only other area you'd want to look out for is the immediate area where you have to cut the Membrane for your Plants/Trees...