How to Lay Landscaping Fabric

Determine where you want to lay the landscaping fabric. Place markers, such as stakes with string, to create a layout of the area. Edge along the marker line with a gas edger to ensure a clean appearance; you can use a spade shovel to edge if a gas edger isn't available.

Pull any large unwanted plants from inside the marked area by hand or use a shovel to dig around the roots before laying the landscaping fabric. You can cut the fabric around any plants that you want to leave in place.

Till the soil using a garden hoe or a rototiller to dig up unwanted plants and root systems.

Remove some top soil if possible so the fabric will lay slightly lower than the surrounding area. Level out the dirt area using a garden rake. Remove any sticks, rocks or other objects that could cause the fabric to tear.

Unroll the fabric next to the prepped area, making sure that the shiny side is facing up. Measure where any plants remain in the prepped area and lay locations out on the fabric. Cut an "X" into the fabric using a utility knife or scissors to indicate where you'll push each plant through the material. Make a slit rather than an "X" to indicate where you'll slide the fabric around the base of a larger foliage plant.

Overlap the fabric's edges by at least 3 inches when using more than one sheet to prevent weeds and unwanted plants from slipping through.

Cut any excess fabric so it fits in the laid out area and around the bases of larger plants and trees. Push fabric pins through the fabric at each corner and every 8 to 10 feet around the edges to secure it in the desired area. Place a few fabric pins into the center area for added stability if needed.