Advantages of Weed Block

Design

• Weed block is an engineered product of woven material. DuPont, a leading manufacturer of landscape fabric describes it as a "scientifically engineered non-woven fabric." They spin continuous filaments of polypropylene into a multidirectional web and then bond it together both thermally and mechanically. Manufacturers distribute weed block in rolls of various lengths and widths. Use longer runs of contiguous fabric to reduce problems associated with making the fabric too thick by overlapping it or leaving gaps between sections.

Roots

• Weed block slows weed growth and spread to a rate where gardeners can manage to eradicate the weeds. Weed block rarely eliminates all of the weeds in an area. If the fabric manages to stop seeds below it from germinating and growing into plants, then weeds may still grow on top of the fabric from seeds that the wind blows in or that birds drop or that passersby leave from the bottom of their shoes or their pant leg cuffs. Weed block makes it difficult for plants to develop strong and extensive roots because they have to work through the material to make contact with the soil. Gardeners have time to pull the weeds out while the weed is still in a weakened stage of its development.

Planting Beds

• Weed block gives the plants you want to grow a better chance by eliminating competitors, retaining soil moisture and allowing nutrients to reach the roots. Create the planting bed by reducing the number of weeds from the planting area. Either pull the weeds manually or use a chemical weed killer. Allow for the fact that perennial weeds tend to survive the process and you may bring new weed seeds to the surface when you disturb the soil. Smooth the soil with the back of a rake and lay the fabric over the area. Cut slits in the fabric and insert the rootball through and into the ground. Cover the weed block with organic mulch.

Bed Borders

• Use weed block under a loose gravel or pebble border for a planting bed. Both the fabric and the gravel allow water to pass through to the soil. The water helps to keep beneficial organisms in the soil alive. The gravel border improves drainage in the area and benefits plant roots. The combination of pebbles over weed fabric is less successful as a walkway because of the danger that the pressure of someone stepping down on the gravel or pebbles will puncture the fabric. If you decide to remove the rocks, you will have an easier time pulling up the fabric than extracting individual pebbles from the ground.