Landscaping Fabrics provide excellent Weed Control for your Shrubs and Bushes
Landscape Fabric
Landscaping Fabric, also called landscaping cloth, material, and paper, provides an excellent method of weed prevention that will last for many years. It is also extremely easy to install and requires little if no maintenance at all once installed. It is a synthetic material that can save you the trouble of garden weeding for the rest of your life.
Measure the area around your shrubs.
Get a measurement of the area around your bushes and shrubs, the more accurate your measurement, the less weeds you will have to deal with in the end. Landscaping Fabric is sold in rolls that measure out to different lengths. The prices can range from $10.00 to $80.00 depending on the amount you need. Either way, $80.00 for possibly 5 years of no weeding? Sounds good to me.
Decide the type and size mesh.
The mesh of the landscaping paper should be small enough to prevent weeds and grass from growing through. However, you are also going to want to make sure that the holes are large enough to allow water and air to penetrate. Wherever you buy the landscaping fabric should have the correct recommendations for the project you have at hand. The size of the mesh will vary from project to project.
Appropriate landscape fabric also permits fertilizer to make its way through to the shrubs. It is also permanent, as long as it is covered from sunlight, and it works to control unwanted soil erosion from rain and sprinklers.
The best type of landscaping fabric for around shrubs is thermally sub bonded. This is proven to be the most effective at controlling weeds, rather than the more loosely needle-punched or woven landscape fabrics.
Do not use plastic sheeting in place of landscaping fabrics. While they will prevent weeds from penetrating, it will also prohibit water, sun, and other nutrients from reaching the root system of your shrub. Utterly causing death to your shrubs.
Plant your Arborvitae.
Once your have the plants in your pre-dug holes, make sure they are straight. Tie them to poles if you have to. Fill the hole in with the soil you removed and water them generously. Keep the plants moist for the first few weeks of the planting to ensure that the root system does not dry out.
These plants will grow the quickest when they are young, and with the right amount of water and care, you should have your new, natural, privacy hedge row within a year or two.
Prepare the soil.
Remove and weed, grass, or other plants from the area around the shrubs you are about to install the landscaping fabric. Then, use a rake and remove any sticks, rocks, etc. that could over time penetrate and poke a hole through the landscaping fabric allowing weeds to surface. An ideal solution for landscaping fabric is to cultivate the ground with a garden cultivator to be sure all weed roots and debris are cut up and the soil is fresh.
Cut the notches.
Lay out the landscaping fabric in a straight line over the area you want covered. Cut a notch at the base of your tree or shrub. Make sure that the notch is large enough to accommodate for the base of the plant. Adjust the notch so that the fabric encompasses the base of the shrub/tree.
Continue laying out the fabric, repeating this process for each shrub in your path.
Secure the fabric to the ground.
Once all the fabric has been laid, secure the material with the appropriate landscape pins, pegs or staples. Make sure to use sufficient number of fasteners at no less than 5 feet apart, and closer around shrubs.
Cover the fabric with a protective material.
Since landscape fabric can not be left exposed, the last step is to cover it with some type of protective material. The best choices are tree bark, mulch or stones. When spreading the mulch/bark/stones over the area, use caution to ensure the tines of the rake don't penetrate the landscape fabric.
