Black Fabric Weed Preventer

[SkyRider]

Do these black fabric weed preventers really work and for how long?

Guy at Home Hardware said to just lay the fabric on top of the soil and then lay some stones/bricks/patio stones/gravel, etc. on top of the fabric. Is Fall the best time to lay the fabric?

 

[Aardvark154]

Do these black fabric weed preventers really work and for how long?

Guy at Home Hardware said to just lay the fabric on top of the soil and then lay some stones/bricks/patio stones/gravel, etc. on top of the fabric. Is Fall the best time to lay the fabric?

Yes, but they kill whatever is under them. And we are talking about several months not several days.

I don't know what they officially advise but having it down over the winter isn't going to do a damned thing. Growing season is when you want to block the light.

 

[Mervyn]

It will kill everything underneath it, and will prevent new plants from growing.. probably for about one season or so. Depends on the quality of the fabric and what you have on top of it. Problem is when you lay down stones, gravel etc, they will eventually trap weeds seeds which can make their way through the fabric eventually.

Just one tear and a weed will find a way, plus after a time enough dust will build up in the cracks for new weeds to start growing.

Question is, are you doing this to have a weed free patio ? or do you just want to kill the weeds that are there now ? ?

 

[Asterix]

Depends on what you are trying to kill. If it's anything with a strong regenerative root system, like black berry bushes, most likely it won't work. Also there are some plants that set seed that can lie dormant for a year or more and still sprout.

 

[Aardvark154]

Depends on what you are trying to kill. If it's anything with a strong regenerative root system, like black berry bushes, most likely it won't work. Also there are some plants that set seed that can lie dormant for a year or more and still sprout.

Yes, I should qualify my remarks above with this, which is entirely true.

 

[Mencken]

Fabric (the better quality ones anyway) will prevent shoots or plants from growing up from underneath and will also prevent most seeds from getting an effective root system if growing from above the fabric. But some plants can still get fibrous roots through the fabric and grow, so the trick is to keep the area above the fabric clear and clean so there is no growth medium for seedlings. Easier said than done.

 

[Mencken]

The best solution is two layers with fabric if you can afford that.

First have a layer of gravel...maybe 2 or 3 inches, well drained say 3/4 inch clear. Flatten that gravel then fabric. Then another layer of finer gravel, flatten it, then more fabric. Then lay your pavers above that.

That keeps stuff from coming up from below, and keeps moisture away from the area under your pavers where plant roots might get water.

 

[Asterix]

I have a healthy respect for the sheer determination of plants. A couple years ago my Mom decided she wanted to cut down her bamboo plants, which we did. The growth above ground was kept in check for over a year. Then we noticed the brick of her patio was starting to rise. I removed several bricks and found massive roots migrating to the other side. It took me a reciprecating saw and several hours to hack them all up. It wouldn't shock me if they started up again.

 

[SkyRider]

Ok, here's the story. My front yard was covered with patio stones and there was the occasional weed popping up between the cracks. I dug up all the patio stones and the yard is now almost weed free, only black soil.

I want to lay down new patio stones over half the yard and cover the other half with small pebbles. One of my neighbours said I should lay down this black fabric first and then put the patio stones and pebbles on top.

 

[SkyRider]

The best solution is two layers with fabric if you can afford that.

First have a layer of gravel...maybe 2 or 3 inches, well drained say 3/4 inch clear. Flatten that gravel then fabric. Then another layer of finer gravel, flatten it, then more fabric. Then lay your pavers above that.

That keeps stuff from coming up from below, and keeps moisture away from the area under your pavers where plant roots might get water.

This sounds like a lot of work and material.

 

[TPO]

Ok, here's the story. My front yard was covered with patio stones and there was the occasional weed popping up between the cracks. I dug up all the patio stones and the yard is now almost weed free, only black soil.

I want to lay down new patio stones over half the yard and cover the other half with small pebbles. One of my neighbours said I should lay down this black fabric first and then put the patio stones and pebbles on top.

Those same steps have worked for two summer for me now.

I would be careful of slope and drainage as that material is porous but in heavy rain acts like a plastic sheet and water can pool or worse run back to the building.

 

[SkyRider]

Those same steps have worked for two summer for me now.

I would be careful of slope and drainage as that material is porous but in heavy rain acts like a plastic sheet and water can pool or worse run back to the building.

Did you lay down the fabric in the Fall or in the Spring? The earth is quite soft right now.

 

[TPO]

Did you lay down the fabric in the Fall or in the Spring? The earth is quite soft right now.

I did it in the fall. Loosened soil, removed top vegetation, rolled
and packed loose soil, covered then patio stones and feature plants.

 

[OddSox]

I don't think I've seen a professional job where they used this for patios. You need the proper preparation of the base or the patio stones will heave within the next winter or three - layers of gravel and sand for a total of six inches deep. For example, see http://www.capbrick.com/paver_installation.htm although there's probably better instructions somewhere. The fabric underlay doesn't last very long - you might as well use Roundup to kill the weeds and then re-lay the stones if/when it becomes necessary.

Note that these fabric sheets do work well when used to prevent weeds in gardens - just lay it down between the rows. Saves hours of backbreaking hoeing!

 

[Mervyn]

Just as easy to get an electric kettle, when the water comes to a boil pour onto the weeds then cover with that days paper ( Paper not neeeded but it does speed things up a bit) wait an hour and the weed is dead right down to the roots.

 

[Asterix]

Just as easy to get an electric kettle, when the water comes to a boil pour onto the weeds then cover with that days paper ( Paper not neeeded but it does speed things up a bit) wait an hour and the weed is dead right down to the roots.

Including Canadian Thistle? Don't think so.

 

[landscaper]

the geo tech fabric is designed to go under ground cover of some kind, mulch, stones etc. It stops the weeds from rooting but it needs to be covered

 

[SkyRider]

the geo tech fabric is designed to go under ground cover of some kind, mulch, stones etc. It stops the weeds from rooting but it needs to be covered

The problem with mulch is that it breaks down after 2-3 years. Maybe gravel or pebbles?

 

[Whosyodaddy]

http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/...artial&Ntx=mode+matchall&N=0&Ntk=P_PartNumber


Limestone screenings... drainage and weed prevention in one bag...

 

[Ceiling Cat]

I have a patio with bricks and the black fabric barrier, now years later it slows the weeds but some are popping up. What I do is use a propane plumbers torch to burn the weeds out. Do it when they are small and sprouting and it will only take a few minutes. If you have grass growing between stones now, go out and torch them out and you will be ahead next season. It will be easy now as many have dried out and will burn fast. If the grass and weeds are wet, it is even easier to torch because the moisture will boil and kill the plant with steam when it is hit with the flame.