What Is Commercial Landscape Fabric and Why Should You Use

There’s one positive thing that happened during the pandemic. It’s that people have been spending more time gardening. Millions of people have turned to growing plants and working on their gardens.

One thing every gardener faces is weeds. These pesky greens can destroy your crops or ruin the lovely landscaping in front of your house. There are many weed control methods open to you. You can pull or dig them out. You can cut them every week or use chemicals. Or you can put down commercial landscape fabric.

What is Landscape Fabric?

Landscape fabric is also known as weed fabric. It’s a material made to act as a barrier between the sun and soil. It’s often made from woven fibers. Some are now manufactured as one solid sheet of fiber. The sheets have holes that allow water to soak through them. There are types of landscape fabric with UV protection. This helps extend the fabric’s life.

Landscape fabrics are often bought in rolls. They’re often 3 feet wide. Lengths can be anywhere from 50 feet to more than 200 feet. Costs vary and depend on the thickness and brand.

How Do You Use Landscaping Fabrics

The main purpose of this fabric is to act as a barrier. It will stop weeds and invasive grass from growing. It can also prevent ground-born pests and insects from getting to the plants.

The fabric is first laid over the soil. Another material is then placed over it. For instance, gardeners can put it on the ground around trees, bushes, or shrubs. A layer of mulch is then placed on top of it. You can also place pebbles, gravel, or sand on top of it. Thicker landscaping fabrics can also withstand heavier rocks or bricks.

Types of Commercial Landscaping Fabric

Your idea for landscape design could work better if you use landscaping fabric. But you must choose the right material that will last a long time under the elements. If you want your yard looking its best, pick from these three types of landscape fabric.

· Woven

Woven landscape fabrics are a favorite among professional landscapers and gardeners. This type is now made from either linen or polypropylene. The fibers are woven together to make a semi-permeable but durable fabric.

Woven landscape fabrics have small holes for nutrients and water to enter. These life-giving essentials will still seep through. But it stops weeds from growing towards the sun. This type is a good weed deterrent around trees and shrubs. You can also use them in flower beds, but only if the plants are not changed often.

You can get this landscape fabric in a natural brown color as well as in black or green. Some brands are UV resistant while others have become treated to be UV stable. This makes them more durable from the heat of the sun.

· Non-Woven

This commercial fabric is ideal for landscaping design ideas using rocks and gravel. This type of fabric is made from polypropylene or polyester. They’re less permeable so water or nutrients cannot pass through them. This feature makes it ideal for using rock beds or gravel paths.

Non-woven fabrics are also more stable. Its sturdy design stops stones from sinking down into the soil. Many landscapers choose professional-grade fabrics to place underneath stone pavers. It also holds up well under large hardscaping elements.

· Perforated

You can also choose perforated landscape fabrics in your simple front yard landscapes. These are lightweight and designed with pre-cut holes. These perforations are where you’ll place your plants.

The fabric is so light it won’t kill the plant’s roots. It’s what makes them ideal in areas of the garden where plants have an even pattern. It’s also good with perennials since you can uproot and change them with no problems. Many vegetable gardens use perforated landscaping cloths. But don’t use it in areas with a lot of foot traffic.

· Spun

Spun landscape fabrics are the hardiest of the bunch. This type is often made from several layers of bonded polyester fabrics. The layers make it very durable and difficult to tear.

The fabric comes in various thicknesses. The thinner ones are more permeable. It allows for water and air to pass through, but it’s still durable and tough. It’s very versatile and can be used as a weed barrier. But it can also act as a border against invasive grasses and pests. The thicker fabrics are so impermeable they’re also used in retaining walls. They’re effective in stopping seepage and warding off roots.

Reasons to Use Landscaping Fabric

A landscaping fabric can make life easier for a homeowner. Here’s why you should consider adding it to your yard:

• It prevents weed seeds from sprouting. Every seed needs air, water, and light to grow. Landscape fabric can deny weeds these things. Even if the seeds germinate under the fabric, they will soon die out.
• You won’t have to use chemicals to control weeds. Many homeowners are wary about using pesticides. This is especially true for those with children or pets. You don’t have to worry about it with a landscape fabric in place.
• It can help control soil erosion. Semi-permeable landscape fabric will allow some water to seep through. But it can protect the ground surface from water rushing down a slope. There’s less soil erosion this way.

Enjoy More Time Outdoors

You don’t have to spend hours weeding and cutting grass. Landscape Improvements can make sure the time you spend in your garden is a peaceful one. We are one of Florida’s best landscaping companies. We can design a sustainable and customized landscape design that’s unique to you. We offer commercial and residential landscaping maintenance. We also do sod installation, arbor care, and landscape lighting. You can call us at 407-606-7326. You can also email us at info@landscapeimprovementsfl.com.