How much does weed suppressing membrane

I receive a common request from my clients to lay a weed membrane to “suppress weeds.” Maintenance will be minimized, and weed growth will be explicitly minimized.

Even though I may provide exactly what the client requests, what they expect, and what they get may be very different.

There’s a myth about suppressing weeds with membranes. I want to qualify that. It is a myth that a membrane can suppress weeds for long periods. It does not work if you’re going to plant in or around it and have your plants survive or thrive.

Fabrics and membranes can often make things worse.

In the case of hardstanding of aggregates, it may work as long as plants are not involved.

• 🌱 HEAVY-DUTY FABRIC – With a material thickness of 150g/m2, this weed barrier fabric is exceptionally durable. Garden streams can be covered not only with bark mulch but also with heavy gravel!
• 🌱 The firm fabric is easy to handle and can be cut to size with scissors. It has no fringes. When working in the garden, this saves time and nerves!
• 🌱 VERSATILE – Whether for weed control in beautiful rock gardens or vegetable beds or building patios and paving. The fleece can meet almost any purpose!
• 🌱 The cover fabric is not only a highly effective method of weed control but also a chemical-free alternative to conventional weed killers.
• 🌱 Why are you dissatisfied? If you are not 100% satisfied with the product, you can return it within 30 days without explanation, and you will receive a full refund. Without any ifs or buts.

Here’s why I don’t believe the weed-suppressing membrane myth

If a fabric is laid to cover the area between plants, whether it’s mulched or not, the site will eventually become fertile above the membrane. The ground below deteriorates as it becomes starved of nutrients as the material decomposes and provides a base for seeds to germinate.

As a layer of compost-like material forms on top of the fabric, the first things that grow will be those with tough roots – like ash and dandelion – which penetrate and anchor it. Would you please do your best to dig them up now?

They looked so bright when covered in aggregate for a while. There is detritus gathering between the stones, allowing seeds to germinate. They penetrate the fabric, and what follows is a familiar story.

In the meantime, the soil below cannot access the nutrients above. Materials in the ground are not accessible to worms working the soil. The organism gradually loses its life.

The no-maintenance garden and weed suppression are two of the garden types that I like. Although feasible, it requires many caveats and just as much effort to make it work.

Low maintenance can come from certain growing conditions or from choosing less demanding plants instead of a more limited palette of plants.

Why does suppressing weeds work?

Several things are better than the weed-suppressing membrane myth.

Stressing less about weeds helps. You have to realize that they are going to grow. You can eliminate them all in your garden, but the seeds will still blow in from next door. You can also use a therapeutic hoeing regime, leaving the cut weeds to dry in the sun.

Mulch works- plenty of it suppresses weeds. Once it starts to decompose, it becomes fertile. Therefore, you should renew it at least twice a year.

The presence of these plants destroys all surrounding seedlings. A dense planting plan prevents weed seeds from reaching the soil to grow. Allelopathy is a fascinating subject for those who have time to consider it.

Fabric for weed control, weed barrier, weed-suppressing membrane