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Planting Through Landscape Fabric
On this page find information about preventing weed growth around your vegetables by planting through mulch cloth, including:
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- Using landscape-fabric (mulch cloth) in weed prevention for vegetable gardens.
- The structure of non-woven landscape fabrics.
- Preventing weeds by denying them light.
- A step-by-step demonstration showing how to plant vegetables in a bed covered with landscape fabric to prevent weed growth.
Barrier Fabrics Block Weeds
Prevent weeds by transplanting through weed-barrier fabric to deny unwanted intruders the sunlight they need to grow while still allowing moisture to reach your plants’ roots.
Choose from two options:
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- Install porous plastic landscape fabric as a barrier against weed growth as you plant, as demonstrated here, or
- Apply an organic mulch such as straw around your plantings [see Applying Mulch].
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About Landscape Fabric and Organic Mulch
Landscape fabric is also known as mulch cloth or weed-barrier fabric. It helps soil warm in the sun, prevents weed seeds from receiving the sunlight, and stops their germination.
The non-woven cloth is also breathable. It allows water vapor and air to pass through it. These gasses easily pass to and from the soil under mulch cloth.
Lay mulch cloth directly on the prepared soil surface and over any drip irrigation lines.
Many gardeners apply straw, compost, organic mulch or other mulch materials over the mulch cloth to keep prevent fluctuations in the temperature of their bed’s soil by providing it more insulation from the sun’s heat and from cool night air.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Select an option, then gather the tools and materials required and follow these simple, do-it-yourself steps:
Preventing Weeds By Planting Through Landscape Fabric
After preparing the bed’s soil, roll out landscape fabric, overlapping seams 4–6 in. (10–15 cm) and stake all edges and seams.
Cut cross-shaped openings at each planting location as large as the transplant’s root ball.
Dig a hole as wide and deep as the transplant rootball through the cut opening, apply starter fertilizer, insert the plant into the hole, and firm the soil around it.
Other Weed-Prevention Options
If you prefer to prevent weeds by applying an organic mulch such as weed-free straw around your plants without using an underlay of weed-barrier landscape fabric, see the step-by-step instructions for Applying Mulch.