Let's Talk About Landscape Fabric!

[kaiwik]

Thank you for all of the input, I am going to lay the fabric before having the raised bed built. I fully understand that there will always be weeds, that is simply part of gardening.

@Jackmannii

Also, in my experience if weeds are such a problem that they can’t be controlled by handpicking and mulching, it’s an indication that the gardener is taking on too much and would benefit by having a smaller area under cultivation.

I am not the only person in my household who works on the gardening, I am simply the oldest and “head gardener”. Leaving that strip as it is is not an option, it’s an eyesore in between my fabulous flower beds and the new neighbor’s new landscaping. Putting down gravel is not an option, it’s ugly. I want a raised bed in which to plant some perennials and blooming shubberies. I have no problem getting out and weeding, I actually enjoy the time I spend in my gardens, even when I am pulling shotweed and digging dandelions, It gives me time to think thoughts and sing to my flowers. I have been dealing with the blackberries and bindweed all my life, but I have never had a home with an invasion of horsetail like the one I am currently dealing with.

I just refreshed this page and see that you, Jackmannii have added a post since I began typing this. I am happy to note that you excluded me in your description of new gardeners because I have been in the gardens with my grandmother since I was 6 months old. There are photos, and that would have been 1960! Grandma was my hero and favorite relative, and I wish I could ask her questions now, but she has been gone for a long time. I am a long time gardener, I was successful even when hacking out some land to plant potatoes, cabbage, and rutabagas in the village on Kodiak Island, and while that took a lot of my time, dodging both mosquitos and bears, I still found time to grow flowers in the front of my house, including roses. If it wasn’t for the horsetail I would just plant in the soil, as acid as it is rhodies and azaleas would love the front bit, and back closer to the fence where it gets more shade, well, hydrangeas, and they would be a beautiful blue. Alas and alack the horsetail will choke everything out. The landscape fabric may slow them down to the point where I can deal with them, but as it is, they own that strip, and quite frankly I double dog dare you to keep them in check with just weeding!

Again, I thank everyone for their responses, and I’ll update this with photos once I get it up and planted!

[thorny_locust]

@PoppaSan

Do you know anyone that installs carpeting? My brother does and his garden is wall to wall carpeting. Used from tear outs, not new. I’ve used it for areas also - tomatoes, melons, cucumbers. Lasts about 5 years in the Midwest. Lay it bottom up and it all looks tan. Don’t use the padded stuff.

I would be cautious about what the carpeting’s made out of and whether it’s been fumigated with anything long-lasting. Especially if you’re going to be eating out of that garden.