Last Updated on December 15, 2021 by Grow with Bovees
Who wants weeds OR weeding chores, nobody, right?
Investing in the best weed barrier fabric is an excellent option for anyone with a vested interest in dealing with invasive weeds.
Whether for large scale outdoor landscaping projects, vegetable gardens or simply maintaining a healthy and aesthetically-appealing garden.
Which is the Best Weed Control Fabric For Me?
Depending on location and specific needs, different weed barriers are suitable for different applications.
To help you determine which particular landscape fabric is right for your particular application, the Bovees Research Team have identified the top options available and detailed them in terms of eco-friendliness, convenience, quality of material & size.
Keep in mind that before you make a final choice, it’s a good idea to measure the size of the area you need to cover, in order to work out the best size rolls to suit your needs.
Our top picks come in widths of 3ft or 4ft and lengths from 50ft to 300 ft.
1. ECOgardener Landscape Fabric 3ft x 50ft
The ECOgardener Landscape Fabric is a premium option to provide unparalleled weed control in larger projects although it can also be used for small, at-home gardening projects. The option listed here comes in a 3ft by 50ft size. However, the ECOgardener is available in two different widths; 3 ft or 4 ft and roll lengths of 50ft, 100 ft or 250 ft.
We’ve placed the ECOgardener in the top spot for its durable material and heavy-duty weed blocking capabilities.
The sturdy construction of the ECOgardener fabric is made to last and can be used in all seasons, holding up to the harshest weather conditions.
The porous design allows water and air to flow through so plants will stay happy and healthy.
The premium fabric is flexible and easy to cut and slit for plants of all sizes.
The ECOgardener Landscape Fabric is a 5oz mat that comes with easy setup and user-friendly instructions for installation.
This mat is hassle-free and will keep weeds away for good!
On top of all that, it is also eco-friendly and safe for the environment. The ECOgardener allows you to do your part for the environment by reducing the use of chemicals and weed sprays.
2. AHG Garden Weeds 3ft x 300ft
The American Home & Garden weed suppression fabric manufactured by Uni-Source Textile, is a great value option for gardeners and landscapers in need of premium weed control. We recommend this durable fabric product for both casual and professional seasonal users.
Garden Weeds by AHG is a top seller for weed barrier users.
The high-quality fabric is made of 100% polypropylene. Which does mean that it is not UV resistant, so needs to be protected from direct sunlight, (UV rays), as it will otherwise degrade over time.
Hence, it needs to be entirely covered with soil, dirt, gravel or mulch when installed in the garden.
However, if installed and maintained correctly, this product will effectively protect plants against unwanted weeds and growth for up to 20 years.
The material is flexible and lightweight so it is very straightforward to use and handle,
The Garden Weeds weed barrier cloth fabric allows water and air to pass through, allowing nutrients to reach plants and roots easily.
However, the cloth does require extensive soaking to properly retain moisture for more extended periods of time.
Garden Weeds provides one of the best options for keeping weeds under control and is an excellent budget-friendly option for at-home gardeners.
The option linked above is available in 3ft x 300ft to cover large backyard areas and weighs 8.33lbs.
3. Amagabeli 4ft x 100ft
The Amagabeli Landscape Fabric is a heavy-duty ground cover made of durable and flexible geotextile cloth.
For any-sized flower beds or landscaping project, the Amagabeli weed fabric cover will effectively eliminate weeds.
At 5.08oz (0.19 kg) weight, the Amagabeli is a high-density fabric of considerable thickness for premium level weed control.
This ground cover includes densely woven needle punched fabric with a dual-layer and professional-grade polyester.
This high-quality polyester and polypropylene woven fabric is precisely what you need to keep weeds away for good. The tear resistant material features high strength and durability, leading to a long-lasting product. The premium design effectively lets air and water through to preserve soil moisture while blocking unwanted growth.
The Amagabeli is durable in all types of harsh weather and is eco and earth-friendly. With reduced soil erosion, the Amagabeli Landscape Fabric protects your plants, ecosystem, and landscaping. After installation, sit back and watch your plants thrive.
Installation of the Amagabeli is easy and user-friendly with easy-to-lay fabric that can be cut with regular house scissors. The material even features green stripes that aid in plant alignment.
The Amagabeli listed here is available in various dimensions, including 4ft by 100ft, 3ft x 300ft, and 6ft by 300ft.
4. Hoople Ultra Thick 4ft x 180ft
The Hoople Ultra Thick Landscape fabric protects plants and landscaping by allowing water and air to reach plants while simultaneously blocking weed growth. The thick cloth is excellent for sunlight blocking, preventing plants from drying out between watering.
We like the Hoople Ultra Thick for its thicker-than-average fabric — two to three times thicker than other leading brands of weed cloth.
Since the fabric is extra thick, it’s durable and long-lasting, meaning you can spend less time using a weed puller, and more time caring for plants and enjoying beautiful outdoor spaces. Gardens, rockeries and landscaped areas will be kept weed-free for significantly longer.
The Hoople Ultra thick weed cloth is easy to install and user-friendly. Just roll it out onto soil or lawn and plant!
For consumers concerned about the environment, the Hoople Ultra Thick landscape fabric is environmentally friendly and completely chemical-free. The fabric won’t harm the ecosystem of the flower bed or yard where it is installed.
The Hoople Ultra Thick weed barrier is available in various dimensions and sizes, including 4ft x 180ft, 3ft x 50ft, 3ft by 100ft, and 4ft by 100ft.
What is a Weed Barrier?
Weed barriers are also known as landscaping fabric or weed control fabric.
Basically it is an earth-friendly porous barrier fabric used to maintain the growth of healthy plants in a garden or outdoor space, while preventing weeds and unwanted plant growth.
Weed barriers can be cut with a sharp knife, and placed around existing plants or installed in the growing area before planting flowers, shrubs, or trees.
(Correct installation is a key factor in the effectiveness of landscape fabric, but we’ll cover more on that later…)
Essentially, high-quality landscape fabric works by reducing the number of unwanted weeds without limiting the amount of water, air, sun, and fertilizer available for the plants you want to flourish.
Are Landscape Fabrics eco-friendly?
Yes, they most certainly are an eco-friendly alternative to laying plastic — or worse — pouring chemicals and weed killing products onto the soil.
Weed-killing chemicals can be highly harmful to the environment, animals, and your plants!
Why do I Need a Weed Barrier Fabric?
Controlling the growth of weeds in your yard with a landscape fabric has many benefits.
To start with, a weed block fabric hugely reduces the back-breaking labour of removing pesky invaders.
You’ll spend less time pulling out the overgrowth and fighting against mother nature.
It also helps to retain moisture in the soil by acting as an extra shield from the sun, saving cost of water and also preventing roots from drying out during periods of unexpected drought.
With a weed barrier, moisture can be retained in the nearby soil for up to seven years.
Weed barrier cloths are an eco-friendly excellent alternative to harsh chemicals which would otherwise be required to reduce the appearance of weeds and growth in gardens. To summarise, here are some of the benefits of installing a weed barrier:
- Eco-friendly materials
- Alternative to harmful chemicals
- Saves water by retaining soil moisture for longer
- Reduce manual labor time
- Healthier, happier plants and gardens
- Extremely useful for erosion control, particularly when landscaping on a slope
The Best Materials For Landscape Fabric
There are several different options for weed barrier fabric to consider. The type of weed control fabric needed will depend on the kind of weeds and sizing required.
Landscaping fabrics can be made from a variety of materials such as:
- Polyester
- Polypropylene
- Burlap (Hessian)
Landscape Fabrics are considered “permeable geotextile membranes” as they work in tandem with natural materials such as soil and plants. The material looks like a meshed fabric that can be cut and fitted to any desired size or shape.
How do I Install a Weed Barrier or Landscape Fabric?
Whichever specific landscape fabric is the most suitable for your project, the general guidelines for installation are pretty much the same.
1. Clear all existing weeds and growth from the area.
Even the best landscape fabric or material won’t eliminate 100% of weed growth. It’s therefore essential to get rid of as many of the weeds, roots, and undergrowth before installing your weed fabric. If the area is heavily infested, you may need something stronger like a brush killer herbicide of which there is a large choice.
Certain types of weeds, such as nutsedge grass, can be especially challenging to eradicate if not completely pulled before putting in a weed barrier.
2. Add slits or cuts in the fabric where planting holes will be dug.
If plants are already in place, you can cut the fabric from the edge, using a utility knife, and then slide it towards the base of the existing plants or permanent trees.
3. Add mulch
After laying the fabric onto the soil surface, the best approach is to add a 1 to 3-inch layer of mulch e.g. wood chips on top to provide UV light protection and moisture retention.
This will help the barrier cloth retain moisture as well as creating a more pleasant aesthetic in the garden.
Final Thoughts on the Best Weed Barriers
Whether you’re looking to cover a small area, a larger plot of land, or are concerned about eco-friendly materials; there are various types of weed barrier fabrics and materials available, as well as sizes to suit all needs.
Hopefully, the weeding out that Team Bovees have done on your behalf, will make the process of; selecting, purchasing and laying landscape fabric, a little smoother.
Happy Landscaping!
& The Bovees Research Team
