Geotextile Applications

Landscaping fabric is an excellent addition to your gardening or landscaping project. In addition to choosing quality mulch, laying down a good foundation with a sturdy landscaping fabric will prevent soil erosion and greatly reduce weed growth. In particular, a spunbond geotextile is an excellent choice as landscape fabric due to its large fiber construction. A spunbond geotextile provides excellent durability and strength at lower weights. A good weight to choose is 3 oz/sy. Anything heavier will not result in a significant improvement in performance. Anything lighter will likely rip or tear.

Spunbond geotextiles are also versatile. In addition to being an excellent landscape fabric, they work well as drainage fabric for wrapping pipe, separating the drainage medium in a retaining wall or wrapping the rock in a French drain or foundation drain. They are an excellent product for the homeowner to have on hand.

While there is nothing difficult about installing landscape fabric in your gardens and planting areas, there are a few common mistakes of which to be mindful. Do not use plastic sheeting. Think about it: Soils need to breathe to support healthy plant life. Plastic sheeting prevents the soil from breathing. In addition, it also inhibits the passing of water and rainfall, creating an environment for nasty things like fungus, bacteria and mold. Make sure to overlap several inches in areas where two sheets meet.

While these landscape fabrics are UV resistant, they do deteriorate when subjected to prolonged exposure to sunlight. Therefore, make sure the landscape fabric is completely covered with mulch and/or soil to prolong its life. Three to four inches is a good depth. Pins or staples are not required. A good landscape fabric will lay relatively flat with minimal wrinkles. Finally, make cuts for plantings only as large as is required for the planting to poke through.

US Fabrics offers a 3 oz/sy spunbond landscape fabric for landscaping and drainage applications. Please click on the link below for more information on landscape fabric.