Landscape fabric, also known as weed mat or weed barrier, might seem like a perfect solution for keeping weeds at bay in your garden or landscape. And while it does have some benefits, landscape fabric isn’t always the right tool for the job. Let’s explore what it is, when it works best, and where it might cause more problems than it solves.

What Is Landscape Fabric (Weed Mat)?

Basically, weed mat is a porous textile product, made of various cloth or cloth-like materials, that comes on a roll and can be spread out around your garden or landscaping. Holes are easily cut in the fabric to make room for plants. Then some sort of organic covering is placed over the weed mat—perhaps some kind of mulch, or maybe gravel or stones, depending on the goal of the landscape.

When Is Landscape Fabric Useful?

It can be particularly useful as a part of fixed landscaping—perhaps around a stable, your home, or areas of the garden that aren’t turned over frequently. For example, maybe you have a stone retaining wall mixed into the farmyard. Landscape fabric placed behind the stones can permanently help prevent weeds from taking hold in between the rocks. Weed mat can be especially useful on slopes where erosion might otherwise occur.

Drawbacks of Using Landscape Fabric

There are some common downsides. Yes, weed mat initially smothers the weeds directly below it. But depending on the thickness and coverage, weed mat can also smother the ecological transfer of water, air, and soil nutrients, possibly becoming a detriment to the plants you want to grow. It can stop you from being able to actively build up the type of soil you’d like to have, for example, for growing mini cucumbers. Eventually, a layer of soil may form on top of the weed mat, permitting weeds to simply grow above the barrier! When this happens, they can start rooting right into the fabric, which is a real challenge to stop. If weeds get away like this, weed mat can actually make them more challenging to remove.

Should You Use Weed Mat in Your Garden?

You certainly can, but don’t think of it as maintenance-free. Weed mat is supposed to make your work easier, but to be most effective, you need to work with it—quickly eliminating weeds that form on the surface of the barrier before they can take hold, for instance. It’s usually best put to use around perennials—perhaps permanent shrubs or small trees that liven the landscape. Though some gardeners find it helpful in active working gardens, like vegetable gardens. It’s really a matter of weighing the pros and cons for your particular situation.

Is Weed Mat Right For You?

Landscape fabric can be a helpful tool in certain gardening and landscaping situations, especially when used around long-term plantings like shrubs, trees, or hardscaped areas. However, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. While it suppresses weeds and limits erosion, it can also restrict soil health and complicate future planting if not managed carefully. Weighing the pros and cons of weed mat in relation to your specific garden goals will help you decide if it’s the right choice—or if a more flexible, organic approach might serve you better in the long run.

This article was written for Hobby Farms magazine. Click here to subscribe.