The Best Landscape Fabrics Of 2023
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Whether we like it or not, weeds are part of every landscape, competing with your trees, shrubs, and flowers for vital nutrients. Landscape fabric could be your golden ticket to a weed-free landscape.
By acting as a physical barrier between the soil and the sun, landscape fabric prevents seeds from seeing the light of day while still allowing air and water to penetrate to the roots of the plants you do want. Here are some important features to consider when selecting the best landscape fabric, as well as our top weed barrier picks for your landscape.
In vegetable and flower gardens, gardeners frequently move or change plants, and access to the soil is vital to the health of the garden. Landscape fabric laid across the entire area would make amending the soil very difficult, if not impossible.
Instead, consider using it in the vegetable garden for weed suppression between rows. Soil that's been covered with landscape fabric compacts over time as a result of the reduced earthworm population and poor aeration in these areas. Landscape fabric is best used beneath walkways or in areas with permanent trees and shrubs or no future planting plans.
How We Chose the Best Landscape FabricsExtensive research that covered more than 30 different landscaping fabric products helped form the basis for the selection of the best landscape fabrics. However, to properly assess each product, it was necessary to take into account the size, material, thickness, and overall quality of each landscape fabric.
The size of each landscape fabric product was crucial information to have because the size is the primary factor that influences the price. The larger the landscape fabric, the higher the price. Given that landscape fabrics are separated into three different types, the material was the next aspect to consider. Most products were made with woven fabric, though there were a few standout nonwoven fabric options as well.
The durability of the product often comes down to the thickness, so for more heavy-duty jobs, it is necessary to find a thick weed barrier landscape fabric that can hold the weight without tearing. Some preference was given to products that were made for specific jobs, like increasing stability on a gravel path or serving as an underlay for artificial grass.
Our Top PicksThe right weed barrier landscape fabric makes keeping weeds in check much easier. Here are a few to consider if you've decided a weed control barrier is necessary for your landscape.
Photo: amazon.Com
If the goal is to find a durable, nonwoven fabric for any landscape situation, the Hoople garden weed barrier fits the bill. Because it is two to three times thicker (at 5 ounces per square yard) than some other landscape fabrics, it tends to drain more slowly than those thinner options in heavy rainfall.
Still, the fabric remains highly permeable in average precipitation. The nonwoven fabric is durable enough to withstand the pressure of brick pavers and heavy stone, though it can also be used under gravel or mulch to add attractive layers to the landscape.
Whether the landscaping fabric is covered with mulch or not, ultraviolet (UV) stabilizers prevent it from rotting when exposed to direct sunlight, so you can rely on this landscape fabric to prevent weed growth for years. This roll measures 180 feet long by 32 inches wide, though it comes in other widths and lengths.
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Get the Hoople landscape fabric at Amazon.
Photo: amazon.Com
Those who need a budget-friendly weed barrier fabric can rely on this heavy-duty option from Petgrow. This fabric provides ample irrigation for plants and flowers with its needle-punched design and is made with chemical-free and corrosion-resistant polypropylene.
For users' convenience, this UV-stabilized landscape fabric is 100 feet long by 3 feet wide but comes in many other sizes depending on the amount of land and garden space that needs to be covered. Plus, this weed barrier fabric has a 3.8-ounce thickness for weed control. Finally, this fabric is made with UV-stabilized materials to prevent any burning and sun damage.
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Get the Petgrow landscape fabric at Amazon.
Photo: amazon.Com
The lightweight woven fabric of DeWitt weed barrier landscape fabric is impressively durable with a guaranteed lifespan of up to 12 years before it needs to be removed and replaced. This landscape fabric roll measures 50 feet long by 4 feet wide, which is an excellent size for small garden beds, while the thickness of 1.5 ounces per square yard is suitable for low-traffic areas.
Despite the UV-resistant coating, this landscape fabric requires a layer of mulch after installation to protect it from direct sun exposure. Unlike other weed barriers prone to unraveling, DeWitt weed barrier fabric won't fray when cut and has had hydrophilic treatment to allow for maximum water, air, and nutrient penetration. The fabric minimizes light penetration, which helps suppress weed growth.
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Get the DeWitt landscape fabric at Amazon.
Photo: amazon.Com
The thick, dual-layered, needle-punched fabric of the ECOgardener Premium weed barrier allows for optimal air and water circulation so that the plants in the garden can thrive while weed seeds are prevented from sprouting. Made of perforated woven polypropylene, this fabric is safe for the environment, ensuring that rain and snow runoff won't release chemicals into the soil.
At just 5 pounds, the 50-foot-long by 3-foot-wide roll is lightweight and easy to install, though it's still important to put landscape pins about once every foot to keep the landscape fabric secure. Because it's untreated for sun exposure, it's damaged easily by the sun, and anyone installing the weed barrier should cover the fabric with mulch immediately after installation. Leaving the fabric exposed to the sun will shorten its lifespan.
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Get the ECOgardener landscape fabric at Amazon.
Photo: amazon.Com
When the toughness of nonwoven fabrics is combined with the permeability of perforated landscape weed barriers, the result is an incredibly strong and versatile hybrid. Made of nonwoven polypropylene, the thick needle-punched fabric in Flarmor weed barrier is highly permeable and equally effective beneath rocks and landscape beds, with a thickness of 1.8 ounces per square yard.
This fabric is also a great choice for covering sloped areas for weed and erosion control. However, Flarmor weed blocker will degrade quickly under direct sunlight, so it requires a covering of mulch or rock right after installation. The product comes in a 300-foot-long by 3-foot-wide roll, which is best suited for big jobs to minimize leftovers. It is also available in a 50-foot-long by 3-foot-wide size as well as several additional sizes so you can choose the most suitable length based on the size of the project.
The nonwoven fabric should not fray when cut, which adds to its lifespan. However, reapply mulch or gravel if the fabric becomes exposed to sunlight or it can deteriorate quickly.
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Get the Flarmor landscape fabric at Amazon.
Photo: amazon.Com
Dinner leftovers might be good for lunch the next day, but too much unused landscape fabric from a small project is frustrating. Unlike most fabric rolls that come in minimum lengths of 50 feet or more, the Agtek landscape fabric gives users smaller options so they don't have to buy more than needed.
The smallest choice comes in a two-pack of 8-foot-long by 4-foot-wide pieces, but this product is also sold in a two-pack of 12-foot-long by 4-foot-wide pieces for slightly larger patios, playgrounds, or gardens. The heavy-duty woven polypropylene fabric drains well and it's UV stabilized for impressive sun resistance. This product's thickness of 3.8 ounces per square yard is best for use beneath walkways, in playground areas, and on slopes to prevent erosion.
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Get the Agtek landscape fabric at Amazon.
Photo: amazon.Com
Gardens are meant to be enjoyed, but when it's necessary to spend hours pulling weeds every week, a garden can soon seem like more work than it's worth. Take back the garden and hardscape areas of the yard with this GDNaid weed barrier. It is made at a thickness of 1.8 ounces per square yard in a nonwoven polypropylene fabric.
The product comes in multiple sizes, though the most suitable for a large space is the 300-foot-long by 3-foot-wide option that allows you to protect up to 900 square feet of garden, path, or patio.
Many products require you to cover them with decorative mulch, gravel, or crushed stone to prevent damage from the sun, but it isn't necessary with this landscape fabric due to the UV-stabilized polypropylene material. The nonwoven fabric is not as permeable as woven or perforated fabric, so it may not be the best choice for lush garden plants that need a lot of water.
Product Specs
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Get the GDNaid landscape fabric at Amazon.
Photo: amazon.Com
While most landscape fabrics are put to use in the garden to help prevent weeds from sprouting up among the vegetables or flowers, ArmorLay nonwoven landscape fabric is designed for use under gravel paths, patios, and driveways. It serves the usual purpose of landscape fabric by preventing the growth of weeds, but this product also improves the stability of the ground.
Installing this layer of landscape fabric under a gravel path can minimize the damage caused by falling rain, sleet, and snow, protecting the soil from erosion and preventing potholes from forming. It's about 8 ounces per square yard thick and measures 60 feet long by 12.5 feet wide, though multiple sizes are available.
Just keep in mind that the nonwoven construction has low water permeability, so this product is not a great option for garden beds.
Product Specs
Pros
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Get the ArmorLay landscape fabric at Amazon.
What to Consider When Choosing a Landscape FabricChoosing the best landscape fabric for weed control is not a tough decision, but choices can vary based on the size of the job, foot traffic, whether you will cover the fabric, and the intended use of the area you're protecting.
Woven, Nonwoven, and PerforatedOften made of polypropylene or linen, woven landscaping fabric is the most common weed barrier best suited for flower beds and areas around trees and shrubs. Small holes in the fabric allow water, air, and nutrients to penetrate. For gravel gardens and pathways, consider the sturdier nonwoven option.
While it allows some water movement, nonwoven fabric isn't as porous as its woven and perforated counterparts, so it's not the best choice for landscaped beds. Highly permeable perforated landscape fabric is lightweight and ideal for areas with less foot traffic, specifically vegetable gardens and raised beds.
Thickness and DurabilityGenerally, the thicker the landscape fabric, the more it costs. Choose thicker barriers in gravel areas like pathways where rocks can wear away thinner fabrics over time. Tough weeds also are worth considering, since some—like thistle—can grow through weak barriers.
Avoid heavy weed barriers around vegetables, herbs, and annuals because their roots can lie close to the surface and can be crushed beneath the weight. Choose thinner, perforated options for these applications.
UV ResistanceExposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays has damaging effects on many surfaces, including landscape fabric. For this reason, these barriers often require spreading a layer of mulch or gravel over the fabric to decrease exposure to UV light, thereby slowing the breakdown of the material.
Many barriers are labeled UV-resistant or UV stabilized. "Resistant" implies that the fabric has innate qualities that make it less susceptible to damaging sunlight. Those labeled "UV stabilized" have been chemically coated to repel ultraviolet light. If chemicals are out of the question, like around edible plantings, choose the UV-resistant option.
Size of Roll for ProjectAvoid overbuying by estimating the amount of landscape fabric you'll need to complete your project. Rolls usually are available in widths of 3 feet or more and in lengths of 50 to 300 feet. Based on the area you're covering, determine the best length and width for the job. Factor in the 8-inch overlap recommended between layers in wider areas that require multiple pieces of fabric.
LifespanIn a perfect world, laying landscape fabric would be a one-and-done job. It's not hard to do, but it is time-consuming and difficult to repeat when aged landscape fabric needs to be replaced around an established landscape. Selecting the right weed barrier for the right application is key to getting the biggest bang for your buck.
Some weed barriers estimate how long you can expect the product to last in your landscape. Longevity depends on a number of factors, including temperature, application, exposure, and moisture specific to the area where it's installed.
Tips for Using Landscape FabricWhen you are adding landscaping fabric to a garden bed, it's important to take the time to remove all weeds and mix in any compost or soil nutrients that you want to add to the soil before installing the landscaping fabric. Once you have pinned down landscape fabric, it is best not to pull it back up.
In addition, you should use a rake or hoe to properly smooth the soil so that the landscaping fabric lays completely flat. Otherwise, it can become difficult to fully cover the fabric with mulch or gravel due to peaks and folds in the fabric.
Landscaping fabric is typically secured with pins that pierce the fabric and hold it to the ground, like stakes for a tent. Install these pins once every foot or so to help ensure that the landscape fabric will not be pulled up by scavenging animals or washed out of place in heavy rain.
Landscape fabrics aren't always easy to install, but these weed barriers help to protect flower beds and prevent weed growth. Keep reading to find the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about weed barrier landscape fabric.
Q. What are the different grades of landscape fabric?Landscape fabric is typically separated based on the type of material used to make the product. These types include woven, perforated, and nonwoven landscaping fabric.
Each type has its own benefits depending on the application, so think about whether you are looking to protect a flower bed, vegetable garden, or a walkway when deciding on the best weed control solution for your next landscaping project.
Q. How does landscape fabric let water through?Landscape fabric is designed to block out UV radiation as well as prevent weed seeds from growing, but this weed barrier fabric allows water and some air to pass through. This is possible due to the construction of the fabric.
Even thick and durable fabric is either woven or has perforated holes to allow water to seep into the ground, though it should be noted that some fabrics can greatly reduce the flow of water, leading to standing puddles after big rainstorms.
Q. Is filter fabric the same as landscape fabric?Filter fabric is a similar product to landscape fabric, but it's usually thinner and doesn't have the same UV resistance, leaving it susceptible to premature degradation. To protect your flower beds, invest in thick and durable fabric that will be able to block the weeds and stand up to the sun and rain.
Q. Do you put soil on top of landscape fabric?In most cases, landscape fabric is laid down and secured over the soil in a garden or around the base of a tree or bush in the yard. After the installation, you can put mulch on top of the landscape fabric to protect the fabric from foot traffic and UV rays. You also can use gravel or crushed rock as the top layer.
Q. What do you put under landscape fabric?The purpose of landscape fabric is to prevent weed growth. This is achieved by pulling all the weeds in the garden and then installing landscaping fabric directly over the soil. Some users also put sand or gravel underneath the landscaping fabric to help level the ground, though this isn't necessary. This is especially true since mulch, gravel, and crushed stone are often spread over the top of the fabric.
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Over the course of his decades-long career, Bob Vila has helped millions of people build, renovate, repair, and live better each day—a tradition that continues today with expert yet accessible home advice. The Bob Vila team distills need-to-know information into project tutorials, maintenance guides, tool 101s, and more. These home and garden experts then thoroughly research, vet, and recommend products that support homeowners, renters, DIYers, and professionals in their to-do lists.
12 Lush Landscaping Ideas For A Hilly Backyard
Photo: istockphoto.Com
Your property might sit in a depression, or perhaps you have a majestic view from the top of a small rise. Either way, in terms of landscaping and hardscaping, it's hard to know what to do with a sloped backyard. It's a challenge you'll want to consider carefully from both an aesthetic and safety perspective, especially when it comes to resale value. A sloping yard with no landscaping can deter potential buyers, while an attractively landscaped yard is definitely a plus; these sloped yard ideas can offer inspiration.
1. Break Out in TiersCreating several tiers on a sloped property can help manage erosion and give you the opportunity to layer different plants and tiered landscaping elements for a cohesive design. Whether you use railroad ties, stone pavers, or concrete to form the backyard terrace, a terraced yard will make a dramatic impact on the overall look of your property.
Related: 9 Clever Landscaping Hacks for Your Best-Ever Yard
2. Build Some StairsIf you let vegetation cover your sloping property in glorious abandon, impose a little order by building a set of stairs that leads up to flatter ground. Whether you opt for a wooden staircase or concrete steps, this yard feature will blend into the landscape far better if it's surrounded by plantings on either side. You can also use a carefully stacked series of large, flat stones to create a natural-looking staircase.
RELATED: 20 Plants to Use as Lawn and Garden Borders
3. Design a WaterfallIf you're ambitious, use the height that your hilly backyard provides to your advantage, and build a sensational water feature. The soothing sound of water will bring a relaxing vibe to your outdoor space, turning it into your own private oasis.
RELATED: 10 Water Features to Complete Any Backyard Landscape
4. Lay a Winding PathA winding or switchback path can make it much easier—and safer—to explore a sloped piece of property. A meandering pathway also provides an attractive focal point and draws the eye through the landscape.
RELATED: 10 Stepping Stone Designs to Elevate Your Garden Pathway
5. Erect a Retaining WallYou can make a sloping property more functional by cutting away a portion of a hill and installing a retaining wall to hold back the soil. This is a great opportunity to create a dedicated planting area behind and along the retaining wall, while reclaiming a portion of your yard for an expanse of grass on level ground. For a modern retaining wall, consider using gabion cages.
RELATED: Edge Your Beds: 12 Easy Ideas for Landscape Borders
6. Cultivate a Rock GardenHillsides can pose a landscaping challenge for plants, which can suffer from the soil erosion or poor drainage typical of sloping properties. When you arrange rocks of varying shapes and sizes on your hillside, you create a stable base for rock-loving plants like stonecrop, other succulents, and ornamental grasses. A rock garden used for slope landscaping looks lush, and reduces your maintenance responsibilities in the yard.
RELATED: The 15 Best Plants for Rock Gardens
7. Devise a Destination Fire PitHardscaping a sloping property is a common landscape design technique, and one that can pay off beautifully. When there's a fire pit or outdoor kitchen on the level portion of your property, the slope isn't neglected space—it's the pathway to, or vista from, a stunning destination.
RELATED: No Money to Burn? 15 Fire Pits You Can Afford
8. Set Up Some Veggie BedsTake advantage of unused real estate on a slope that gets full sun by installing terraced, raised beds for vegetables. Deeper sections of the beds can be used for root vegetables that require more soil; the shallower ends will be perfect for herbs and vining plants.
RELATED: Buyer's Guide: The Best Riding Lawn Mowers for Hills
9. Rely on Native PlantsFestooning a hillside with plants that are native to your area can help make maintenance easier in a spot that would be difficult to mow and landscape. With native plants, you can be fairly certain that they'll be successful without much help from you, and planting on a slope will help reduce erosion by providing a network of roots to hold soil in place.
Related: 25 Amazing Plants That Are Native to North America
10. Create a Dry Creek BedPerfect for a sloping yard, a dry creek bed is an attractive landscape element that helps to mitigate drainage issues. Using found rocks, purchased pebbles or gravel, simply create a winding "river" of stones leading from a high point of your yard to a low part that can safely accommodate water. Build up the sides of your river with larger stones and in-ground or container plantings.
RELATED: 20 Landscaping Mistakes That Make Home Buyers Walk the Other Way
11. Plant Ground CoverAmong the simplest sloped backyard ideas is to plant a sturdy, fast-growing ground cover on a hill. The plants will blanket the slope with attractive foliage while providing erosion control. Asiatic jasmine, vinca, liriope, and creeping juniper are among the candidates you might consider for this project. Invest in several flats of small plants that you can space appropriately for quick, full coverage.
RELATED: 45 Backyard Landscaping Ideas for Creating the Ultimate Outdoor Living Space
12. Install a Play AreaLet your hilly yard inspire adventure for the littles! Lay a slide into the hill, and build a set of steps sized just right for short legs. Maybe create a climbing area out of carefully set boulders with flat tops that kids can scramble up. Or construct a gently sloped climbing "wall" with sanded planks, and securely attached rock-climbing footholds and handholds.
10 Landscaping Trends To Try This Year
Whether you just bought a new house or are looking to jazz up your current one with a new aesthetic, there are plenty of new landscaping and gardening trends to incorporate into your plan. You don't have to commit all of your savings to your project, either, there are inexpensive landscaping ideas that will liven up your yard without draining your bank account. Rather than focusing on the most high-end options, consider your own personal goals and what trends match your design taste.
Create An Outdoor Oasis Through Landscaping
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Explore OptionsDo you want your backyard to be a relaxing oasis or are you trying to make your front porch the social destination of the neighborhood? There's a landscaping style and garden design for everyone, but consider the entire picture before you start tearing up the grass or building a firepit; landscaping is a year-round commitment. Mix and match these trends and follow our tips to make your outdoor space the best fit for you.
1. Less Lawn Is MoreGetty
Rather than a wide expanse of green grass, many landscaping trends this year are predicated on the idea that less lawn gives you the freedom to do more—more ground cover plants and more furniture or even the possibility to put in a swimming pool or build a deck.
Potted plants are becoming more popular outdoors in place of a large lawn or even flower beds. It's easier to control the size of the plants and, therefore, plan other features you want to include. Even home gardeners can show off their green thumb, even without private outdoor space available to them with potted houseplants, which became especially popular in the beginning of the pandemic.
2. Gardening VerticallyGetty
A vertical garden isn't the best option for homeowners looking to limit their lawn area, but it's an excellent one for people looking for landscaping and gardening solutions for a small space. There are both indoor and outdoor vertical garden options, from high-end growing systems to DIY solutions. Before you start a vertical garden make a plan for the structure and the plants as it can be difficult to switch these things once growth starts.
3. Eco-Friendly PracticesGetty
When styling their own immediate environment, many people are considering the environment as a whole and are committing to eco-friendly landscaping and gardening trends. Sustainability has been a rising trend for years and a survey conducted by OnePoll found that the Covid-19 pandemic inspired 64% of Americans to live more sustainably.
There are many tips for creating a more eco-friendly yard. Newer trends include composting to avoid food waste; on-site collection of rainwater to water the lawn, the garden itself or even to do household chores, wash cars or fill a swimming pool. Dedicating some space specifically to be pollinator-friendly, which can provide a safe haven for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Including features to help fight climate change will continue to gain popularity and can be added over the seasons.
4. SimplicityGetty
Landscaping doesn't have to be complicated and gardening doesn't have to be intricate for it to be wonderful. Simple, practical and easy landscaping looks are on-trend right now. Your yard is a figment of the wild and nature is naturally beautiful. There's no shame in pursuing a low maintenance style and keeping the ongoing efforts to a minimum.
5. XeriscapingGetty
One combination of the trends of less lawn, eco-friendly practices and simplicity leads to a larger landscaping trend: xeriscaping. Xeriscaping is the practice of designing landscapes to reduce or eliminate the need for irrigation; while it is ideal for desert climates it can also be practiced in wetter locations.
This style of landscaping will require specific planning and even soil analysis to insure the climate you're in and the plants you choose will suffice, but after getting this type of garden started, it's very low maintenance and saves a lot of water.
6. Edible EffortsGetty
Houseplants weren't the only gardening trend to grow during the pandemic—tending to edible plants or entire vegetable gardens has also been trendy recently. Growing fruits and vegetables, herbs and edible flowers or even just propagating green onions in a water glass on the windowsill have become exponentially popular. Being able to enjoy the fruits (and vegetables) of your labor makes the gardening effort that much sweeter.
7. Outdoor LivingGetty
Tangential to landscaping is the growing trend of outdoor living. The increased amount of time spent at home in 2020 and 2021 led many people to improve their living space and our own front and backyards provided a place to which we could safely escape. Setting up a lounge area in the shade, building an outdoor kitchen or furnishing a sunroom or screened-in porch gives ample opportunities to expand your home and bring some inside perks outside.
8. Smart Home TechGetty
Also part of the trend of taking the indoors outdoors is the incorporation of smart home tech into landscaping. This includes everything from functional features like irrigation methods with smart controllers to fun features like smart speakers or lighting sensors.
9. Rest and RelaxationGetty
When it wasn't possible to take a vacation or escape to a spa during the pandemic our outdoor spaces became our places to get some R&R. This can be achieved with traditional methods like creating a zen garden or putting in a hot tub or by incorporating more modern trends like building an outdoor living space complete with smart tech for escapist entertainment.
10. PrivacyGetty
With this expansion of your home from the indoors to the outdoors, privacy is a premium. There are many ways to separate your yard from neighbors and passersby that don't look tacky or out of place. A vertical garden can be used as a separating screen, low maintenance bushes can suffice for a hedge and a gazebo or pergola can put a more functional distance between you and the truly outside world. There are even decorative privacy screens to match any outdoor aesthetic.
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