I’ve seen it again and again. As I help a friend fix up their garden, I dig down a few inches and my shovel gets caught in a piece of landscape fabric, which is a sheet of black plastic or some other material. Oh boy. Another case of pie-in-the-sky magic weed barrier.
“What’s this?”, I ask. “Weed barrier.” “Really? Then why are there foot-tall weeds in your garden?”
There is a big myth in gardening that landscape fabric will keep weeds out of your garden for years. Weed barriers come in a lot of different styles and are made from different materials, such as plastic films and renewable sources. They are sometimes treated with herbicides and fertilizers.
An experienced gardener learns that weed barriers defy logic, strangle plants, and decimate soil. Weed seeds largely move by air or animal. They end up in the mulch or other organic material on top of the weed barrier. The mulch doesn’t break down properly because it can’t touch the soil because of the weed barrier.
Now, to be fair, landscape fabric has its uses. It was developed for commercial agriculture, and it’s highly effective in that capacity. It’s not useful at all in perennial home gardens, though, and it can hurt your plants and soil a lot.
Landscape fabric, also known as weed barrier fabric, is a popular tool for suppressing weeds in garden beds But how does this fabric affect bulbs planted in the same areas? Will daffodils, tulips, and other bulbs be able to grow through the fabric?
The Purpose of Landscape Fabric
Landscape fabric is a woven or nonwoven polypropylene material that is laid atop the soil before mulching It serves several useful purposes
- Blocks most weeds from germinating and emerging
- Prevents existing weeds from poking through the mulch layer
- Conserves moisture by preventing evaporation
- Controls erosion by keeping soil in place
The key benefits come from landscape fabric’s ability to block sunlight and smother weeds before they can establish. At the same time, water and air can penetrate the fabric to reach the soil and plant roots below.
The Downsides of Landscape Fabric
While landscape fabric seems like a garden miracle product, it does have some downsides:
- Deteriorates over time and may need replacing
- Can prevent moisture from soaking into clay soils
- Makes it difficult to plant new plants without cutting holes in the fabric
- May cause soil compression and poor aeration
- Can harbor voles and pine mice who chew through and nest under it
Careful consideration should be given before using fabric over entire garden beds. It may be better suited only to pathways and areas with established plantings.
The Effect on Flower Bulbs
Here’s the crucial point – landscape fabric will prevent bulbs from growing properly if placed above them. Flower bulbs produce roots and shoots that need to emerge upward through the soil surface each year.
Fabric and other solid barriers over the top of bulbs can cause them to rot and decline over time. Their natural growth process becomes stunted.
Some light penetrating fabrics may allow very limited shoot growth, but this is not ideal and will severely limit the plants. Overall landscape fabric is incompatible with the seasonal growth habits of bulbs.
Best Practices for Planting Bulbs
The good news is bulbs can thrive in garden beds without landscape fabric. Here are some best practices:
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Loosen and amend the soil 8-12 inches deep before planting bulbs. Good drainage is key.
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Mix in compost, manure, leaf mold or other organic material. This increases nutrition and moisture retention.
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Plant the bulbs at their recommended depth according to species. Most bulb depths range from 3-8 inches.
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Cover the beds with 2-4 inches of organic mulch such as shredded bark, compost, leaves, or pine straw. This helps suppress weeds.
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Fertilize the bulbs in fall and again in spring if needed. Flower bulbs are heavy feeders.
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Allow the foliage to die back naturally after blooming rather than cutting it off early. This nourishes the bulbs for next year’s growth.
Natural Weed Control Options
While landscape fabric is unnecessary when planting bulbs, controlling weeds is still important. Here are some non-fabric solutions:
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Mulch heavily around bulbs to block light from reaching weed seeds. Replenish mulch as needed.
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Maintain a layer of dense, competitive groundcover plants like sedums between bulbs. This helps suppress weeds.
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Carefully hand pull or hoe any weeds that do emerge. Be gentle around emerging bulb foliage.
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Use corn gluten meal, a natural pre-emergent herbicide, to prevent annual weeds. Apply in spring and fall.
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Try DIY vinegar-based herbicidal sprays on young weed seedlings. Reapply frequently.
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Sprinkle salt directly on problem perennial weeds such as dandelions to dehydrate and kill the roots.
Fabrics Still Have Uses in Landscaping
While landscape fabric shouldn’t be used atop flower bulbs, it still has value in certain landscaping applications:
- To line paths and suppress weeds between pavers
- Beneath gravel or stone mulch where no plants will grow
- As temporary weed cover when an area will later be planted
- To control weeds in empty raised beds during crop rotations
The key with fabric is to avoid areas where plants need to emerge each year. For the best results with bulbs, go fabric-free and use organic mulching instead.
The Takeaway
For vibrant, thriving bulbs year after year, skip the fabric. Rely on mulch, careful planting techniques, and vigilant organic weed control instead. With a little work up front, your garden can become a properly prepared canvas for nature’s spring bulb masterpieces!
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Tough weeds most definitely will grow through weed fabrics.
Those who garden in places where the strong Canadian Thistle grows will agree with me: thistle will grow through steel.
Aesthetically speaking, when the weed fabric is exposed, it looks just awful – horrendous, ghastly, dreadful.
Did I mention how bad it looks when the mulch slides off?
DIY Easy flower garden using bulbs
FAQ
Can plants root through landscape fabric?
Does landscape fabric hinder plant growth?
Will bulb flowers grow through mulch?
When should you not use landscape fabric?
Can tulips grow through landscape fabric?
Tulips can grow through landscape fabric if a hole is cut to allow space for the bulb to grow. However, it may be unnecessary to lay landscape fabric when using mulch, as the mulch will help prevent weeds and improve the soil. Tulips will not grow directly through the fabric.
Does landscape fabric cover the soil completely?
Landscape fabric covers the soil completely and it’s important to minimize the number of holes in it for it to be effective. This can be challenging for gardeners who like to move their plants around, propagate their current plants through division, or add new plants to their garden.
How does landscape fabric function?
Landscape fabric functions by covering the soil and preventing weeds from self-seeding in the ground. Any seeds that manage to make it through gaps in the fabric are restricted from growing because the fabric does not allow sunlight to reach the seeds.
Can I use landscape fabric to grow vegetables?
To use landscape fabric for growing annuals like vegetables, prepare your soil with any necessary amendments, such as compost. You can use the fabric just to cover the planted rows and have grass or wood chips pathways in between, or cover the whole area (planting rows and pathways) with the fabric.
How do I choose the best landscape fabric?
When choosing a landscape fabric, it’s important to find a balance between preventing weeds and allowing moderate water flow. A medium weight fabric is often the best compromise. However, keep in mind that in heavy rain, water may puddle on the fabric before it can drain through to the soil.
Why is using landscape fabric bad for plants?
Using landscape fabric can make the soil hard and compacted, which is the opposite of what most plants need to thrive. Plants should ideally be grown in loose and crumbly soil that encourages root growth in all directions, allowing them to seek out additional nutrients and moisture.