Just Say No: To WEED CLOTH 10/07/2009
![]() Weed cloth hidden under layers of decomposed matter. I almost planted bulbs right on top! It was so deep I didn't even know it was there. Have I mentioned, I hate weed cloth. In this picture, you can see what happens after just a few years. The fabric is buried several inches below the surface. It has become covered in dirt and is now a breeding ground for, you guessed it, weeds. Weed cloth just doesn't work! At the same time, it prevents your plants from growing proper roots, your soil from being healthy, and you from planting new plants without removing it or cutting holes in it. Have I mentioned, I hate weed cloth? That said, there are times when weed fabric is appropriate. For example, in high density vegetable gardens where your sole purpose is t grow food without using chemical herbicides or spending tons of time weeding. In this case, heavy duty weed fabric can be used over pathways and rows just up to the plants. Keep weed cloth clean of debris - this isn't necessarily pretty but it will do the trick. Otherwise, it just becomes a layer in the soil, and a disruptive one at that. Your soil still needs to breath however. Worms and other creatures still need to come up to the surface to mix the nutrients and organic matter around and to fluff up the soil. You might consider removing it for your winter crops or to add anew layer of compost. I have little experience with this high intensity use of weed cloth. Can anyone add their personal observations? Add Comment | Backyard Agrarian's Thoughts on Sustainable LivingBackyard Agrarian living isn't about any one thing. It's about how all things are connected. It's about going through life day after day, making observations and continuos adjustments. It's a new way of life being developed during these new times in human and planetary history. It's about how we feel in times of birth, death, frustration, joy and how we respond and act and how we see the connections between our human stuff and what's going on around us. This blog isn't about any one topic. It's about day-to-day thoughts on exploring an agrarian-minded world view, in the modern world.
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