Are you one of those people who are tired of seeing ugly-looking plants and weeds in their garden? You might be looking for a solution on the internet and must have come across weed membranes or landscape fabrics.
The idea is to lay the landscape fabric between plants to abolish weeds. And although it seems an effective weed solution, some people say otherwise.
So, can you put a weed membrane under the turf?
Let’s find out everything about it!
Can You Put Weed Membrane Under Turf?
Yes. You can put a weed membrane under the turf to keep unsightly weeds at bay.
A weed membrane is a fabric that is directly placed underneath turf or topsoil to prevent weed growth. This method can save your life if you’re tired of weeds taking over your lawn.
What is the Purpose of Putting Weed Membrane Under Turf?
Weed membrane, also known as landscape fabric, weed fabric, and weed barrier, is a material made of textiles or bonded plastics that can be placed under the turf to protect your plants from weeds.
Weeds are fast-growing, unruly, and unwanted plants that can grow in any type of soil and disrupt your garden. They have been a problem for gardeners since the beginning of time.
Not only do they look hideous, but they also start competing with other plants for food and water, which is a concern. In addition, numerous pests find sanctuary in them.
Hence, the idea behind placing a weed barrier under the grass is to stop weeds from getting to the soil in the first place and protect your plants.
In this way, your plants will get proper treatment and grow steadily.
Why Putting Weed Membrane Under Turf Might Not be the Best Idea?
The most often raised issue in this conversation is that the weed membrane does not completely stop weed growth. In fact, weeds start growing under the membrane. Moreover, the membrane may also hinder the growth of the grassroots.
This is why placing a pricy weed membrane that needs to be replaced every 5 to 7 years under turf might not be the best.
There are a few more arguments that suggest it might not be the best idea to place the weed barrier beneath the grass.
Let’s take a look at them.
- Your turf’s grassroots should be well developed and established around 4 inches into the ground. And it won’t be possible when there is a membrane below.
- A landscape fabric could be a pricey investment if you have a sizable area to cover.
- Unwanted plants and flowers can still grow under the membrane and begin to show up on your lawn. So even after spending money on a barrier, weeds will still deplete the earth of its nutrients.
- High-quality fabrics can stay in good form for 5-7 years. If the quality is poor, you will have to replace it, which may be costly and time-consuming.
In What Cases Can You Put Weed Membrane Under Turf?
Installing a weed membrane under your turf can be an option if you are sick of removing weeds from your garden and want a permanent fix.
However, there is a lot of debate surrounding it because some people think landscaping fabric is not as beneficial as it is touted to be. People have objections, some of which I already discussed with you.
It is imperative to understand that weed membranes can’t fully eliminate the growth of these unwanted plants.
In fact, a membrane works as a barrier between the sun and soil to minimize weed growth. It keeps weeds from gaining access to water, oxygen, and sunlight, suppressing their growth.
So, in the following cases, you can put weed membrane under turf:
- You are tired of seeing weeds in your garden every day, and it takes a lot of time to clear them.
- Since weeds provide shelter for insects and pests, you can buy a weed barrier to get rid of pests. It is a great way to fend off these annoying intruders without the use of the spray.
- You have a turf that has previously been overrun by plantains, dandelions, and other weeds that may regrow from a piece of root.
- You have a huge gardening space infested with weeds that need a proper, long-term fix.
- Erosion management is necessary for places that are susceptible to washouts during torrential downpours. You can use a weed membrane to control erosion and stabilize soil if you live in such an area.
Hence, there is no harm in laying your newly purchased turf over a weed-control fabric. All you need to do is invest in a high-quality weed fabric that will last a long time and deliver the desired results.
If you are looking for a durable and high-grade product, VEVOR Weed Barrier Landscape Fabric is a good example.
Made of high-quality polypropylene material, this fabric can keep irritating weeds at bay and ensure an effortless gardening experience for you.
Being a dark-colored, solid physical barrier, it can prevent the weeds from getting any sunlight, leading them to wilt. Additionally, it can minimize rainwater accumulation and erosion.
The best thing is it is pretty easy to install and can stay in good form for a prolonged period. You can purchase VEVOR Weed Barrier Landscape Fabric by clicking this link.
What Should You Do Instead to Prevent Weeds from Growing Under Turf?
To prevent weeds from growing under the turf, you should keep your garden well maintained and spread mulch layers under the turf, or you can always go for a weed killer.
Besides weed membranes, there are quite a few techniques that can help in weed prevention.
Let’s have a look:
- Sometimes keeping plants well-maintained is all it takes to keep weeds away from them. An overgrown garden doesn’t only look hideous, but it also brings troubles like weeds and pests.
- Well-trimmed trees and hedges will prevent leaves from piling up, leading to weed reduction. In addition, water and fertilize your plants regularly.
- Instead of weed-control fabric, you can spread mulch layers under the turf. These layers are made of grass clippings, shredded leaves, wood chips, paper, and compost. Weed seeds cannot germinate because mulch prevents them from receiving sunlight.
- The final method for getting rid of weeds is to use a top-notch weed killer. The best part is that it requires little work because you only need to use it once or twice a year.
- Spectracide Weed & Grass Killer is a high-quality spray that can be used to kill unwanted plants in your yard. This product’s composition is said to work quickly, promising effects in three hours. Since weeds actively grow in warm weather, it is advisable to use this spray when the temperature is above 60 degrees (15.5 °C). You can buy the Spectracide Weed & Grass Killer by clicking this link.
FAQs
- What can I use instead of landscape fabric?
There is no denying that landscape fabric is an integral gardening tool. However, there is much more to gardening than landscaping fabrics.
If you don’t want to use landscape fabric, there are multiple alternatives you can try. Some of the best ones are old newspapers, shredded leaves, grass clippings, burlap, compost, wood chips, bark mulches, cardboard, etc. All these substitutes do the same job and act as a barrier to prevent weeds from getting water, sunlight, and oxygen.
- Can I lay turf on top of the membrane?
Yes, you can directly place turf on top of the weed membrane. This technique is used to suppress weed growth and help your plants grow in a healthy and fertile environment.
- How long after weed killer can I lay turf?
After applying weed killer, you should let your soil rest for 7-10 days. During this time, the soil will start showing its deficiencies, and the weed killer will have a proper time to break down.
After this brief resting period, you can install turf on your lawn.
References
Wickes.co.uk, turfonline.co.uk, forum.gardenersworld.com, alsoils.co.uk, community.screwfix.com, quora.com, gardenshedreviews.co.uk, grass-direct.co.uk, lawnstarter.com/blog, linkedin.com, amazon.com, lawnlove.com
