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Best Weed Barrier 2024 – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide
Weeds are the bane of any gardener’s existence. We have to spend hours weeding the beds. Otherwise, they look like we left them for nature to take over.
Vegetable plants lose some of their productivity when weeds suck their nutrients. Flower beds lack their beauty when consumed by unsightly weeds. You need the best weed barrier to stop your garden beds from becoming weed beds.
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**Below, you'll find more detailed reviews, but you can also click links above to check current prices and read customer's reviews on Amazon.
5 Excellent Choices for the Best Weed Barrier
What Are Weed Barriers? Advantages of Using a Weed Barrier The Top Features to Look for in the Best Weed BarrierEasy to InstallAllows Water and Air ThroughSafe for the EnvironmentLong Lasting
The Top 5 Best Weed Barrier1. SCOTTS 25-Year Pro Fabric, 3 by 150-Feet 2. Dewitt 4-Foot by 50-Foot 12-Year Weed Barrier Fabric 3. Dewitt P3 3-by-250-Foot 5-Ounce Pro 5 Weed Barrier Fabric 4. Easy Gardener 3-Foot by 50-Foot 15 Year Landscape Fabric 5. PRO Series 4 Ft X 225 Ft Weed Control Landscape Fabric Selecting the Best Weed Barrier
What Are Weed Barriers?
Via Amazon.com
Instead of resorting to chemical sprays, many gardeners opt to select a weed barrier. They block sunlight, oxygen, and water from getting into the weeds. Barriers kill the plants or severely stunt their growth.
You can find weed barrier fabrics in large rolls at garden centers. Typically, synthetic geotextile material is used for the construction. Some are laminated with a thin layer of black polyethylene material. Many are more effective than herbicides. Most fabrics are black because it darkens the soil and helps to block more light.
Mesh lets air and oxygen entire the water, preventing the destruction of the earth. You can cut holes into the fabric for plants. The only negatives about using weed barrier fabrics are that it is expensive and can easily develop tears from traffic.
The most common choice is a solid plastic cover to prevent weeds. Plastic is efficient and sustainable. It blocks sunlight, water, and oxygen from reaching the weeds, leading to death by suffocation. One benefit of plastic is that it warms the soil and promotes root growth of surrounding plants. Plastic covering reduces soil moisture evaporation and prevents tears.
UV-resistant polypropylene plastic is more expensive than the non-ultraviolent variety. Gardeners opt for plastic weed barriers often because they last a long time. Typically, you can lay the plastic once and get a year or two of use.
Advantages of Using a Weed Barrier
Via bobvila.com
You might me wondering why you should opt to use a barrier rather than a chemical herbicide. Here are some benefits to consider.
- Chemicals are bad for the environment. They contaminate the soil’s water, earthworms, and microorganisms. While a weed barrier is an environmentally friendly choice.
- Barriers use permeable fabric that allows water, air, and nutrients to reach the soil and roots of surrounding plants. By using a barrier, the ground can retain moisture, requiring less water to keep other plants growing.
- The use of barriers encourages plant growth. Weeds deplete the vitamins in the ground. Fewer weeds enhance the growth of your essential plants. Your vegetable garden will produce a larger bounty than ever before.
- Mulch and decorative stones will last longer without the soil directly below. You don’t have to replace your mulch as frequently when it lays on top of the barrier.
- Fabric barriers deter dogs from digging up your newly planted garden. It is hard for them to get through the fabric.
- Hillsides won’t erode as much if you use fabric. Rain can cause the soil to slide down the hill, but the material will stop that as you wait for a groundcover to grow larger.
The Top Features to Look for in the Best Weed Barrier
Via bobvila.com
Easy to Install
You don’t want to waste time and money by calling a professional to install the barrier. Don’t purchase a difficult to use fabric to protect your garden from weeds. There are a lot of brands that you can install yourself with simply a pair of scissors and some time and effort.
Allows Water and Air Through
The soil underneath the fabric is essential. Even if you want to use it around your house in an area without plants, you don’t want to destroy the soil by starving it of all air and water. The barrier should allow some air and water to get through, but it prevents the growth of weeds.
Safe for the Environment
It is important to select a product that’s safe for the environment. You decided not to resort to chemicals. Other options could harm the plants in the same area as the weeds. Fabric should be safe for all of your bordering plants. The wrong choice lets everything else thrive minus the weeds.
Long Lasting
As with any product you purchase, you want to make sure it will last. No one wants to replace their weed barrier every month or two. That is a waste of time and money! You want a brand that will last an entire season, but the ideal choice can work for multiple seasons.
Here is a short video to show you how to install a weed barrier.
The Top 5 Best Weed Barrier
Let’s take a look at the five best choices on the market!
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1. SCOTTS 25-Year Pro Fabric, 3 by 150-Feet
Everyone knows the brand Scott’s. They make some of the best products for lawn and garden. You need fabric that is strong and durable, but it light enough that you can roll it over the garden yourself. The Scott’s 25 year Pro Fabric is the best choice.
Pros
- You get to control weeds without any chemicals.
- It is perfect for the gardener with a smaller budget. You get decent weed control, but you don’t have to fork over a ton of money.
- The material is heavy duty, intended for long term durability. Instead of feeling like plastic, it feels like cloth. It will reduce soil erosion for years to come.
- It is an excellent choice for walkways, patios and retaining walls.
- The dimensions are 36 inches x 5 feet x 5 feet, and it only weighs 4.6 pounds for the entire roll.
- Installation couldn’t be easier! This fabric is one of the easiest to place in your garden.
Cons
- The fabric doesn’t always allow enough water to penetrate to the soil below.
- Compared to other fabric choices, the Pro Fabric isn’t as durable. You may experience more frequent tears.
- The material is thinner than you could expect.
There are many great reasons to use the Pro Fabric. Gardeners love it! You will get around 75 feet out of one roll! For the price, you get a great value.
2. Dewitt 4-Foot by 50-Foot 12-Year Weed Barrier Fabric
Another familiar brand in the world of gardening is DeWitt. They are responsible for some of the top tools and products that aid gardeners everywhere. DeWitt offers fabric that doesn’t frequently require installation; you will get 12 years out of a layer of fabric. An entire year of no weeds is pretty amazing.
Pros
- The weed barrier is designed to use for 12 years.
- It is safe for the environment to use for the long term; there are no dangerous chemicals that leech into the soil.
- Compared to other brands, this brand is heavier than made of thicker material, creating a more durable choice. It is ideal if you want to put mulch or gravel over the top. Your garden will be ready to go!
- DeWitt used non-woven, hydrophilic treated fabric. Water and air can pass through it with ease.
- For longevity, the fabric is made with a spun-bond method that compounds melt blown material, creating a durable 3-ply layer of protection.
- Minimal light can pass through the material to reduce weed growth because of the higher carbon black content. It is perfect for tough perennial weeds.
- They treated the fabric to prevent minimal degradation due to UV light exposure.
- For easier cutting, they designed to the fabric to prevent unraveling.
Cons
- It is best not used in an area that you will walk. Due to the nature of the material, you could put holes into it.
- Whether or not it can last 12 years is hard to say. It will stand up for a year or two, but it may not provide you with that long of use.
Due to the thicker nature of the fabric, the DeWitt weed barrier is ideal for longevity. You will get an extended use for a great price.
3. Dewitt P3 3-by-250-Foot 5-Ounce Pro 5 Weed Barrier Fabric
Finding a weed barrier that can last for years to come typically requires the help of professionals. With the DeWitt P3, there is no need to call anyone else for help. The material is so strong that you could drive a truck over it and not create any tears. It is more expensive than other choices, but it is worth the money. Plus, you get 250 feet of barrier.
Pros
- If you have a huge area to cover with weed barrier, the P3 is the ideal choice. You have 250 feet of fabric! That is enough to cover an entire small playground.
- DeWitt uses woven needle punch polypropylene fabric, created in China.
- Professionals use the P3 for their landscaping jobs. It is approved by landscape architects and government agencies.
- Using this barrier conserves soil moisture.
- There are twelve-inch spaced lines so you can line up your plants. It is important for lines to be spaced appropriately for maximum growth.
Cons
- The roll is huge and weighs close to 30 pounds. The installation will take more time and effort.
- The roll is broad and often overlaps, causing a waste of fabric. However, there are different widths available.
When you need a job done right, you use the materials that landscapers use. DeWitt’s P3 will last for years to come and is one of the most durable choices we have on the market today.
4. Easy Gardener 3-Foot by 50-Foot 15 Year Landscape Fabric
Another popular choice for the best weed barrier is made by Easy Gardener. It gives you 50 feet of barrier, perfect for the front of your house or a few garden beds. Also, the Easy Gardener barrier is one of the cheapest options on the list.
Pros
- The fabric is designed to last for 15 years.
- It is thicker than gardeners expect, but it allows rain and air to seep through to the soil below. Rocks and stones won’t cut the fabric.
- Installation is easy. The rolls aren’t too heavy, and you can cut the fabric with a razor blade.
- Many use this fabric to line their containers for plants.
- It is a non-chemical way to reduce the amount of weeds on your property without damaging the soil below.
Cons
- Because it is only 3 feet wide, you will need to overlap the fabric to effectively cover a large area.
Easy Gardener is a fantastic choice. As you can see, there aren’t many negatives. It is a thick, porous, durable product meant to last for years to come.
5. PRO Series 4 Ft X 225 Ft Weed Control Landscape Fabric
Do you need a large amount of weed barrier? The PRO series comes in a roll measuring 225 feet! It is a professional grade fabric, ideal for the job that you want to be done right.
Pros
- The fabric is environmentally friendly and designed to last for over 20 years.
- Air and water can penetrate the fabric, nourishing the soil underneath while destroying weeds. PRO uses hydrophilic water permeability.
- There are simple instructions for installation.
- The fabric is thick and is less likely to rip. It is made of polypropylene with three layers of laminated material for light blockage and strength.
Cons
- Because it is environmentally friendly, the fabric will degrade with UV exposure.
- You may not get the full 20 years of use. Ten years is the average amount of time that the material provides a complete barrier.
Selecting the Best Weed Barrier
These five choices are all excellent choices. If you chose any of these options, you would destroy the troublesome weeds. Out of the five listed above, the best solution is the DeWitt 12-Year Weed Barrier. The material is 3-layers of sturdy, sandwiched fabrics, designed not to fray. Despite the thickness of the fabric, water and air can penetrate, preserving the nutrients in the soil below. They treated their fabric with UV protection.
You could select any of the best weed barriers above, and end up with a lovely, weed-free garden. A garden without weeds is like heaven for a homeowner.
About the Author Laura Bennett
Hello, I’m Laura Bennett. I love nature especially when it comes to flowers and different kinds of plants. I started a very small garden behind my house and I named it Humid Garden. So, I created this blog to provide aspiring and inspiring thoughts about gardening for gardeners and anyone who has the intention of keeping a garden.
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