Landscape fabrics are not the answer to a landscape that needs no work. I know that many people think they can just buy it, put it somewhere, cover it, and forget about it. Forever.
First of all, there is no such thing as a landscape that doesn't need any care. Landscape fabric can help you out in a lot of different ways. But there are some good things and some bad things about using it. And, like most things, it needs to be set up and taken care of the right way if you want to use it.
Landscape fabrics can be used for different things. They aren't always needed, but depending on the type of groundcover you use, you might want to use them.
In 95% of the designs that our company makes, we use weed barrier. It's just the way our business works, since decorative rocks are the most common way to cover the ground around here. When using rocks for groundcover or paths, you need something to separate the soil from the groundcover. If you don't, you'll have mud rocks as soon as it rains.
In theory, you could use almost anything to separate two things. I've seen people who do things themselves use everything from plastics to newspapers to cardboard boxes to pieces of old carpet. As a professional, I obviously can't use this or even suggest it to my clients. There, you're on your own.
Now, when it comes to a project, I would much rather not use any fabrics at all. I'd rather make planting areas with living soil that are mulched and cared for than ones that are covered and left alone. But some areas are too big for this method to work, and some people just like to cover an area with rocks for decoration.
Both rock beds with fabric on the bottom and living beds with mulch will need some work to keep them looking nice. Neither one doesn't need any care. There will always be something to do in your yard as long as there is wind, rain, dirt, and blown-in seeds.
When we use landscaping fabric and rocks to make a plan, I tell the client a few things. 1) Seeds and dirt will be blown in. 2) Something needs to be done to stop it from getting worse. I can promise them that nothing will grow in from the bottom because of how good the fabric is. But we can't do anything about what comes in on top.
By spraying herbicide on the weeds, the problem will be taken care of. But this doesn't help with the dirt, leaves, and other plant parts hiding under your rocks. And if you let these build up, they'll keep building up, and you'll never be able to get rid of them. So periodic maintenance is required even if you do use landscaping fabric.
Using a blower on your bedding areas from time to time will slow the buildup of dirt and, in some cases, get rid of it altogether. How easy and thorough this is depends a lot on the type and size of rocks you use.
Small pea gravel collects and keeps dirt, which makes it harder to clean than rocks that are 12" or bigger. Not only does it keep dirt, but when you use a blower to clean it, it tends to go everywhere. Pea gravel is good for paths, walkways, and other small areas, but I wouldn't use it to cover a larger area.
As for putting landscape fabric under beds that have bark and mulch on them? This can be easier to take care of than living beds or areas with rocks because it is easy to pick up and put somewhere else every few years. This way, your landscape will always look new, and you won't have to blow dirt or mulch beds.
Remember. There is no such thing as a landscape that doesn't need any care. Landscape fabrics can make things easier in a lot of ways, but like everything else, they need to be kept up with. No, they don't have to be used in every landscaping project. But I think you'll find that they're the best choice for many types of groundcover.
