Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

BWdem4life

(3,114 posts)
Mon Jun 1, 2026, 10:05 PM Monday

Never using landscape fabric again

Grass and vines grew right through it. Now the only way to eradicate them is to discard the grass/vines/cloth in the garbage, because it’s too difficult to separate out the cloth and it can’t go in the yard waste.

Already swore off plastic so now it’s just gonna be nothing.

10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Never using landscape fabric again (Original Post) BWdem4life Monday OP
Newspaper and mulch work for me Easterncedar Monday #1
I also use mulch (pine fines) but still have to spray Spruce or something similar spooky3 Monday #2
I had an large area I used it on for raised beds. Fabric then mulch to keep the weeds down. Lochloosa Monday #3
Cardboard and pizza boxes Envirogal Monday #4
Yes, cardboard & newspaper. Zackzzzz Monday #5
Came to say cardboard. It works. mahina Monday #6
Cardboard under mulch works😊 Figarosmom Yesterday #7
Thank you for the vinegar and dish detergent. I use it to keep bugs off my LoisB Yesterday #8
I use regular white Figarosmom 22 hrs ago #9
There was a Rebl2 53 min ago #10

spooky3

(38,921 posts)
2. I also use mulch (pine fines) but still have to spray Spruce or something similar
Mon Jun 1, 2026, 10:26 PM
Monday

on the weeds that continue to sprout up -- fewer than if no mulch were used, but still too many.

Lochloosa

(16,816 posts)
3. I had an large area I used it on for raised beds. Fabric then mulch to keep the weeds down.
Mon Jun 1, 2026, 10:31 PM
Monday

I got rid of the raised beds a few years ago, but am still pulling up fabric that was under the mulch. Never again.

Envirogal

(330 posts)
4. Cardboard and pizza boxes
Mon Jun 1, 2026, 10:45 PM
Monday

They break down and are not laced with chemicals either. Spraying should not be part of any gardening routine because we’ve got to stop using herbicides and chemicals. Boiling water works, too but I only do that in cracks or in the sidewalk. Really conscious about trying not to kill our insect neighbors.

I am a prolific weed puller, and once you do it for a while, they stop growing. And sometimes I discover new plants that are really great that I never thought of planting since they grew naturally. That is how I ended up getting the most amazing nectarine tree! Didn’t know what it was, but it seemed like it was a tree not a weed. Within two years I have fruit that is like candy.

Weed pulling works really well and you can get your aggression about the state of the world out as you battle against nature.

Zackzzzz

(400 posts)
5. Yes, cardboard & newspaper.
Mon Jun 1, 2026, 11:00 PM
Monday

Our favorite gardening tool is the Hori Hori, Japanese Farmers Knife.
I like the Orange handle.
My mate likes the original wooden one.
For tighter spots, I also use a short handled screw driver.

Figarosmom

(13,903 posts)
7. Cardboard under mulch works😊
Tue Jun 2, 2026, 12:21 AM
Yesterday

And for weed killer in sidewalk cracks and stuff I use water with white vinegar and dish detergent.

The vinegar and sunshine will burn the weed, the dish detergent keeps the solution on the plant.

LoisB

(13,607 posts)
8. Thank you for the vinegar and dish detergent. I use it to keep bugs off my
Tue Jun 2, 2026, 12:49 AM
Yesterday

collard greens leaves. I'm going to try it on the cracks tomorrow. Regular white vinegar or the 30%?

Rebl2

(17,959 posts)
10. There was a
Wed Jun 3, 2026, 10:35 AM
53 min ago

local eagles nest I have been watching and I am almost certain one of the adults brought a small piece of that landscape fabric to the nest. It’s been there for weeks. Side note. One of the babies has left and the other baby is enjoying having the nest all to himself/herself!

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Gardening»Never using landscape fab...