What is a Landscape Fabric?
A landscape fabric is also referred to as a garden fabric, weed fabric, or a landscape cloth. A landscape fabric is either made up of woven or non-woven fibers. The solid sheet has perforated holes to allow water and air to soak through it.
The landscape fabric is a weed control mechanism. So, if you are tired of weed invasion in your garden, the landscape fabric will help you control it. In this article, we shall discuss about the woven and non-woven landscape fabric and how to choose the best.
Woven Vs Non-Woven Landscape Fabric, Which One Should I Choose?
There are two types of landscape fabrics, the woven and the non-woven. If you are new to landscaping, you might not know the difference between the two.
When it comes to choosing the right fabric for landscaping, you should consider the purpose for which you are choosing it. For instance, if you are looking for weed barrier around the trees, low maintainace beds, or shrubs, you should consider a woven landscape fabric as it works best. If you are looking for a landscaping fabric that can offer stability and block weed under the gravel or under the rock, the best material to use is non-woven landscape fabric.
What Is Woven Geotextile Fabric?
A woven geotextile fabric is designed by weaving the polypropylene tapes or strips of synthetic material together. The fabric woven in a crisscross pattern which makes the fabric super strong. However, the woven geotextile fabric limits drainage capabilities of the fabric compared to the non-woven fabric.
As mentioned, the woven geotextile fabric is strength and hardwearing which gives it the high tensile strength making it suitable to use on patios, parking areas, paths and on other areas where a highly strong yet economical membrane is required.
What Is Nonwoven Geotextile Fabric?
A non-woven geotextile landscape fabric is made by biding long and short fibers using a needle punching, calendaring, or other methods. Sometimes, heat is used to increase the tensile strength of the geotextile.
Mainly, the materials used to make the non-woven materials are polyester or polypropylene or a mix of both. The non-woven geotextile material has a higher degree of permeability compared to the woven geotextile material. The material is mainly used in places that require good filtration, protection, drainage, and separation. However, they are less strong compared to the woven geotextile fabric.
Major Differences Between Woven and Nonwoven Geotextiles
As discussed above, both the woven and non-woven geotextiles fabrics have some differences although both are used for almost similar function. The type of project you are working determines the type of landscaping fabric you are going to choose. The following are the main differences between the woven Vs non-woven landscaping fabrics.
1.The woven geotextile fabrics are great for both the reinforcement and stabilization applications while the nonwoven geotextiles are excellent for filtration, drainage applications, and separation.
2. The woven geotextiles have poor permeability which is not good for good airflow, filtration and drainage, on the other hand, the non-woven is highly permeable with a good amount airflow.
3. The woven geotextile landscaping fabrics have a high tensile strength and load capacity mostly used in road construction, whereas the non-woven geotextiles are measured by weight.
4.Both the woven and the non-woven landscaping materials are made with polyester or polypropylene, or a mix of both materials.
Applications of the Woven Vs Non-Woven Landscape Fabric
Non-Woven Geotextile Fabrics
The non-woven landscape fabric is the best choice is you are looking for soil separation and permeability. Also, it is the best choice if you are looking for a material that has good drainage. Suitable projects for this fabric are:
- Installing beneath the rock riprap revetment
- For wrapping the French drains
- It can be used with alternative sub-surface drainage solutions
- It is suitable for projects requiring soil separation and permeability
Woven Geotextile Fabrics
The woven geotextile can be used in various project that requires heavy duty landscape projects. The most common applications for woven geotextile fabrics includes:
- Highways
- Parking lots
- Residential streets
- Beneath driveways
Benefits of Woven Weed Control Fabric
The woven weed control fabric is one of the most commonly used in landscaping. The material is multipurpose and it has microscopic holes to let water and nutrients to enter through the ground and it also prevents the weeds from growing and multiplying.
The benefits of using the woven weed control fabric are:
- Keeps the Weeds Away– weed control is one of the major challenges that most gardeners face. The woven landscape fabric helps to keep weeds under control by depriving them room to grow. Also, it reduces the need for the use of herbicides.
- Slows down water evaporation from the soil– Another important use of the woven landscape fabric is to retain moisture in the soil by minimizing evaporation. It comes in handy during the hot summer season when the rate of evaporation is high. Also, you will use less water to irrigate your plants.
- Reduces Soil Erosion- Another major benefit of using a landscape fabric is its ability to reduce and control soil erosion. Laying the fabric on the hillsides or other areas prone to erosion prevents the soil from sliding especially when it rains.
- Keeps the Soil Healthy- A woven landscape fabric helps to keep the health of the soil intact by controlling the soil temperatures. During hot summers, the fabric keeps the soil beneath cooler and during winter, it helps to keep the soil a bit warmer.
- Helps in Soil Stabilization- the fabric helps to keep the inorganic mulches such as pea gravel or rocks from sinking into the soil.
Recommended For Your Project
VEVOR 6.5 Ft x 300 Ft Premium Weed Barrier Heavy Duty Woven Weed Control Fabric
The VEVOR 6.5 Ft x 300 Ft Premium Weed Barrier is one of the best choice when it comes to choosing a high quality and heavy duty landscape fabrics.
The VEVOR landscape weed barrier fabric is made with a premium material and a solid structure which makes it to withstand severe climatic conditions. It is highly efficient in inhibiting the growth of weeds and grass. It helps in soil conservation and reduces soils erosion.
The following are the features and specifications of the VEVOR 6.5 FTx300 FT Premium Woven Geotextile Fabric.
Specifications
| Brand | VEVOR |
|---|---|
| Material | Polypropylene fabric |
| Density | 12 |
| Size | 300 x 6.5 ft (L x W) |
| Color | Black |
| Gross weight | 46.0 lb / 20.9 kg |
| Package size | 79.9 x 7.9 x 7.5 inches |
| Folded Size | 7.9 x 7.9 x 41.3 inches |
| Application | Patio, Lawn, Garden, industrial uses, and construction. |
Features of VEVOR 6.5 FTx300 FT Premium Woven Geotextile Fabric
1. Extremely durable – the fabric of the VEVOR woven landscape fabric is made from heavy duty material which makes it highly durable. Also, due to its strong nature, it prevents weeds and grass from growing through it.
2. Permeability – the fabric is designed with high permeability. The water does not stay stagnant on the material but it sinks in.
3. Efficient weed control and soil protection – Although the VEVOR landscape fabric is strong and sturdy, it allows the soil to breath and retain its humidity. The black color of the fabric acts as a good shade and it does not cause harm to the earth. Also, the fabric protects the soil through different climatic conditions, all year round.
4. A wide range of application – the fabric offers a wide range of application such as agricultural use, industrial use, construction and gardening. It can be used on the flowerbeds, vegetable patches, sidewalks, driveways, and so much more.
5. Easy to install- the fabric is easy and quick to install. Also, it is easy to DIY and cut it according to your needs. The fabric has green markings for easy plant alignment.
Why Buy VEVOR Woven Landscape Weed Control Fabric?
- Premium tough and durable quality
- Incredibly affordable prices
- Fast and secure delivery
- The Polypropylene is soil friendly and it protects the soil
- High permeability properties
- Easy and quick to install
How to Use Landscape Fabric?
The landscape fabrics are designed to fit on different types of landscapes. The following is a tutorial on how to lay down a landscape fabric.
1. Prepare the site – use a hoe to level the ground by removing all the weeds, grass, plants, and leaves.
2. Prepare the soil – Make the soil fine by removing any sharp objects and rocks that could damage the fabric. You can use your hands or a rake to filter the soil and remove all the unwanted objects.
3. Spread the landscape fabric on the prepared site – spread the landscape fabric on the site well. With a pair of scissors, cut off the excess fabric that doesn’t fit on the site.
4. Keep the fabric secure – use the landscape staples to secure the fabric on the ground. Fix the staples evenly on the fabric and use a hammer to ensure they are tight.
N.B. Always read the instructions carefully to understand how to install the fabric.
