Black Plastic or Landscape Fabric

[Duekster]

Originally Posted by dougaustreim

Just because something costs more or we can charge more does not make it right. In my 40 years of experience, plastice does a better job of preventing weeds in rock than fabric does.

Yes, you are correct. Cost is not the end all. How about letting the soil breath and moisture infiltrate? I would hate to be installing a bioswale with a nice rock basin with plastic when the intent is to allow the water to infiltrate instead of run off.

[Snyder's Lawn Inc]

Originally Posted by dougaustreim

Just because something costs more or we can charge more does not make it right. In my 40 years of experience, plastice does a better job of preventing weeds in rock than fabric does.

Weeds will grow anywhere I hated plastic but at one time thats all they had thats all we installed once they came out with that pro5 weed mat That was best move I ever made

With plastic you cant just dump rock or take chance poking holes in the plastic or walk in the beds
Plastic wont last as long as the pro5
I done some reinstalls and some had plastic and go remove the old rock the plastic is rotted vs if bed had pro5 you can remove the rock without digging in the dirt
I charge 15-17 cents per sq ft for pro5
Might cost more



But if you think its better more power to you

[zak406]

I agree with the poster who said about not using weed block... I install weed block dont get me wrong, however I feel its almost worthless. Alot of customers think it is the end all of weed problems. However that is not the case. You put weedblock under mulch, and a year later you have decomposed mulch on top of the fabric in which weeds quickly develop. You put rocks over weedblock and the next thing you know the soil and sand from the rocks settles and you have weeds on top of that. Customers think since they put weed block down you will never see a weed again, as I stated before that is 100% wrong. For the cost of weedblock the customer is almost better off contracting you to spray every 2 weeks to a month.

[Duekster]

Originally Posted by Snyder's Lawn Inc

Weeds will grow anywhere I hated plastic but at one time thats all they had thats all we installed once they came out with that pro5 weed mat That was best move I ever made

With plastic you cant just dump rock or take chance poking holes in the plastic or walk in the beds
Plastic wont last as long as the pro5
I done some reinstalls and some had plastic and go remove the old rock the plastic is rotted vs if bed had pro5 you can remove the rock without digging in the dirt
I charge 15-17 cents per sq ft for pro5
Might cost more



But if you think its better more power to you

The 5 Oz woven fabric I use is strong to 275 PSI. Yet it breaths and lets moisture in. I assume the pro5 is like that?

http://www.landscapefabric.com/500series.php

[Snyder's Lawn Inc]

Originally Posted by Duekster

The 5 Oz woven fabric I use is strong to 275 PSI. Yet it breaths and lets moisture in. I assume the pro5 is like that?

http://www.landscapefabric.com/500series.php

yes same Im not at the shop to give you the details widths I get it in 4-5-6-8x250'
can special order wider I have bought 20ft wide

[White Gardens]

To the original poster.

Don't use plastic! If any of it is exposed, it will degrade in the UV light and the elements.

I don't know how many rock beds I've renovated that had stupid plastic down. So many tears and no way to keep it in place.

I use a heavy SRW fabric and sell it only as a barrier between the rock and soil. Never do I use fabric under hardwood mulch.

As for keeping it in place, landscape staples or pins is the way to go. Most companies around me just have a guy hold it in place and throw rock over it to keep it in place. After a while the seams widen and also when someone goes to pull a weed that is growing in the rock, it pulls the fabric up.

I also will never put rock down without a spun bound fabric barrier.


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[lazor-cut]

For hardwood we found the best weed block is none at all!

if its bad we whip the weeds down, Spray, preen (if the customer insist) then we just lay a thick layer of mulch down.

[banjogum]

I have never used plastic. My vote is on commercial grade professional landscape fabric. 10 years, no problems.

[MV Property Care]

Originally Posted by Snyder's Lawn Inc

Weeds will grow anywhere I hated plastic but at one time thats all they had thats all we installed once they came out with that pro5 weed mat That was best move I ever made

With plastic you cant just dump rock or take chance poking holes in the plastic or walk in the beds
Plastic wont last as long as the pro5
I done some reinstalls and some had plastic and go remove the old rock the plastic is rotted vs if bed had pro5 you can remove the rock without digging in the dirt
I charge 15-17 cents per sq ft for pro5
Might cost more



But if you think its better more power to you

I will look into pro 5

[MV Property Care]

Originally Posted by lazor-cut

For hardwood we found the best weed block is none at all!

if its bad we whip the weeds down, Spray, preen (if the customer insist) then we just lay a thick layer of mulch down.

Have you ever used "snap shot" when you lay mulch down? It's supposed to last 3 months I believe.