| When using landscaping fabric, preparing the | | | | test the Ph of the soil and add lime or sulfur in |
| project grounds is just as important as the quality | | | | the right amounts if needed. |
| of materials you use. While a lot of people will lay | | | | Once the weed barrier is in place, you'll only be |
| weed barrier directly over existing or barely | | | | able to add top surface applied chemical fertilizers |
| prepared area, the best performance and longest | | | | and you won't be able to work the soil. Of course, |
| lasting results are more likely with good | | | | you can add amendments to each plant hole as |
| preparation. | | | | you plant it. However, it's time consuming, messy, |
| To Start | | | | and doesn't extend beyond the root zone of the |
| Measure and mark the area. Most professionals | | | | plant. |
| use inverted marking paint but you can also use | | | | Use a rotor tiller or spade to turn in the |
| string, sticks, rocks, hose, or whatever you have | | | | amendments and nutrients 4 to 6 inches into the |
| available. Buy or order your landscape fabric to | | | | soil surface. Remove stones, sticks, debris, and |
| make sure it's on hand when you start your | | | | break up clods. Rake the surface area smooth. |
| project. | | | | Install Watering System |
| Remove all vegetation | | | | If you have an idea of where your plants are |
| Once your project areas are measured and | | | | going to be and you plan to have an automatic |
| marked, remove all vegetation. Depending on the | | | | drip sprinkler system, now is the time to place it. |
| area you're working on, there are several ways | | | | Lay out your main feeder hose and run drip tube |
| to remove plants and vegetation. | | | | and emitters to where your plants will be. If you |
| In lawn areas that are to be covered and / or | | | | plan on a bubbler system, it should have been |
| become planting areas, we most always do a | | | | installed before the area was manicured. |
| double application of a non-selective herbicide such | | | | Installing The Fabric |
| as round up. Make sure the area is actively | | | | The easiest way to do this is to lay the barrier |
| growing, spray the herbicide as directed, and then | | | | out first before you plant your plants. Some folks |
| let it do its work. In 5 to 7 days after the | | | | recommend you use securing pins to hold the |
| application, start watering the area to encourage | | | | material in place. It is an option. However, if you'd |
| the growth of what may have survived and any | | | | rather save the expense, you can hold down the |
| seeds that may be viable. Repeat the herbicide | | | | edges with the groundcover you intend to use. |
| application. You may also want to repeat again if | | | | We usually just place sacks or piles of mulch, |
| necessary. | | | | rock, or other groundcover around the edges and |
| In some cases we use a sod cutter to remove | | | | spread it out after we're done planting. |
| the top few inches of lawn. Generally, this is after | | | | I've also seen a few people plant the plants first |
| we have killed all the weeds and it is mostly done | | | | and then fit it over the tops of the plants. This is |
| to recess the area and make room for mulch, | | | | usually hard on the vegetation, breaks branches, |
| rocks, or other groundcover. | | | | and is very time consuming. |
| I have seen other professionals install landscaping | | | | You can use a sharp knife or utility razor to cut |
| fabric over areas that were only sod cut but not | | | | the cloth but the best and easiest way we've |
| killed with an herbicide. I don't recommend it. Sod | | | | found to cut long runs is to use a sharp pair of |
| cutters only cut off the top surface of the grass | | | | scissors. And instead of working the scissors, hold |
| and really do nothing for killing the roots. This | | | | them half open to where the blades form a "V". |
| could be a future problem if you have deep | | | | Hold the material where both blades in the "V" |
| rooted aggressive weeds or grasses such as | | | | meet and push them through the cloth. |
| Bermuda. | | | | Planting |
| For non-lawn and old flower bed areas, you can | | | | Mark your plant area or set out plants to get a |
| use the herbicide method mentioned above. And | | | | visual. Use a sharp knife, razor, or scissors and |
| for all areas including lawn areas, you can use the | | | | cut an "x" in the fabric the size of your pot or |
| herbicide method or solorization. | | | | root ball. Don't cut the pot size out. Just cut the |
| Solarization is basically baking the soil and exposing | | | | "x" and fold the flaps under. Make the hole. Place |
| it to extremely high temperatures that kill weed | | | | and plant the plant correctly. Gently place the |
| seeds and vegetation. This process is very simple | | | | flaps up next to the plant. |
| and works very well but takes the longest to do. | | | | Now place 2 to 4 inches of your chosen |
| Prepare The Soil | | | | groundcover over the area making sure to hold |
| If you plan on planting plants in areas where you | | | | down the cut flaps and keep them in place. |
| install the fabric, you need to work in soil | | | | Cut off any excess landscaping fabric around the |
| amendments and nutrients before installation. If | | | | edges making sure it stays tight around the |
| possible, and I do recommend, use organic slow | | | | edges. |
| release nutrients and compost. You should also | | | | |