If you're wondering how to use landscape fabric, its versatility might surprise you. While weed prevention is its most well-known purpose, landscape fabric has developed over the years for tasks like filtration, stabilization, and erosion control.
Seven (7) easy ways to use landscape fabric:
These are just a few of the many ways that landscape fabric along with landscape fabric staples can improve and protect your garden, foundation plantings, and beautiful outdoor spaces.
]]>If you're wondering how to use landscape fabric, its versatility might surprise you. While weed prevention is its most well-known purpose, landscape fabric has developed over the years for tasks like filtration, stabilization, and erosion control.
Seven (7) easy ways to use landscape fabric:
That said, landscape fabric remains your best option for the simple task of controlling weeds. Not only does it prevent germination, but it also limits the growth of existing weeds. It’s perfect for the areas beneath your deck, around trees, and along patios and walkways.
To ensure your landscape fabric performs well, be sure to secure it with landscape staples. These metal pins firmly attach the fabric to a variety of surfaces to make your project a success.
When decorative plants, flowers, or shrubs don't have the protection of landscape fabric, many homeowners are disappointed when weeds grow faster than the flowers. Fortunately, it’s not too late to protect them by installing landscape fabric around the existing plants to stop the destructive weeds.
When shopping for landscape fabric, check the durability rating, life span, and water permeability features of the fabric before buying. The more traffic the area has, the more durable your fabric should be.
Assemble your tools and remember that landscape pins are necessary for your project.
Prior to installation, be sure you’re laying the fabric correctly, with the proper side facing down. Though some are interchangeable, many fabrics have a textured side that must face the ground.
Use a sharp pair of scissors or utility knife to cut slits that create openings for your plants. After cutting the slits, wrap the fabric around the base of your plants and overlap the edges. Then, use landscape staples to keep the edges snug and to secure the fabric to the ground.
For functional purposes and to maintain a beautiful aesthetic, spread bark or mulch on the landscape fabric throughout the coverage area. Use enough for two to three inches of coverage. This step further secures the landscape fabric along with the staples and prevents the fabric from curling up or fraying.
Begin this project with accurate measurements of your planned flower bed. Use a tape measure to note length and width. Multiply these numbers to determine the square footage and use that information to determine the size or number of rolls of landscape fabric you require. Add about 10 percent to ensure you have enough.
Before laying the landscape fabric, prep your flower bed by raking and leveling the soil. Next, roll out the fabric over the designated area and cut to size. Hammer landscape staples through the fabric into the ground to secure the cover about every 6 to 8 inches along the edges.
Map the area for your flowering plants or shrubs with a marker. Use a utility knife to cut large x’s at the plant sites. Peel back the fabric at each site and dig holes for planting. After planting, fold the landscape pieces back in against the plants. Secure the fabric with your garden staples. Finally, spread mulch to cover the entire area.
Many people choose to use mulch in their landscaping to prevent weed growth. By using multiple layers, you can create mulch compacting. This blocks sunlight from reaching the soil and helps prevent weed germination.
Both organic and inorganic mulches are available. Without landscape fabric, organic mulches in direct contact with soil decompose rapidly. So, this choice requires periodic mulch replacement and top ups.
The wide range of mulch colors allows for a variety of styles and designs, and even the simplest application can be very attractive. For best results, install landscape fabric with pins before the mulch to map your designs and strengthen the weed-prevention properties of mulch compacting.
Although woven landscape fabric blocks light to inhibit weed growth, water, air, and nutrients still permeate the fabric to maintain healthy soil underneath. In addition, it slows decomposition of organic mulch. This reduces the need for frequent replenishment.
Correct installation of your landscape fabric is essential for maximum weed prevention. You don’t want to leave any open spaces that allow sunlight in. Avoid this potential issue with landscaping fabric pegs and staples. Secure your weed barrier fabric throughout the coverage area with them. If you’re using landscaping fabric and mulch for several areas, consider landscape fabric staples in 1000-count packages for more secure coverage and cost effectiveness.
Placing landscape fabric under gravel, pavers, and other types of hardscaping materials creates a stabilizing layer.
If you live in an area where the temperature drops below freezing, frost heave is a potential problem. The cycles of freezing and thawing force the ground to expand — heave — moving your gravel or pavers upwards. This creates unstable and even messy or muddy surfaces and walkways. But if you install landscape fabric first, it can limit the frost heave effect that moves rock and soil upwards.
Another problem is that loose hardscaping like gravel or pebbles settles into the soil over time. This also creates uneven pathways and an unappealing aesthetic. But landscape fabric can help prevent that unwelcome sinkage. Simply install the ground covering with landscape fabric staples before placement of your pavers or gravel.
A barrier between the soil and your wood, brick, or stone retaining wall is necessary. Without this protection, dirt can mar the appearance of your hardscaping and leave it vulnerable to weed growth. Soil gets into the layers of the wall giving weeds a place to thrive. Use landscape fabric to prevent this problem.
Dig a small trench flush with the wall. It should be about 6 inches wide at the bottom of your wall underground. Line the side of the trench along the back of the wall with the landscape fabric. The top edge of the fabric should be level with the top of your retaining wall (assuming it's at or just above surface level). Attach it with construction adhesive. Use landscape fabric staples in the trench's bottom to secure the liner.
Carefully place gravel in the trench. Fill to about 2 inches beneath surface level. Cover with topsoil and tamp down the soil to make it level. Some homeowners take the extra step of installing drainage in the trench, such as a French drain system.
Unless drained away, storm water buildup around homes, buildings, and landscaping can cause foundation damage, fungus and mold growth, and plant root rot. Pools of water are also a breeding ground for insects like mosquitos. French drains, also called trench drains, solve this drainage problem.
Creating a French drain requires advanced DIY skills. So, consider bringing in a professional if that’s not within your comfort level.
To start, dig a trench that directs water away from your home or other area, starting at a higher elevation that flows to a lower level. Dig about 1-1/2 foot down and 9 inches to 1 foot wide.
Use landscape fabric in the trench to prevent silt, tree roots, and excess dirt from entering the drain. Non-woven geotextile landscape fabric is suitable for this type of project. Buy enough landscape fabric to line the trench with about 10 extra inches on each side.
Add a gravel bed by pouring gravel into the trench atop the fabric. This bedding should be about three inches deep. Then lay a PVC pipe system or drainage hose, creating a slope of at least one inch per 10 feet of pipe. If you use piping, drill holes every six inches in the pipe and place it in the trench on top of the gravel with the holes facing down.
Pour more gravel over the pipe or hose, keeping it below ground surface. Wrap the extra landscape edges around the gravel and secure with durable landscape fabric staples. Now, refill the trench with topsoil.
When installing a pond or water feature, use landscape fabric for the underlayment. It’s an economical choice with several benefits. The fabric safeguards your liner from root punctures and sharp rocks. It also allows gasses to disperse from under rubber pond liners.
Landscape fabric replaces the fine sand and soil mix that’s often used on the pond liner as a base for the rock or gravel layer. It removes the expense of buying and hauling the sand, as well as the extra labor. Using landscape fabric instead also eliminates the cloudy water that appears until the mix settles.
With the protective landscape fabric underlayer, you can place the rocks on the liner without the sand and soil buffer. Pin down the landscape fabric underlayment with landscape fabric staples to prevent movement while building the pond.
These are just a few of the many ways that landscape fabric along with landscape fabric staples can improve and protect your garden, foundation plantings, and beautiful outdoor spaces.
For your next project, secure your landscape fabric with our strong Shape Your Scape staples.
]]>Both systems have their advantages. They both require backflow valves, filters, and soaker hose stakes to install effectively. Consider the recommended applications of each to see which one is best for your personal situation.
]]>Maintain a lush garden, lawn, and landscape features with a quality irrigation system. If you're looking for a way to avoid dry grass and stunted garden growth, then compare soaker hose vs. drip irrigation systems with this helpful guide. Prepare to install your own system and keep it safely in place with high-quality landscape stakes.
Drip irrigation is a high-quality system that's often used by commercial growers. This type of system uses polyethylene plastic tubing with evenly spaced emitters to deliver precise amounts of water to different areas of your garden or landscaping.
When you compare soaker hose vs. drip irrigation, drip irrigation can require more components. A properly installed system must have a regulator, backflow valve, and filter.
These irrigation systems come in two basic types:
A drip line system uses heavy-duty plastic tubing and emitters. Depending on the system you use, you may need to install emitters at custom intervals or simply roll out the tubing with pre-installed emitters. Choose a drip line if you need a multi-season option that lasts for years to come.
Drip tape is a more affordable alternative but may not last for many years. Flat-style tubing uses a pressure reducer to deliver an appropriate amount of water. This type of irrigation system is typically buried, unlike a surface-installed drip line.
Choose a drip system, whether line or tape, to enjoy the following benefits:
Once installed, this system offers accurate, timed delivery of water to the base of your plants. There are, however, some downsides to choosing this style of water delivery system:
The other popular irrigation option for your home or business location is a soaker hose. Soaker hoses are made of polyethylene and recycled rubber. Instead of relying on separate emitters, the hose itself is porous. Once connected to a hose bib with a backflow device, filter, and optional pressure regulator, your soaker hose system allows water to seep out across the entire surface for deep soaking.
Just like drip systems, there are two basic types of soaker hoses:
A flat soaker hose has holes along a single side. One laid in place and full of water, these hoses spray water out of the holes like a sprinkler.
Round hoses are porous along their entire length, so water leaches out on all sides. This type of hose doesn't require any special positioning and isn't as easy to become clogged or blocked. Both types are typically held down by soaker hose stakes.
Go for a simple yet effective solution with soaker hoses and soaker hose stakes. When you choose this system, you can enjoy the following benefits:
Of course, there are some disadvantages to choosing a soaker hose system. Consider these cons as you compare soaker hose vs. drip irrigation:
Both systems have their advantages. They both require backflow valves, filters, and soaker hose stakes to install effectively. Consider the recommended applications of each to see which one is best for your personal situation.
A large garden or flower bed with long, uniform rows is an ideal situation for drip irrigation. Plan out your rows to place an emitter at the base of every plant for accurate water delivery. When you install special emitters and a pressure regulator, you can enjoy consistent water coverage on hilly terrain.
The higher upfront investment may hold many homeowners back, but a drip system can last longer and perform better than most drip hose alternatives. Try out this system to see why it's a common solution for commercial use.
Small, manageable gardens don't need commercial solutions. Both flowerbeds and simple gardens on level ground offer great opportunities to use soaker hoses instead of drip lines.
Choose a soaker hose system for raised beds for an affordable setup. You don't need to worry about emitter placement, pressure regulation, or other complex features. Simply connect a hose, install it with garden stakes, and enjoy easy watering.
As you consider soaker hose vs. drip irrigation for your project, be sure you choose an efficient option for your situation. Here are some irrigation tips to help you cut down on water usage and still enjoy vibrant greenery:
These tips will help you avoid common mistakes when watering your garden or landscaping. Whether you're installing a system yourself or working with a professional team, here are some of the most common mistakes that DIY installers may make:
Follow the 10 tips above and the step-by-step guide to irrigation system installation to avoid these common mistakes. From the type of line or hose you choose to the quality of stakes you use to hold down your system, be sure you choose high-quality materials for an effective watering system.
This watering system can be a convenient, energy-efficient way to water your garden, flower beds, or other landscaping features. Consider these facts as you shop for the right system for your home or commercial application:
These systems, both drip lines and soaker hoses, improve the health of your plants. Compared to sprinkler systems and other options, both drip lines and soaker hoses conserve more water. If you don't use a watering system at all, prepare for dry plants, poor crop yield, and increased weed competition.
A DIY system is a project that most homeowners are capable of taking on. It doesn't take a lot of tools, expertise, or time to install an efficient irrigation system in a small-to-medium garden or flowerbed.
Start by determining whether a drip line or soaker hose is best for your situation. Consider the evenness of the ground, the type of rows, and your budget to help you make your choice.
Both types need quality stakes to remain in place. Choose stakes that are easy to install, resist corrosion, and won't pull up to let your lines move.
Check your soil type to consider how long you need to run your system. Water penetrates sandy soil quickly but doesn't spread across the surface conveniently. Soil with higher clay content takes longer for water to penetrate, so it's more likely to pool on the surface.
Don't wait until the middle of summer to install an irrigation system. Not only will you have a hot and uncomfortable work environment, but it may be too late to deliver the water your plants need.
The best time to install a system is in the fall or spring. This schedule allows you to install lines exactly where you want them, spread mulch, and let your work area recover before spring. Fall is a time when temperatures are comfortable and you don't have to worry as much about damaging plants in your garden or flower beds.
If you plan to remove the lines every season, early spring is the best time to lay out drip lines or hoses. Removing hoses at the end of every growing season reduces the risk of damage due to freezing temperatures and year-round sun exposure.
Start the process of installing a drip irrigation system by determining whether you're going to use a drip line or hose. Use this drip irrigation installation guide to find the proper placement of lines and emitters. Experiment with the placement for accurate water delivery.
If you're installing soaker hoses, space the hoses approximately 24 inches apart on soil with a high clay content, or 12 inches apart on sandy soil. Drip lines should also be spaced between 12 and 24 inches apart, depending on the number of emitters and your soil type.
To install either irrigation system, you'll need the following items:
A full irrigation kit can come with all the components you need for an easy installation process. Check out highly rated kits for all the lines, connectors, timers, and backflow prevention items necessary to start your irrigation process.
Few kits come with high-quality garden staples, so consider purchasing these separately. Explore the features of reliable staples today to secure your DIY irrigation kit.
Your carefully laid irrigation lines may swing out of control or become displaced over time. The best landscape staples offer easy installation, durable designs, and a convenient hold.
Place drip line or hose stakes every 3 feet along the length of your hoses. You need to use these stakes to enjoy the following benefits:
You should always use garden staples to hold down your drip hose or irrigation line. Purchase 11-gauge steel staples to offer a durable hold in most soil types. Consider either galvanized or non-galvanized options, depending on your application.
Choose commercial-grade stakes with sharp-angled tips for reliable installation. While you're calculating the amount of staples you need, consider picking up extra for other convenient applications:
Explore other key soaker hose vs. drip irrigation differences today. Once you find the best system for your garden or flower bed, it's time to order soaker hose stakes. Shop for garden landscape stakes today at Marshall's eStore to compare high-quality products that help you secure your irrigation system.
]]>