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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 177
Campfire Member
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OP
Campfire Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 177 |
I am putting in some flower beds at my office, want them to be as low maintenance as possible. I am undecided on river rock vs. mulch. But I want to put down weed barrier underneath, whichever way I go. I know not all weed barriers are equal. Anybody know of a good durable one that will last a number of years?
Thanks
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 66,388
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 66,388 |
I put Tyvek housewrap under my stuff.
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 19,434
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 19,434 |
The best is sold at commercial landscape supply stores. Fancy word is geotextile or landscape fabric. Go for the heaviest weight you can afford per square foot. This some of the best product out there. https://www.srwproducts.com/products/fabric
"Maybe we're all happy."
"Go to the sporting goods store. From the files, obtain form 4473. These will contain descriptions of weapons and lists of private ownership."
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,909
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,909 |
I have always found rock to be the biggest PITA for a flower bed. Mulch is better, replenishes nutrients and keeps the weeds down. The woven fabric stuff seems to be best, just go with the heaviest you can swing as stated above.
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 19,158
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 19,158 |
I have always found rock to be the biggest PITA for a flower bed. Mulch is better, replenishes nutrients and keeps the weeds down. The woven fabric stuff seems to be best, just go with the heaviest you can swing as stated above. For years we had mulch in the flower beds around our house.............and we had insects galore.They love mulch, and they thrive in it. So we replaced the mulch with creek gravel, and the bug problem pretty much went away. I've used several kinds of the landscape fabric, from the cheap Walmart and Lowes stuff, to the kind that greenhouse suppliers sell. The later will last a very long time, and is really not that costly.
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,248
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,248 |
I have both river rock and mulch around my house. Mulch is a PIA and a bug factory. River rock super easy to maintain.
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,408
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,408 |
ya as said above, the heavy duty black geotex is the ticket. a bit pricey but you won't need to replace it for a long time.
My diploma is a DD214
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 11,350
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 11,350 |
I hate any of the sheet stuff. For me it always ends up showing somewhere. In time you end up with soil on top of it and weeds grow anyway.
I just mulch/rock and either spray Roundup or a ground sterilant depending on what bed and what I’m doing with it plant wise. If kept up with, the weeds are easy to knock back.
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 150,067
Campfire Savant
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Campfire Savant
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 150,067 |
I used tyvek under the lava rock we have, been there 15 years.
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 942
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 942 |
Weed barriers may not work as anticipated after a few years, especially if you cover them with anything else. Organic materials collect on top of the barrier, break down, and become a compost for weed growth.
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 3,701
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 3,701 |
Rubber Mulch works pretty well.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,068
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,068 |
Mulch will grow weeds after a couple years. Birds and wind will leave weed seeds in the mulch and enough dust will accumulate to germinate them. The roots will spread out over the weed barrier.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,839
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,839 |
Shingles. Find someone who's getting a new roof. The contractor or home owner will allow you to take as many old shingles as you want. We lay them down and place our rocks on top. Cut holes where you wish to plant flowers.
_________________________________________________________________________ “Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,068
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,068 |
The fabric they use for greenhouse floors. It's very tough, weed proof, and water will go through it. Under mulch or rocks it'll last indefinitely. Here's one example: GREENHOUSE FLOOR
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 150,067
Campfire Savant
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Campfire Savant
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 150,067 |
The green house floor is good!
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