Garden Fabric pro and con

Discussion in 'Fruit and Veg Gardening' started by Dirtmechanic, Apr 23, 2025.

  1. Daniel W

    Daniel W Hardy Maple

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    I use cardboard a lot. Mostly for tomatoes, to prevent fungal spores from splashing from soil onto leaves, keep the soil shaded a and prevent drying out, and stop weeds.

    At the end of the year, I compost it.

    I dont know about the glue situation.

    I tried butcher paper but it rotted too fast. Some paper grocery bags are a little better.
     
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  2. Anniekay

    Anniekay Shovel Kicker

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    I used cardboard to kill the grass where I wanted my blackberry patch to be. I put two layers, most boxes were Amazon boxes, and then kept it wet. I had to put bricks on to stop the wind blowing it. It lasted a year before things like camphor trees sprouted through it. Underneath it was totally loaded with worm castings !! So, I like cardboard for the reason I used it for but I wouldn't say it does a better job keeping weeds down than landscape fabric. I like that the worms loved it, though.
     
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  3. Zigs

    Zigs Young Pine

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    That would be an Ecumenical matter :)

    This week, I am mostly using my own composted wood chip for mulch and plastic woven ground cover for wind break :)
     
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  4. Nate77

    Nate77 Seedling

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    When I did my flower bed , I cut the sod , put preen down then cardboard down , weed barrier soil more preen then mulch. Weeds still come up :(
     
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  5. Tetters

    Tetters Young Pine

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    They will. The seed blows in the wind, and will find just the smallest bit of loose soil to germinate and grow. It is just nature's way of survival.
    What a good job us gardeners enjoy a bit of weeding :)
     
  6. Dirtmechanic

    Dirtmechanic Young Pine

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    I baled out on the whole question and used straw. I made more tomato cages and set the trelli(ses?) for beans. She claims there are two rows of bush beans that need no trellis. I have not seen the floppy things fail to need support myself. Maybe more straw? It is a likely theme in the garden this year.
     
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  7. Dirtmechanic

    Dirtmechanic Young Pine

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    IMG_20250505_230506.jpg

    I wish @Tetters would come weed this thing. Maybe this will put a dent in the weed population. I snuck some Trombocino seeds into the winter squash rotation. I hear they are good as summer squash too.
     
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  8. Cayuga Morning

    Cayuga Morning Strong Ash Plants Contributor

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  9. Tetters

    Tetters Young Pine

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    Who is ''She'' We usually say ''She'' is the cat's mother.
    I hope you're not referring to your wife!
     
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  10. Dirtmechanic

    Dirtmechanic Young Pine

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    Oh - you know who the Queen of my Garden is by now. IF I was running this years garden it would be less trimmed I am sure and I would not smell of ointment I am just as sure.
     
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  11. Nate77

    Nate77 Seedling

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    Preen is granular supposed weed preventer,
    Garden fabric , garden cloth or whatever it's called i. Your area , then put soil on top
     
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  12. Cayuga Morning

    Cayuga Morning Strong Ash Plants Contributor

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    Thanks Nate77. So Preen is an herbicide.?
     
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  13. Dirtmechanic

    Dirtmechanic Young Pine

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    Yes but to keep grasses out. Let the broadleafs in. The word herbicide is probably racist. Who is herb anyway? When I grew up Disney told me Herbie was a volkswagon. Then came Cheech and Chong. It's an anti- herbicide, herbicide. Do not proceed until @Tetters says I have communicated caution. It is a question of shrubbery and it appears the British are in charge of that according to Monte Python.
     
    Last edited: May 11, 2025
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  14. Anniekay

    Anniekay Shovel Kicker

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    You're better off buying a roll of Coastal hay for 40 bucks. You get a ton, literally, and it goes way farther.

    Weeds are still going to grow through it and on top of it, eventually, though.
     
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  15. Dirtmechanic

    Dirtmechanic Young Pine

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    I bought compressed bales because they were handy. Staying ahead of the blights that start with splash is the singlemost important thing here. The celebrity tomato will produce into November here and that is a long time frame for a fungal fight.
     
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