Is A Fabric Weed Barrier Worth It?

Cardboard and newspaper can serve as DIY weed barriers that eventually break down and enrich the soil. This technique, often called “sheet mulching,” is an affordable and sustainable way to control weeds in garden beds.

• How It Works: Lay cardboard or newspaper over the soil, wet it down, and then cover it with a layer of mulch. The cardboard or paper blocks sunlight, starving weeds below. As it decomposes, it adds organic material to the soil.
• Added Benefits: This method is cost-effective, reduces waste by repurposing old cardboard and newspapers, and avoids using synthetic landscape fabrics. The material decomposes over a season or two, leaving behind richer soil.
• Best for: Vegetable gardens, flower beds, or new planting areas where you want to start with a clean slate. It’s a good option for organic gardeners looking for an alternative to synthetic materials.

Cover crops, also known as “green manure,” are a natural way to enrich soil and suppress weeds. Planting cover crops is especially useful in Ohio’s climate, where seasonal changes make soil management crucial.

• How It Works: Cover crops like clover, rye, or buckwheat are planted in vacant garden spaces during the off-season or between planting cycles. These crops cover the soil surface, preventing weeds from establishing, and their roots help break up compacted soil.
• Added Benefits: Cover crops add organic matter to the soil when tilled under, improving soil structure and increasing nutrient content. They also help reduce soil erosion, improve drainage, and attract beneficial insects.
• Best for: Vegetable gardens, flower beds, or any soil you’d like to improve over the long term. Popular cover crops for Ohio include crimson clover, winter rye, and hairy vetch, which survive through winter and are ready for tilling in spring.

Using ground cover plants or densely planting your garden beds can naturally reduce weeds without the need for landscape fabric. Ground covers are low-growing plants that spread across the soil, creating a living mulch that chokes out weeds.

• How It Works: When you plant ground covers or space your plants close together, you leave less room for weeds to grow. Some popular ground covers for Ohio include creeping thyme, pachysandra, and ajuga, which are hardy and easy to maintain.
• Added Benefits: Ground covers add visual interest to your garden, come in various colors and textures, and provide habitat for pollinators. They can also help prevent soil erosion on slopes and reduce the need for additional mulching.
• Best for: Areas where you’d like low-maintenance greenery, such as pathways, borders, or areas with bare soil. Ground covers work particularly well under shrubs and trees.

For smaller garden beds and landscapes, manually pulling weeds or using organic herbicides can be an effective approach. While this method takes more effort, it’s completely natural and keeps your soil undisturbed.

• How It Works: Regular hand-weeding can prevent weeds from establishing strong roots, and pulling them when the soil is moist makes it easier. For stubborn weeds, organic herbicides made from natural ingredients, like vinegar or clove oil, can target and kill weeds without harming beneficial soil microbes.
• Added Benefits: Hand-weeding and organic sprays allow for selective targeting, so you’re only removing the weeds you don’t want. It’s a highly effective approach for gardens with delicate plants that might be sensitive to fabric or mulch.
• Best for: Smaller gardens, raised beds, or landscaped areas with a variety of plants. Manual weeding is especially useful in early spring to remove weeds before they spread.

Mulch is one of the best alternatives to weed barriers, providing a natural way to suppress weeds while nourishing the soil. Organic mulches, like wood chips, bark, straw, or shredded leaves, offer numerous benefits beyond weed control.

• How It Works: By applying a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around plants and garden beds, you block sunlight, making it harder for weeds to sprout. Mulch also conserves moisture by reducing evaporation from the soil, which is especially helpful in Ohio's hot summers.
• Added Benefits: As organic mulch decomposes, it adds valuable nutrients to the soil, improving fertility and texture over time. This boosts plant health and reduces the need for artificial fertilizers.
• Maintenance: Organic mulch needs to be replenished annually as it decomposes, but this ongoing breakdown is what makes it beneficial for soil health. Choose mulch types based on aesthetics and what’s locally available.

Solarization is an environmentally friendly method of using the sun’s heat to kill weed seeds and pathogens in the soil. This technique is especially useful for larger garden beds or areas with dense weed infestations.

• How It Works: During Ohio’s warm summer months, cover the area with clear plastic and seal the edges. The plastic traps sunlight and raises soil temperatures to a level that kills weed seeds and pests. Leave the plastic in place for 4-6 weeks.
• Added Benefits: Solarization not only kills weed seeds but also reduces soil pathogens, making it a useful technique for preparing a garden bed for new plants.
• Best for: Areas with dense weed growth or those being prepped for planting. It’s especially effective in sunny, open areas.