If I'm redo-ing my flower bed...?

Question

and I need to put down a new weed barrier, could I just go to the fabric store and buy some black polyester fabric instead of paying $30-$40 at a home improvement store?

Answer 1

Np it won't work. Landscape fabric is expensive because it engineered to allow light to heat the soil, let water through and stop weeds from taking root. I've never seen any as expensive as you quoted though! I've gotten smaller amounts that were only about $20. I even saw some on Ebay - 3ft X 50ft starting at $4.95. Here's a pretty good deal:

http://www.outsidepride.com/store/catalog/Weed-Control-Fabric-p-16387.html

Actually I gave up using it at all. A good layer of mulch after you've planted the bed does just as well or better.

Answer 2

Another problem with fabric is that it mooshes itself into the soil and more soil end up on top of it, and weeds grow there.

I did find some very stiff interfacing that works great. It lets water down through and keeps weeds from coming up. It was a dollar a yard at the local mill-end store. I use it if I am trying to choke out weeds, then I do like Miss Wong and pull it up, plant my stuff and then mulch with chopped leaves to keep weeds away.

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