have you tried using a weed mat?

Question

do they really work? or do they encourage weeds?

Answer 1

Well, they don't encourage weeds, but they are by no means great either. If you have Bermuda grass it will grow right through it. It will snuff out weeds, but you need to be aware that weeds and grass will grow on top of mulch despite any type of weed barrier you choose to use. The only difference is that pulling the weeds and grass that grow on top of the mulch will come out easier than trying to pull it from the soil.

Answer 2

Yes, I have tried the weed barriers as have some of my clients. There are two grades of weeds mats.

The low grade weed mats are horrible. The most aggressive weeds will grow right through them; making it impossible to pull the weeds from the soil. Because this low grade mat is so light, they tend to work their way up through the mulch, especially along the edges and corners. With both the light weight & heavy duty grade weed mats, mulch breaks down over time and produces a rich organic soil that encourages weed growth on top of the mats. Thus, they lose their effectiveness unless you periodically pull them up and relay with new mulch.