To keep weeds away from planted areas from the outset, you can lay weed fleece or weed film. If you want to spread the material on a bed that is already overgrown by wild plants, the question arises: does it have to be mechanically weeded beforehand or can the fleece be laid out directly? You can find out how to do this correctly in the following article.
While weed fleece kills weeds by robbing them of light, it's still better to weed beforehand
What is weed fleece?
Weed film is available in wide webs of fabric, which are usually dark in colour. As a result, no light reaches the weeds growing underneath and the plants die.
The bed is completely covered with the strips and only cut in a cross shape in those places that are to be planted. Finally, the fabric is covered with a layer of mulch or soil.
Weed fleece (€21.70) is permeable to water and air, so that ornamental and useful plants are supplied with all the necessary nutrients. The material also stores heat and moisture, thereby protecting the plants.
Which fleece should I use?
Weed fleece with a strength of 50 grams per square meter is quite thin. Many weeds are able to break through this film. Therefore, this material is not suitable if you want to cover a weedy bed with fleece. Here you should choose a fabric with at least 150 grams per square meter that is thick enough to offer sufficient resistance even to strong weeds.
Certain preliminary work is useful
Stubborn weeds can still grow through the fleece, for example at the planting sites. It is therefore advisable to mechanically weed again before laying the foil.
- In addition to the weeds, also remove stones and foreign bodies that could puncture the material.
- Amend the soil with compost and then level it.
- Spread the fleece out on the bed so that it overlaps.
- Fix the foil at the corners with stones to prevent slipping.
- Distribute the plants so that you can check the later bed design again before inserting.
- Use a sharp knife to cut a not too large cross into the fabric at the desired points.
- Insert the plants and lay the fleece as close as possible to the plant.
- Cover the entire weed cover with a layer of bark mulch, gravel, or a very thin layer of soil.
tips
Since the layer of soil or mulch spread over the fleece is very fine, it is very easy to remove emerging weed seeds. At the same time, the fabric is no longer visible and the bed blends harmoniously into the garden design.