By Jasmine Harding | Updated Jul 17, 2023 1:27 PM
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Weeds are an unattractive nuisance in any garden. To keep these pesky plants at bay, consider installing a weed barrier. Also known as landscape fabric, a weed barrier is garden fabric usually made of woven or nonwoven polypropylene. Woven barriers are the most common; their mesh texture is thick enough to prevent weeds from infiltrating your garden bed while allowing water, fertilizer, and oxygen to seep through.
The best weed barrier options can save hours weeding in vegetable beds and ornamental gardens, and they can prevent new weed seeds getting to the soil and taking root. They’re effective, reliable, and durable, providing long-lasting protection so gardeners can spend less time pulling up weeds and more time enjoying their verdant outdoor space.
There are several important features to consider when choosing a weed barrier, but most gardeners would narrow it down to two key features: effectiveness and durability. The weed barriers on this list are made from materials (like polypropylene) that do an excellent job of weed control. Durability is also important to home gardeners; no one wants to spend time installing a weed barrier just to have it tear or degrade after only one season.
Based on thorough product research, brand reputation, materials, and online reviews, we can attest that the weed barriers in this lineup are hardy enough to last several seasons—and some even come with anywhere from 5 to 30 years of guaranteed weed protection. We also included a variety of sizing, barrier types, and UV-protected options to better enable gardeners to find the ideal choice.
Weed barriers are a top pick for gardeners who want to reduce weeding maintenance while also reducing or nixing the need for herbicides. The best weed barriers reliably inhibit weed growth and help retain moisture and soil health. Plus, they are made to withstand the outdoors, so they won’t need to be replaced for several seasons.
High strength and high permeability make this weed mat from Ecogardener an excellent pick. It’s tough enough to handle outdoor conditions while also letting vital nutrients reach precious plants.
A dual-layer polypropylene design features a woven layer and a needle-punched perforated layer. The two layers give superior durability, effectively block light to prevent weed growth, and help conserve water and soil moisture.
This versatile barrier aims to bring the best of both worlds: It’s heavy enough to stifle weed growth, but it’s a relatively lightweight option compared to thicker products, so it’s easy to roll out and cut for a hassle-free setup. Plus, the weed barrier is striped for simple plant alignment. This roll measures 4 feet wide by 50 feet long, but various other sizes are available.
Get the Ecogardener weed barrier at Amazon or Walmart.
Sunifier weed barrier landscape fabric can prove economical in a couple of ways. First, the price is very competitive. Second, the range of sizes is greater than most, so gardeners can buy ground cover that is appropriate to their needs rather than wasting money on rolls that are too large.
At 3.2 ounces, this is a medium-weight polypropylene fabric that’s woven to allow moisture penetration. The affordable weed barrier also has UV protection for added durability. This product cuts easily (though it may prove prone to fraying) and has stripes for easy planting alignment. It can be used with vegetable beds, flower beds, and rock gardens, as well as under walkways and other hardscaping.
Get the Sunifier weed barrier at Amazon or Walmart.
Designed for professional and commercial use, this weed mat from DeWitt is a heavy-duty and effective option for serious gardeners. Used by landscape architects, government agencies, and professional contractors, this weed barrier is a sturdy and long-lasting choice.
The rolls are available in different sizes and are made from woven polypropylene and needle-punched fabric. This durable construction lets water, air, and nutrients through yet is an effective weed block. This thick landscape fabric won’t rot or mildew in damp areas, and it’s highly UV-resistant to prevent it from degrading in sunny conditions. To help when users are planting garden beds, it is striped every 12 inches to assist with alignment.
Get the DeWitt landscape fabric weed barrier at Amazon (5-foot-by-250-foot size), Lowe’s (4-foot-by-250-foot size), or The Home Depot (includes both a 6-foot-by-250-foot size and a 4-foot-by-250-foot size).
Eco-conscious gardeners who wish to avoid any environmental or health concern about plastic materials may find this natural weed covering an ideal option. This burlap garden fabric is made of 100 percent woven jute, a naturally biodegradable and eco-friendly alternative to polypropylene and other plastic fabrics.
Burlap is also versatile, and this 40-inch-by-30-foot sheet can also be used for wrapping trees and protecting bushes, shrubs, and other plants from harsh weather. Plus, it’s an excellent option to protect grass seeds and control soil erosion. The mesh-like weave of this burlap barrier strikes a good balance between plant protection and water permeability and aeration for a healthier garden.
Get the Burlapper weed barrier at Amazon or Walmart (12-inch-by-30-foot size).
Looking to lay down a weed barrier and forget about it? This Sta-Green product is a long-lasting option for gardeners and landscapers, as it’s one of the best landscape fabric options available and boasts an impressive 30-year weed-prevention guarantee. This durability makes it an excellent choice for more permanent applications, such as under pathways, outdoor fixtures, or around trees and shrubs.
To achieve this long lifespan, this polypropylene weed barrier features a dual-layer design and enhanced UV protection. Although it’s tough, it still lets water, air, and vital nutrients through to nourish plants. This roll measures 3 feet wide by 50 feet long, which is ideal for lining a garden bed or pathway.
Get the Sta-Green weed barrier at Lowe’s or Amazon.
This heavy-duty weed mat from DeWitt aims to control weeds before they start growing. Made of nonwoven fabric, it is an excellent heavy-duty choice for use in gardens, under pathways and decks, or under long-term landscapes.
The fabric is created using a spun-bond method, fusing a three-ply layered weed barrier. Although it’s a nonwoven polypropylene material, it is treated with a hydrophilic treatment to encourage permeability and nutrient flow through the fabric and allow intended plants to stay healthy. This nonwoven design also prevents the fabric from unraveling, making it easier to cut than woven options. Measuring 4 feet wide by 50 feet long, this heavy-duty fabric is also UV stabilized to help it last over a decade—up to 12 years, according to DeWitt.
Get the DeWitt fabric weed barrier at Amazon.
Laying down a weed barrier over large areas is tedious work. This large landscaping fabric from Agtek has the dimensions to get the job done faster and easier. Measuring a broad 8.2 feet wide by 25 feet long, its extended width cuts down on the time spent overlapping and layering rolls of landscape fabric.
The heavy-duty weed mat is made from woven polypropylene, which makes it excellent for preventing weeds while allowing water and vital nutrients through. The woven design helps to maintain soil moisture and plant health. With a higher carbon black content, this fabric has excellent light-blocking capabilities to throttle weed growth. Plus, the weed barrier is UV stabilized to provide long-lasting weed protection, even in sunny gardens.
It’s recommended that landscaping pins be used to prevent lifting
Get the Agtek weed barrier at Amazon.
Sunshine is the bane of most outdoor fabrics, causing it to fade and degrade before its time. For planting in sunny areas, consider using this sturdy weed barrier from DeWitt. As part of DeWitt’s Sunbelt line, this barrier is UV stabilized and boasts a 5-year guarantee, even when used in direct sunlight. It’s the ideal pick for sunny gardens, nurseries, greenhouses, and any outdoor display.
Made of woven polypropylene, this barrier resists weed growth while allowing air and water to penetrate for hassle-free irrigation. A roll measures 4 feet wide by 300 feet long, providing plenty of fabric for long garden beds and large yards. This barrier also features yellow guide striping to help gardeners align plants.
Get the DeWitt SBLT4300 weed barrier at Amazon (single), Lowe’s (6-pack), or The Home Depot (6-pack).
Weed barriers are one of the most popular methods for preventing weeds without the use of chemicals. They’re a cost-effective way to keep weeds at bay, helping to improve the look of the garden and, in vegetable gardens, even leading to a better yield by reducing competition in the soil. They can also make it easier to clear fallen leaves. A good pick will be effective and durable and made to reduce weeds for several years. When shopping for the best weed barrier, consider the product’s material, durability, size, and eco-friendliness.
Weed barriers come in woven and nonwoven materials. Most weed barriers are made from polypropylene or polyester.
A quality weed barrier should last a minimum of 5 years and up to 20 years or more. The best weed barrier options are treated to last through wear and tear as well as through rainy and sunny conditions. This ensures that they don’t tear easily underfoot and won’t break down after a season of rainy weather or exposure to direct sunlight.
Weed barriers come in various materials and thickness levels, both of which contribute to their durability and lifespan. The thicker and more durable the material, the longer the barrier should last. For example, woven materials such as woven polypropylene, burlap, and linen tend to break down faster than thick, nonwoven polypropylene, which can take decades to break down.
Be sure to consider the appropriate thickness for the job. For example, a thick barrier is a durable pick under a gravel pathway, but the same barrier may be too thick for a vegetable or flower garden. For the latter situation, a thinner, more permeable weed barrier may be a better pick, even if it is less durable.
Most weed barriers come in convenient rolls that are easy to transport and use. A weed barrier roll should display the fabric size, which you can use to calculate how much ground a roll can cover. Make sure to account for roughly an 8-inch overlap for areas that require several pieces of weed barrier fabric.
Weed barrier rolls are typically 3 to 6 feet wide and can range from 50 to upwards of 200 feet long. For large coverage areas, consider a wider roll to cover areas faster.
When comparing similar-sized barriers, a thicker and heavier roll tends to mean thicker and longer-lasting fabric. As is the case with most home products, professional-grade products tend to be costlier, but they can have added benefits such as being made of more durable materials or offering better UV resistance.
The most common weed barriers available at stores or online are made from materials such as polypropylene and polyester, which are not particularly eco-friendly. Barriers made from natural fibers such as burlap or linen can be a more eco-friendly option, since they break down faster than plastics. Regardless of the material, choosing a durable option, using the barrier for as long as possible, and disposing of it correctly can reduce your ecological footprint.
For the most eco-friendly option, consider natural barriers such as mulch, straw, peat moss, or other organic materials. Using natural barriers requires more work, but since these materials are biodegradable, they are the most environmentally conscious option.
UV light is the enemy of any outdoor fabric and will eventually cause all exposed weed barriers to degrade. Several qualities can help a weed barrier resist UV damage.
While some high-quality weed barriers are not advertised as UV-resistant, they are still made from durable materials that can last 5 years or more in a garden. To improve UV durability, consider covering the weed barrier with mulch, gravel, rocks, or other organic coverings. This decreases the barrier’s exposure to UV rays and can help it last longer.
When it comes to UV resistance, there are two options. Some materials are innately resistant to UV and are usually labeled as UV-resistant. Others are UV stabilized, which means they are treated with a UV barrier to better withstand UV degradation.
Installing a weed barrier is a relatively straightforward process. First, measure the area where you intend to lay the weed barrier to calculate the number of rolls required—and as with most home projects, it doesn’t hurt to buy a little extra. Make sure to choose a weed barrier that is suitable for your intended use; for example, choose a thicker and impermeable barrier for under pathways, as compared to a thinner, permeable barrier for a garden bed. Once you’ve purchased the weed barrier, preparation is an important step. To prepare the area and install the weed barrier, follow these steps:
Installing a weed barrier is an easy, effective, and affordable way to keep pesky weeds at bay. Once you’ve chosen and installed your weed barrier, it should provide year after year of weed reduction or elimination. Read on for some frequently asked questions and answers on installing and using your new weed barrier.
It depends on the type; nonwoven weed barrier fabrics tend to be less permeable, while woven barrier fabrics are made to let water through.
For a rock garden, consider using a nonwoven plastic weed barrier.
You can put a weed barrier under a raised garden bed, but keep in mind that it will not prevent weeds from growing in the soil above the barrier.
Yes, landscape fabric is safe to use in vegetable gardens.
The terms “landscape fabric” and “weed barrier” are often used interchangeably and often refer to the same type of product: a fabric-like material used to hinder weed growth.
Yes, you can put landscape fabric over weeds and still have a good result. However, it’s best to clear the area first. A weed barrier might not stop all weed growth and can be punctured by sharp rocks or roots, so it’s best to clear and level the area before placing landscape fabric.
Bob Vila has been America’s Handyman since 1979. As the host of beloved and groundbreaking TV series including “This Old House” and “Bob Vila’s Home Again,” he popularized and became synonymous with “do-it-yourself” home improvement.
Over the course of his decades-long career, Bob Vila has helped millions of people build, renovate, repair, and live better each day—a tradition that continues today with expert yet accessible home advice. The Bob Vila team distills need-to-know information into project tutorials, maintenance guides, tool 101s, and more. These home and garden experts then thoroughly research, vet, and recommend products that support homeowners, renters, DIYers, and professionals in their to-do lists.
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