just use the search function and you will find that lots of other people had massiv problems with the stuff.

bye lin

I won't promise no weeds ever but I use cardboard under my mulch around my perennials and it works to eliminate weeds about as close to 95% as you're likely to get. The cardboard does eventually disintegrate but by the time it does the weeds have been smothered and the soil will be enriched by all the worms that will be attracted to the cardboard. Thicknesses of newspapers works well too but thanks to reading about lasagna gardening, I know worms like cardboard better.

Not a good idea - way too much headache in the long run.

Perennial roots will grow into the landscape fabric, making it a mess to try and transplant or divide the plants.

It'll be tougher for desirable plants to reseed. As noted, weed seeds will happily germinate in the mulch laid down over the landscape fabric; their roots will penetrate the fabric and be a pain to pull out.

Soil under landscape fabric tends to compact and not absorb moisture properly.

With the fabric, you can't readily dig in amendments to improve the soil.

Use newspaper and mulch, or just plain mulch, don't leave big spaces between plants, hoe as needed and don't try to cultivate an area that's too big for you to readily handle - and you'll have few to no weed problems.

Learn from those of us who have used landscape fabric. Don't do it. What you need is a heavy layer of mulch.

Don't do it!!!!!! I made that mistake when I first started gardening and I paid for it dearly. Stick with cardboard, newspaper or regular mulch.

I made the same newbie mistake over 20 years ago at my previous house - LOL. Ditto what everyone else is saying - the stuff is a PITA to deal with, weeds and roots grow through and on top, makes transplanting or planting a pain, and it becomes very difficult to remove! Again, a paper layer works much better because it inhibits the weeds for a year or so, and then decomposes and feeds the worms.

Weeding is an inescapable part of gardening, unfortunately. I hate weeding, but one of my favorite things is discovering interesting little seedlings that have self-sown here and there, so that makes up for it a little bit.

I use shredded leaves as mulch and have very few weeds. Those that do grow are pulled easily whenever I see them so weeding never becomes a long and difficult chore. Where I want plants to self seed I pull the mulch back or remove it.

I agree with the others and would never use landscape fabric. Have been fighting that battle in a garden where I do volunteer work.

Thanks folks!

I use landscaping fabric with great results around my tomatoes and though it might work the same with flowers. I guess not!

Thanks again.

Landscape fabric may work well for a year or two. It is when the mulch breaks down into fine "soil" that weed seeds start to grow. Also in later years when one wants to move perennials or plant other plants in the area it is necessary to dig up or cut holes in the fabric and that can be difficult.