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Landscape fabric acts as a barrier between plants and the soil to prevent weed growth, stabilize saplings, improve irrigation methods, and mitigate unwanted sun exposure. To help you find the best landscape fabric for your specific needs, we researched and compared the highest-rated options on Amazon.
Explore our top recommendations, tips on what to look for when shopping, and answers to common landscape fabric questions below.
Compare Top Landscape Fabrics
| Product | Dimensions | Design | UV Blocking |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECOgardener Weed Barrier | 50 x 3 feet | Woven | Not listed |
| Dewitt Bulk Woven Landscape Fabric | 250 x 6 feet | Woven | 70% |
| Mutual Industries Geotextile Fabric | 300 x 6 feet | Woven | 90% |
| HOOPLE Garden Weed Barrier | 180 x 3 feet | Nonwoven | Not listed |
| WAENLIR Heavy-Duty Weed Barrier | 250 x 4 feet | Woven | 98.7% |
| Product | Dimensions | Design | UV Blocking |
In This Guide: Top 5 | Buyer’s Guide | FAQs | Why Trust This Old House
Top 5 Landscape Fabrics
- Best For Small Gardens: ECOgardener Weed Barrier
- Best Lifespan: Dewitt Bulk Woven Landscape Fabric
- Best For Large Gardens: Mutual Industries Geotextile Fabric
- Best Nonwoven Fabric: HOOPLE Garden Weed Barrier
- Best UV Resistance: WAENLIR Heavy-Duty Weed Barrier
Best For Small Gardens: ECOgardener Weed Barrier
ECOgardener Weed Barrier
- $31.95
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Features double-layered weatherproof fabric
✔ Safe for use in vegetable gardens
✔ Is easy to cut and install
✘ May not eliminate 100% of weeds
✘ Refund guarantee lapses after 30 days
What Customers Are Saying
Those who are happy with this product said that it was sturdy and easy to use. Unsatisfied customers said that the fabric was flimsy. Several reviews also said that weeds were still able to penetrate it.
Best Lifespan: Dewitt Bulk Woven Landscape Fabric
Dewitt Bulk Woven Landscape Fabric
- $179.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Features 12-inch guiding lines to assist with plant alignment
✔ Woven is UV resistant
✔ Available in multi-roll packs for large projects
✘ Only available in one length
✘ Edges prone to fraying when cut
What Customers Are Saying
Customers said that the Dewitt Bulk Woven Landscape Fabric was hefty and long-lasting. Many also said that it was easy to install and better than other name-brand options. However, some customers said they didn’t see much improvement in weed prevention, moisture retention, and other metrics.
Best For Large Gardens: Mutual Industries Geotextile Fabric
Mutual Industries Geotextile Fabric
- $219.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Offers a more affordable alternative to sand or aggregate ground cover
✔ Design blocks 90% of UV rays
✔ Ideal for priming flower beds as well as concrete, gravel, and stone pathways
✘ Only available in one length
✘ Does not ship internationally
What Customers Are Saying
Customers used the Mutual Industries Polyethylene Woven Geotextile Fabric for landscaping, fire pits, playgrounds, walkways, driveways, and more. They said that it was easy to install and performed well. Several dissatisfied customers said the product they received didn’t match the measurements advertised in the product listing.
Best Nonwoven Fabric: HOOPLE Garden Weed Barrier
HOOPLE Garden Weed Barrier
- $72.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Features chemical-free fabric that won’t harm the environment
✔ Thick design stands up to tough loads, including bricks and stones
✔ Heavy-duty material lasts 5 years
✘ Nonwoven construction limits water movement and breathability
✘ Does not include guiding line pattern
What Customers Are Saying
Customers were pleased with the durability of the HOOPLE Garden Weed Barrier, noting that it was much thicker and tougher than options from big-box retailers. On the other hand, Dissatisfied customers said they were frustrated with how quickly the fabric degraded.
Best UV Resistance: WAENLIR Heavy-Duty Weed Barrier
WAENLIR Heavy-Duty Weed Barrier
- $129.71
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Lightweight at 5.8 ounces
✔ Comes with an after-sales service to help you with installation and questions
✔ Available in multiple sizes
✘ Doesn’t include the recommended galvanized landscape staples
✘ Some customers said that the length of their fabric was shorter than advertised
What Customers Are Saying
Satisfied customers said that this landscape fabric was sturdy and durable. Others said that the fabric was easy to cut and fit around plants, fences, and other obstacles. Those who didn’t like this landscape fabric said that it didn’t stop weeds from sprouting. However, other reviewers used staples to pull the fabric taut and helped prevent weed growth.
Buyer’s Guide
Read our buying guide on landscape fabrics below to learn about important factors such as applications, thickness, size, and UV protection.
Type
The main types of landscape fabric are nonwoven, perforated, and the most common—woven.
- Nonwoven: Nonwoven landscape fabric is sturdier than the other two options, but its sturdiness comes at a price. It doesn’t allow for much water movement, which makes it a poor material for flower beds or vegetable gardens, but ideal for gravel gardens and pathways.
- Perforated: Perforated fabric is highly permeable and lightweight. It’s commonly used in vegetable gardens and raised garden beds.
- Woven: Woven fabric is a popular choice for flower beds or around trees and shrubs. Most woven weed barriers are made of a loose-knit polypropylene or natural fiber fabric with small holes to allow water, air, and nutrients to reach the plant soil.
Thickness
Thicker landscaping fabric is more durable, but it’s more expensive and damaging to vegetables, herbs, and annual plants because it can crush the plant roots that are close to the surface. We recommend choosing a thin fabric for these plants and sticking to a thick fabric for gravelly areas where the rocks might wear down thinner fabric.
UV Protection
Landscape fabric can break down if it’s exposed to too much UV light, which is why some products have UV-resistant or UV-stabilized properties. UV-resistant fabric rolls have innate qualities that make them less susceptible to damage from sunlight, while UV-stabilized fabric has been chemically treated to get that resistance.
Size
Most landscape fabric rolls have widths around three feet and lengths between 50 and 300 feet. Choose a larger roll if you’re applying fabric to a large area in your yard.
Price
High-quality landscape fabric typically costs around $1-3 per square foot, while lower-quality fabric often costs less than $1.
Determine how much ground cover you need and what type of material you prefer before setting a budget and looking at the different fabric options.
Brands
Some of the most popular brands for landscape fabric are:
- Agfabric
- AGTEK
- Dalen
- DeWitt
- Easy Gardener
- ECOGardener
- GardenMate
- GDNaid
- HOOPLE
- Mutual Industries
- Quick Dam
- VEVOR
- Vigoro
- WAENLIR
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my landscape fabric last forever?
No. Landscape fabric eventually breaks down, but it can last around 10 years if it’s not exposed to too much sunlight or extreme temperatures.
What are some of the drawbacks of using landscape fabric?
Some people prefer not to use landscape fabric because:
- it prevents natural mulch, such as fallen leaves and pine needles, from reaching and replenishing the soil
- weeds are still able to sprout in soil placed on top of the landscape fabric
- certain fabrics can discourage earthworms from aerating the soil
What can I use instead of landscape fabric?
If you don’t want to use landscape fabric in your yard, you can use the following materials:
- Burlap
- Cardboard
- Compost
- Gravel
- Mulch
- Newspaper
- Straw
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