Ground Cover Fabric and its Uses

A ground cover fabric is a tarp, usually of textile material, mostly used for greenhouses and in solving issues on gardening, particularly for inhibiting the spread of weeds by blocking enough sunlight to stave off their growth while still keeping the exchange of essentials like sunlight, water, air and other nutrients. Other than textile, the fabric could also be made out of organic and synthetic materials, sometimes even recycled components.

Since the fabric is pretty flexible, it could be applied in a variety of gardening situations. Ground covers could be used for the following applications:

• Protecting plants from insects

• Delaying weed growth

• Preventing frost

• Controlling factors such as sunlight, moisture, and temperature

  The fabric could also be used for other gardening or landscape projects. Because it’s usually aesthetically appealing and low maintenance, this fabric is a common choice in accomplishing the mentioned objectives. It is inexpensive and very easy to apply.

  Ground cover fabrics are manufactured particularly in keeping weed from depriving plants their required nutrients to grow and insects from spreading diseases capable of destroying fields of crops. Weed growth is one of the most prevalent issues against plants and crops along with bad insects. Furthermore, these fabrics are also capable of keeping away other harmful elements and maintaining other factors required in gardening. Plants underneath the fabric could protect themselves from exposure from too much sun, water or wind. Row covers, frost blankets, and frost protection increases the temperature of the area underneath to seal off plants and shrubs from freezing and continue growth up to the months of fall.

  The fabric can also support mulch, another material used as a ground cover. It is a material, usually wood chips and bark, compost or sometimes granular stones, spread around a plant to improve the quality of their soil. Like the fabric, it also slows down weed growth, regulates temperature and water absorption, and overall, simplifies gardening chores. By placing the fabric underneath the mulch, a mulch fabric or mulching cloth could be made to stimulate improvement in gardening. But only use the ground fabric if stones or gravels are applied and avoid mulch made out of organic materials, which are better off decomposing in the soil. Together with the fabric, the mulch could also help strengthen water absorption while slowing down evaporation. Garden activities including pulling weeds out, watering, fertilizing, and simply the general maintenance would be lessened and save the gardener from unnecessary work.

  

• How to Install a Ground Cover Fabric

  1. Dig a trench on the edges of the area where the fabric is to be laid down. With the trench, the mulch and the grass would be separated and water would consistently be caught.

  2. Unroll and cut the amount of fabric required and place it over the location to be covered.

  3. Weigh it down, preferably with heavy rocks.

  4. On each side, tuck in the fabric by 2-3 inches to help make the fabric stronger and more secure to the ground.

  5. Using ground pegs or stakes, hold down the fabric into the ground.

  6. Cut holes directly over your plants for them to breath.  You can stake posts and trellis your plants if necessary.

  7. Mulch fabric or mulching cloth would then be placed on top of the fabric and also inside the trench.