The Cool Down
Expert gardener shares warning about common landscaping product: 'We didn't kno…
A gardener shared his nightmare with his followers on TikTok when trying to move some landscape fabric.
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The Hidden Downside of Landscape Fabric: Why Gardeners Are Saying No
Gardening experts are sounding the alarm on a common landscaping practice that could be creating more problems than it solves: the use of landscape fabric. According to Joseph G Reynolds of 'marble_botanics', a gardening company based near the Neuse River, landscape fabric, often seen as a solution for weed control, can become a significant liability over time. Reynolds demonstrated an area where landscape fabric was installed four to five years ago to mitigate the spread of Liriope, a notoriously tough plant. Contrary to its intended purpose, the fabric has become intertwined with the plant's roots, forming a dense, immovable mat. "It's a freaking mat right here," Reynolds stated, pointing to the Liriope roots that have grown directly through the fabric. "This is the Liriope, and you can see how it's just grown up through it." This entanglement makes the fabric incredibly difficult and labor-intensive to remove, defeating its initial purpose of simplifying garden maintenance. Reynolds strongly advises against using landscape fabric, advocating instead for biodegradable alternatives such as cardboard and paper. "The good thing about that is that it will break down and not leave a sheet of plastic that you have to spend time and labor getting out down the road," he explained. This approach not only prevents future headaches but also aligns with more sustainable gardening practices.
