plastic for landscaping

[rikisisi]

How is the water-permeating fabric compare to the plastic that is used in landscaping?
Which is better to put around plants that were planted about a year and a half ago?

[The Helpful Gardener]

PLastic is damaging in the long run. I use neither and don't recommend it, but if you must the fabric is preferable...

[Grey]

I use newspaper, then put decomposed mulch on top. It decomposes and works as mulch by next year.
(don't use the color pages)

[The Helpful Gardener]

Excellent tip, Grey!

HG

[Grey]

I am one of those gardeners who hate weeding. I can dead-head and prune all day long, but weeding is not my idea of fun.

But I also try to keep things as natural as possible.

I also do this instead of using weed killer to a new bed. About 3 weeks to a month before I put in new plantings, I lay down the newspaper and mulch (the mulch helps keep the paper down and prevent any light from passing through the paper) so the weeds in the bed die, and from there I just poke a hole where I want my plant to be.