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How to Remove Landscape Fabric

Landscape gardening is no joke. Sometimes the soil beneath can have its own mind too. It is always full of challenges and last-minute changes. One such challenge is proper landscape fabric.

Landscape fabric can go wrong for various reasons, and once something goes wrong with weed killer fabric, it needs to be removed. But how do you remove landscape fabric?

Don’t you worry. In today’s article, we will discuss how to remove landscaping fabric, how to do it right, and cover basically anything you need to know. So, just keep reading.

How to Remove Landscape Fabric?

The easiest way to remove landscaping fabric is to tackle it bit by bit. Clear up a small section, brush away all the dirt and mulch, grab onto a corner and yank it up as far as you can. Then chop off the loose bit with scissors. 

Tip: Make sure to keep some fabric so you can grab onto it for the next section. 

Think of it as removing tape from a piece of wrapping paper that you want to keep. Go slow and in small sections.

Keep working in sections till the whole length is removed. You can choose to remove it entirely or just a part of it, depending on your situation.

But, you have to be very careful when removing the fabric around plants. If it’s just weedlings growing through the material, then you have nothing to worry about. But, it is best to use a pair of scissors or a utility knife to cut away the fabric around the plant roots of any existing plants.

Reasons to Remove Landscape Fabric

Now, see, with all the pros and cons of the landscaping fabric, it is a case-by-case scenario. If you think the slight inconvenience outweighs the benefits for you, you will surely use landscaping fabric. But once it serves its purpose, it is best to remove the fabric.

Weed Growing Through

If you see weeds growing through the fabric, it means the material is not working. In that case, your only option is to take the fabric off and kill off the weeds with chemicals. 

Dried Out Soil

The soil is the nutrient supplier for all your plants. That’s why you need to replenish it with good-quality fertilizers and compost regularly. But, having a fabric, especially a non-permeable one, will rid the soil of getting essential nutrients.

Over time, this can dry out the soil and make it go brittle. That is when you need to take off the fabric and put some love on the ground.

Air Circulation

The landscaping fabric can trap moisture. It also prevents earth-friendly bugs and worms from aerating the ground. Especially during humid weather, this might become a problem.

How Often Should You Remove Landscape Fabric

Landscape fabric is seen as more of a permanent solution against all weeds. It is meant to be left there for a long time. But over time, it will start breaking down.

The barrier will become weaker. And, naturally, you will have to take measures to get rid of the weakening fabric.

If you have installed weed killer fabric around a growing plant, you’d want to wait a few years. Wait till the plant has grown a bit and established itself. This lets the plant grow without having to compete with weeds for nutrients.

And once the plant is standing tall and looking sturdy, go ahead and remove the fabric.

As a general rule of thumb, changing your landscape fabric every 5-7 years is ideal in other cases.

Caution Against Landscape Fabric

As good as it does to your garden and growing plant, it can quickly make your garden soil barren. So, always use caution when using weed killing fabric. Here’s what you should look out for –

  • Never use plastic barrier fabric. They are bad for both your plants and the environment.
  • Choose a high-quality fabric material
  • If you are using it for your garden that has lots of garden beds, always go for the permeable kind
  • Use pre-emergent on top of the organic mulch
  • Keep an eye out for intruding weedlings

Conclusion

If you have read this far, thank you so much for reading. We hope this answers all your questions about how to remove landscape fabric and more. But, definitely let us know if you have more questions, and we’ll get back to you.

For now, that’ll be all from us. Happy Gardening!

FAQ

  • Can I use fabric under gravel?
  • Yes, absolutely. That is virtually the best case use of anti-weed fabric. It will add stability and neutralize weeds. 

  • What can I use as alternatives to landscape fabric?
  • We do not recommend substituting a heavy-duty fabric with any DIY material. It is actually more damaging than its instant benefits. But, if you do find yourself in a pinch, newspaper rolls and cardboard can be a temporary solution.

  • Why is plastic fabric landscape bad?
  • For starters, it is not biodegradable. It is almost impenetrable too. While it can kill off weeds reasonably quickly, it will also kill the soil and good bacteria. If you end up using plastic for landscape fabric, do not leave it in the ground for too long.

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