How to Install Landscape Fabric Under Rocks (Landscape Installation Tips)
Landscape fabric is a strong, permeable material that’s used to cover the ground in your yard. It helps prevent weeds from growing, protects your lawn and plants from pests and the elements, and can help you avoid having to water as often.
Landscape fabrics come in different weights and thicknesses. You’ll want to choose one that’s strong enough for your project but not so heavy that it will damage your plants or prevent them from getting the water they need.
Landscape fabric is most commonly used on new construction sites. It’s also helpful if you’re trying to grow something in an area that isn’t naturally well-suited for it—for example, if you have sandy soil or no topsoil at all, landscape fabric can help hold water and nutrients in place so that they can be absorbed by plants’ roots.
Landscape fabric can also be used in existing yards where there are bare spots or problem areas with weeds or other undesirable growths (like poison ivy).
When it comes to using rocks in landscaping laying down a fabric bed is a great idea as a base for your rocks. It makes them easier to clean and less likely to get mixed in with the soil and smaller non-ornamental rocks.
We’ve created easy-to-follow instructions for applying and underlay for rocks, garden stones and similar inorganic materials you may use as a groundcover.
This resource is provided by our company who completes Rhode Island landscape installation.
Prepare The Ground
First, you need to weed the area you’re working with. It’s best to spray the area with a well-branded weed killer after you’ve weeded it to prevent small weeds from growing after you lay the fabric. After weeding the ground, you want to use a rake or hoe to level the ground. Remove any high spots and fill any low spots to make sure the ground is flat and even. You’ll also want to make sure that there are no rocks, sticks, or other debris that will make holes in the landscape fabric over time.
Laying The Fabric
When laying the fabric, you want to start at the end and work your way across the entire landscaping area. If you have plants in the area, be sure to cut the fabric to ensure they have space to grow.
For areas where you have to overlap the fabric in curved or cornered areas, make sure not to overlap the edges more than 8 inches. Don’t cut off the extra material because if you do, the gap will allow soil and weeds to come through. It’s a good idea to use pins and fasteners as a way to secure the landscape fabric to the ground. All you need to do is use a hammer to knock the pins or fasteners in place.
Laying The Rocks
Professional landscapers will generally apply a small layer of gravel on top of the fabric before laying the rocks. This provides a protective barrier for the landscape fabric, and it also supports the rocks, so they aren’t as likely to sink. Once you lay down the gravel, you can then lay down your rocks. Make sure you use only rounded rocks with no sharp edges or corners. Rocks that have been tumbled reduce the risk of puncturing or ripping the landscape fabric.
Why Use Landscape Fabric Under Rocks?
Landscape fabric under rocks can protect your landscape from damage, save you money, and reduce the amount of time you spend on maintenance. This type of protection will save you money in the long run because it increases the lifespan of your landscaping materials like mulch, rocks, and other decorative items. You won’t have to replace these items as often if they are covered with landscape fabric because they will stay clean longer and not get damaged by water or dirt getting into them every time it rains or snows outside.
In addition to protecting your property from erosion damage over time while saving money on new materials needed for repairs each season (such as mulch), this practice will also reduce the amount of time spent on maintenance activities such as raking leaves around plants each fall or pulling weeds out manually every spring before they start blooming again next year.
Is Laying Landscaping Fabric DIY Project or Best Left To The Professionals?
Laying Landscaping Fabric is a DIY project that can save you money, but there are some benefits to hiring a professional.
If you’re just starting out and don’t have much experience with landscaping, it’s probably wise to hire a professional for this job. You’ll need someone with expertise in laying out the fabric and making sure it’s spaced correctly because if it’s not placed correctly, it could be more likely to tear or snag on something later on.
If you do have some experience with landscaping, or if you just want to save some money by doing this yourself, then go for it! Just make sure that you follow the instructions closely so that your installation goes smoothly.
