Weed control and weed film – effectiveness, cost and laying

The particular effectiveness against weeds is achieved by the fact that the material of the weed film on the one hand does not let the sunlight through. This stops the weeds from photosynthesizing, preventing them from growing and spreading. At the same time, weed fleece is breathable so that air, water and nutrients can get into the soil to supply the roots of the garden plants and flowers. Compared to conventional plastic film, due to the continuous air permeability, no fungi or mold can form. Another advantage is that weed fleece acts as a heat and moisture store. Therefore, it keeps the soil warm in spring and protects the plants from unexpected ground frost. Therefore, the fleece is also ideally suited for use in greenhouses, where it is particularly important to maintain the warmth. In the dry season, the moisture is stored longer so that irrigation water does not evaporate as quickly. The last, but no less insignificant property, speaks in favor of the use of weed control that it does not rot. Once laid, it significantly reduces the maintenance work over many years and the hobby gardener has more time for the activities in his garden that really give him pleasure.

Areas of application for weed fleece and weed film

Thanks to the innovative material, the use of weed control has proven itself in practice in numerous areas of the garden:

• in greenhouses and cold frames;
• when planting hedges;
• in vegetable patches;
• in the ornamental garden;
• in rock gardens;
• at garden ponds;
• under gravel and cobblestone paths.

Wherever annoying weeds make life difficult for the hobby gardener, their growth can be effectively inhibited with the help of weed control. Therefore it is perfectly suited to replace chemical weed killers. This fact is particularly valued in vegetable and fruit growing, because in this way cucumbers, Brussels sprouts, peppers or strawberries thrive unhindered by weeds and can be enjoyed fresh from the bed with a clear conscience. The material of the weed film itself has no direct impact on plants and flowers and also has a neutral effect on the soil and water. Although weed control is extremely tear-resistant, it can still be cut with scissors to suit the location. The result is always well-tended beds and paths.

Costs depend on the area of ​​application

Since the weed incidence is not the same everywhere, weed control is usually offered in four different material thicknesses in retail outlets:

50 g / m² weed fleece for the kitchen garden
This quality is suitable for vegetable and strawberry beds. It is strong enough to effectively inhibit the growth of the weeds there. Depending on the selected web width, the costs for the running meter are between EUR 0.73 and EUR 0.95 for a width of 1.6 m. When purchasing large quantities, such as those in the commercial sector, the price drops to 0.23 euros per running meter.

80 g / m² weed fleece for the vegetable and ornamental garden as well as gravel paths
This material thickness is ideal as a separating fleece between soil and gravel or mulch. It works effectively in places where more strongly rooted types of weeds can be found if it is covered with gravel or mulch after laying. With a web width of 1.6 m, the costs for the running meter are between 1.25 euros and 1.55 euros.

120 g / m² weed fleece against weeds in rock gardens, on slopes and paths
Anyone struggling with particularly high levels of weeds should choose this material thickness. Their costs are on average between 1.16 euros to 1.45 euros for the running meter, with a web width of 1.6 m. The purchase of large quantities also reduces the price here to 0.71 euros.

150 g / m² weed fleece extra strong
Hobby gardeners who want to be on the safe side in the fight against weeds and are willing to invest a little more money for it choose this weed film in professional quality. The fleece in this material thickness is also suitable for use on busy paths. The average price here is around 2.25 euros per running meter.
In addition, there may be ground anchors made of UV-resistant plastic to attach the weed film so that it cannot slip. The price for a ground anchor is around 0.10 euros.

The prices shown above relate to offers from qualified specialist retailers, the effectiveness of which is mostly confirmed in the customer reviews. There are also much cheaper weed control fabrics available, but they have the disadvantage that they are made of thin plastic film with many small holes. Compared to the higher quality woven weed fleece, they not only tear very quickly, but are also not completely air-permeable. For this reason, they harbor the risk of promoting the formation of harmful fungi and mold.

Laying weed fleece and weed film

Since the weed fleece is available in numerous sizes, on rolls or folded in a carrier bag, it is first necessary to measure the area that is to be covered with it. Laying in the ornamental plant and vegetable patch is carried out in the following steps:

1. The floor is carefully cleaned of debris and stones. It also removes all weeds, digging up rooted weeds with the spade.
2. Now the rake is picked up and the earth is worked thoroughly with it. Then the soil is smoothed again and the potting soil is spread over it.
3. The weed fleece is then spread out on the ground and cut to size with scissors. It is important to ensure that every area is covered where the growth of weeds is to be prevented. At the edges in particular, it can be very annoying if the fleece was laid out too tightly here and the weeds still pave their way around the edges. With the help of plastic anchors, the film can be attached and thus secured against slipping.
4. In places where strong weed growth is to be expected, it is advisable to lay the film twice to be on the safe side. There must be no time between the preparation of the soil and the laying of the weed film, because otherwise weed residues still in the earth will germinate again.
5. For a better overview, the plants are first positioned on the weed control at the points where they will be planted later. There, with the help of a box knife or scissors, the film is cut with an X, the planting hole is dug and the plant is placed in the ground.
6. The four corners of the incision are now placed as close as possible around the plant stem so that weeds cannot grow there either.
7. Finally, the weed fleece is covered with potting soil, bark mulch or decorative gravel. Not only does it look very neat, it also protects the film underneath from direct sunlight. The durability of the weed film is decisively influenced by whether it is covered by material or whether it is in direct sunlight. Covered weed fleece can reliably perform its tasks for up to 25 years, whereas exposed fleece lasts a maximum of 4 to 5 years.

The laying in the construction of roads is similar:

1. After the soil has been prepared in connection with the removal of all weeds, the weed fleece is immediately cut and laid to match.
2. The desired sub-layer is then applied, such as sand, granules or paving stones. So that the fleece does not slip, the experts recommend that you fix it with appropriate plastic ground anchors.
3. After the sub-layer has been smoothed, normal paving work can begin. Alternatively, gravel is spread over it.

Other possible uses

In addition to protecting against rampant weeds, the weed fleece has proven to be helpful in other areas of application around the garden. During the cold season, the fleece is ideally suited as frost protection for sensitive plants. Instead of wrapping them with airtight film, they are wrapped in the breathable weed fleece. So frost and snow cannot harm them and they can still ‘breathe’. Resourceful practitioners quickly found out that weed fleece is also ideally suited to protect drainage pipes from weeds, frost and soil. For this purpose, the pipes are simply wrapped with the foil. During the summer, the fleece not only protects against annoying weeds, but is also ideally suited to protect valuable fruit and vegetable plants from insects and bird damage. The weed film has proven to be very effective as drainage in plant pots and tubs. If you don’t want to smash a clay pot every time to cover the drainage hole in the planter with the broken pieces, simply put a piece of weed fleece over it. Anyone considering building a new terrace should include the weed control in the planning. It doesn’t matter whether the terrace is built from stone slabs or wooden planks; if you lay a weed fleece beforehand, you will not be bothered by weeds at this point for many years. Since the material does not rot, it is ideal as a cover around the garden pond for bank planting. The coconut mats, which are so popular for this purpose, have the disadvantage that they dissolve in the long term and promote algae growth in the pond water.

Conclusion
In the fight against stubborn weeds, hobby gardeners have received reinforcement in the form of weed sheeting and weed fleece. The high-quality polypropylene fabric prevents the sun from penetrating and stimulates the weeds to grow through photosynthesis. At the same time, water, air and nutrients are let through so that plants and flowers can grow and develop magnificently. Chemical weed killers can therefore confidently be dispensed with. This practical weed barrier can be used anywhere in the garden, because although it is tear-resistant, it can still be cut to size with a pair of scissors in no time at all. No special specialist knowledge is required for laying, only a few valuable tips should be taken into account. The result is always well-tended beds, rock gardens, garden ponds, paths and slopes.