[CANUFNET] Anyone have experience with various weed barrierfabrics?

[Mark Peterson]

Re: [CANUFNET] Anyone have experience with various weed barrier fabrics?We never use a woven landscape fabric/geotextile as a weed barrier.- it will not suppress weeds well as they just grow into the voids of the woven fabric. Non-woven fabric has no or less voids to allow weed growth, as it is spun into a mass.  

Mark Peterson, BES, MLArch, OALA 
Mark Peterson & Associates, Landscape Architect
(519)743-2990        www.openspacesolutions.com


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Ian Wilson 
  To: canufnet at list.web.net 
  Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 9:09 PM
  Subject: Re: [CANUFNET] Anyone have experience with various weed barrierfabrics?


  I think you have a good case to get them to replace at their expense.  However we have stopped using weed barrier entirely.  We found that it keeps the weeds down for a few years but eventually the weeds invade the mulch and when you try to pull them it pulls up the cloth and becomes a big headache.  We just control weeds the old fashioned way,  pull by hand or till with hand tools

  Ian Wilson
  City of Kelowna
  --------------------------
  Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld


  -----Original Message-----
  From: canufnet-bounces at list.web.net <canufnet-bounces at list.web.net>
  To: canufnet at list.web.net <canufnet at list.web.net>
  Sent: Thu Oct 29 13:12:12 2009
  Subject: [CANUFNET] Anyone have experience with various weed barrier fabrics?

  Some Background:
  A contractor installed 3 oz woven polypropylene landscape fabric in a large, irrigated, raised median, whereas the contract specs called for 3 oz spunbonded polypropylene. Spunbonded was specified due to its better air and water permeability (min. 100 gal/min/sf) whereas the woven material has less than 15 gal/min/sf. The planter has a drip irrigation system, and to aggravate the matter, the irrigation lines were laid on top of the woven material. Water is pooling on the tarp-like woven material.

  The contractor refuses to replace the non-approved material with the spec'd material, claiming it "exceeds" the specifications. It may exceed the spec in terms of strength, but the critical characteristic of permeability has been compromised.

  The questions are:
  1) Will the woven, less permeable material cause problems with plant growth and survival (trees and perennials), or can we live with it - with the drip lines on top if it?

  2) What are your experiences with spunbonded (or non-woven) weed barriers vs woven?
  Thanks

  C. Cat Cybulski, R.P.F.
  Area Forester
  Natural Heritage and Forestry Services Section
  Transportation and Works
  Regional Municipality of York
  (905) 895-1200 ext. 5275
  Toll Free:  1-877-464-9675 ext. 5275
  www.york.ca <file://www.york.ca> 





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