Gardeners on Reddit are uniting in their distaste for a once-popular, now taboo, landscaping technique: the use of weed membranes. Weed membranes, also known as landscape fabric, are often (but not always) a thick sheet of plastic meant to
stop weeds from sprouting
by covering them.
A
post
in the
r/GardeningUK
The subreddit alerted users that the synthetic fabric can cause damage to gardens.
The person who made the poster contacted the community seeking guidance, explaining that their garden plants were having difficulties following the installation of a weed barrier. They mentioned, “Upon closer inspection, it appears that the barrier is nearly entirely impermeable… water simply rolls off in droplets.”
Other Reddit users pointed out that the weed membranes are hydrophobic as they are composed of such materials.
dirty energy
sources such as coal, crude oil, and
natural gas
.
“Yeah it’s almost like it’s a sheet of plastic or something,” one
commented
.
Like the top-rated comment, others
offered
solutions: “Rip the whole thing up. Idk why anyone uses this stuff. Its bad for the eco system and doesn’t even stop weeds. Ironically [just] a layer of plain wood chip mulch works so much better.”
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Many of the solutions mentioned alternatives for weed protection that decompose, such as
cardboard
or
mulch
, and some cited their concerns about
microplastics
Microplastics in gardens are particularly worrisome for individuals who
grow fruits and vegetables
as researchers have discovered that landscape fabrics frequently
leach microplastics into soil
.
“What an appalling thing,” remarked a worried viewer.
wrote
. “Should be banned.”
Natural landscaping techniques
suggest substitutes for weed barriers, and employing materials like burlap to suppress weeds has proven effective for numerous people.
Rather than choosing plastic membranes, gardeners can construct thick, multi-layered gardens using complementary plants, groundcovers, edge plantings, and locally obtained mulch.
to suppress weeds
,, safeguard the soil, and preserve water resources.
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Natural gardens are better options for both gardeners and local ecosystems, and they can prevent plastic from ending up in people’s food, water, and precious plants.
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Homeowner met with urgent warnings after sharing photo of dangerous yard feature: ‘Should be banned’
first appeared on
The Cool Down
.
