Tree care blog
Weed barriers around trees and shrubs
By Parkland Tree CarePublished Updated
The photo in this post shows a retired university professor using copies of his own books beneath plants in a flower bed. It was a memorable way to deal with weeds, and a reminder that gardeners will try almost anything to keep a planting area clear.
Around trees and shrubs, we prefer a simpler approach: deal with the weeds, then use a suitable wood mulch over the soil surface. Keep the trunk clear and leave yourself a way to check the ground underneath.
Landscape fabric can become awkward as a planting matures. Roots, accumulated soil, and weeds can make it difficult to remove later, and it may complicate watering and routine care. A tidy surface is not much help if you can't tell whether water is reaching the root area.
If you already have fabric or rock around an established tree, don't pull everything out without looking at what has grown through it. Work carefully around roots, and get advice if the material is embedded or the soil level needs changing.
Whatever surface you choose, check the soil rather than assuming that a watered-looking bed is moist underneath. Keeping weeds down is useful, but the long-term health of the trees and shrubs should guide how the bed is managed.
