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Best time to put down weed matting

WoostieWoostie Posts: 53
in Problem solving
I'm in the process of creating two new flower beds in my front garden which was previously just lawn. I'm getting towards the end of digging over, weeding etc and not too far off the stage when I can start planting (yipee). I've bought some heavy duty weed matting to put down and have been checking a few websites to see when the best time would be to put the matting down. Before I plant, or once the plants are in?

I'm getting very conflicting advice online so I'm wondering which way you lovely people have done it. Did you do it before or after, and did you find it worked or do you wish you had done it the other way? I'd love to hear your advice based on your own experiences please. Thank you.
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  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    That fabric, I think you'll find, is woven and every time you cut it it'll tend to fray.  If you've got a full sheet already laid down, it's a simple and neat job to poke just the right sized hole in it for whatever plant you've bought.  Trying to juggle and cut a sheet to fit round a selection of plants, seems to be a no-no to me?
  • WoostieWoostie Posts: 53
    Thank you @nick615, that was my thinking too but I've read a few websites which say it's better to lay it after planting. The more I read the more I'm actually thinking of not bothering and only laying it where the paths will be going.
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    I'd stick to the paths.  I have that membrane multiple places in my yard from the previous owner, and it's a pain.  The weeds still grow up through, and self seedlings can't get going because they have stunted roots.  And after a few years there is a layer of dirt on top because of rotting down bits of leaves or dust blown in, etc.  You can't mulch with a top dressing, or scratch in FBB or other granular feeds, or work the soil in any way.  The worms and other critters don't really seem to like it under there either, I never find them when planting in a new perennial.  

    I suggest you plant up the bed, give everything a good soak, then mulch with multiple layers of newspaper.. wetting it down to help hold it in place.  Then mulch with some nice pine bark or wood chips, or whatever organic matter would like.  The newspaper will suppress the weeds for this year.. and next spring you can rake it back, feed the soil or mulch, etc.. then do another layer of newspaper, put the mulch back on, and you are good to go.  The slugs and wood lice will have munched most of the newspaper down by spring, or it will have composted into the soil.  

    I do this method around my cane fruit, and it works great.  If I have some weed issues and I push aside the mulch and whatever newspaper is remaining.. dig out the weed, put some new paper down or even cardboard, then mulch back over again.
    Utah, USA.
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    Woostie  I'm afraid that's the nature of gardening.  Every bit of advice you receive will be balanced by an opposite opinion.  An old gardener once told me he'd started out as a boy on a 'big house' garden with three head gardeners - all of whom did things differently.  I think that tells its own story and, over time, you relax into your own way.
  • GemmaJFGemmaJF Posts: 2,286
    edited June 2020
    I'm generally along the lines that it is a pain in borders. Great for temporary use, down a couple of years for establishing say a new hedge, then removed, or permanently under hard features such as paths and patios.

    You are bound to get people say though they used it in borders with great success. I've seen it used by neighbours for borders and it was not long before leaf fall and blown dust created a new thin soil layer, loved by weeds and not much else.

    It's worth mentioning that quality varies, I've had weed membrane that frays, have also had some expensive stuff that seemed to be woven differently and did not fray at all where it was cut, it was thicker, yet more flexible than cheaper versions.

    Real mixed bag, but I would guess the success comes with experience and perhaps use of thicker and more expensive materials and consideration of whether or not leaf litter will be routinely removed would be factors to consider.
  • SmudgeriiSmudgerii Posts: 185
    “When the best time?”

    Never!  
  • a1154a1154 Posts: 1,108
    Anytime is fine, I don’t think there is a best time. It’s great for under permanent stuff like paths. I have used it in shrub borders and you lay it down and plant through it, definitely. You say it’s for a flower border though, I don’t think you want membrane there, unless it’s temporary. 
    To be honest, if you have dug it over and weeded, you don’t need weed fabric. I use it temporarily as I don’t want to weed large areas, I’m too lazy. 

  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    It's funny how the use of membrane has become so normalised and widespread when it's truly unnecessary except for when you have hard landscaping or decking laid. A bit like when people are asking about shortcuts with weeding...if only they existed. Gardening is hard work when you're not enjoying it and a great past time when you don't mind pulling a few weeds every day 😉
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    I love weeding! No need for mindfulness sessions  when you can lose yourself in a nice patch of weedy border :)
  • WoostieWoostie Posts: 53
    Thank you all for your replies. The more I think about it the more reluctant I am to use it. I will obviously use it under the gravel path and seating area I'm also creating with the borders. I'm also thinking that I'll probably put some at the back of the borders where they meet the wall in the areas which will be more difficult to reach once the plants start to grow. 
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