Landscape Fabric is Tough on Weeds, Easy on Environment

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To use or not to use? That is the question many gardeners ask about landscape fabric.

Gardeners who install landscape fabric properly know it goes a long way toward minimizing maintenance. Most landscapes benefit from the use of landscape fabric. The barrier prevents sunlight from reaching weeds and keeps them from germinating while holding soil moisture in the ground and reducing surface evaporation. In the long run this saves gardeners time and money.

WeedBlock® Landscape Fabric was introduced to the lawn and garden industry back in 1983 for that very purpose. The manufacturer wanted gardeners to have more time to enjoy their gardens instead of spending much of their outdoor time pulling weeds. Over the years, WeedBlock has often been used as a cost-effective, chemical-free method for long-term weed control.

This year, the well-known landscape fabric brand has gone green. And everyone knows the "in" color for 2009 is definitely green: eco-friendly green.

The product line now includes three eco-friendly options that offer the same performance as traditional landscape fabrics and help gardeners reduce their ecological footprint.

Gardeners will find the eco-friendly WeedBlock landscape fabrics in local lawn and garden centers and at chain retailers. More information on the fabrics is available online at www.easygardener.com or by calling (800) 327-9462.

WeedBlock® Recycled™ keeps plastic bottles from piling up in landfills and puts them to use in the yard. The fabric is made from 100 percent recycled plastic bottles. When used as a stabilizing liner beneath hard surfaces like brick and concrete, it will help put a stop to the shifting and settling that happens over time.

OMRI-listed WeedBlock® Biodegradable Mulch is a thick, absorbent paper. It is non-toxic and pH neutral meaning there is never a need for disposal. It can be tilled back into the soil at the end of the growing season and is ideal for vegetable gardens. As the paper decomposes, the organic residue releases minerals that help build up nutrient levels and the extra matter improves soil structure thus aiding in erosion prevention.

Creative gardeners have found other uses for the heavy-duty product. It is an eco-friendly alternative to plastic drop cloths and an economic solution for protecting furniture and flooring during home decorating projects. The paper can also be used to protect floors and carpets from soiled shoes.

WeedBlock® Natural is the world's first weed control fabric made with annually renewable resources. The fabric is made with Ingeo® fiber, which is derived from starch-based vegetables like corn. This fabric does a great job controlling weeds in permanent planting areas such as shrubbery beds and rock gardens.

Eco-friendly landscape fabrics makes "going green" a cinch. This season, be one of the first to showcase the latest "in" color and make your lawn's low-maintenance summer style the envy of the neighborhood.