Affiliate Disclosure:This Old House’s Reviews Team is committed to delivering honest, objective, and independent reviews on home products and services. To support this business model, This Old House may be compensated if you purchase through links on our website.
In This Guide: Top 5 Landscape Fabrics | Buying Guide | FAQs | Our Methodology
Landscape fabric acts as a barrier between plants and the soil to prevent weed growth, stabilize saplings, improve irrigation methods, guard against soil erosion, and mitigate unwanted sun exposure. To help you find the best landscape fabric for your specific needs, we researched and compared the highest-rated options on the market.
Explore our top recommendations, tips on what to look for when shopping, and answers to common landscape fabric questions below.
Top 5 Landscape Fabrics
- Best Overall: ECOgardener Weed Barrier
- Best Lifespan: Dewitt Bulk Woven Landscape Fabric
- Best Woven Landscape Fabric: Mutual Industries Geotextile Fabric
- Best for Weed Prevention: HOOPLE Garden Weed Barrier
- Best Heavy-Duty Landscape Fabric: WAENLIR Heavy-Duty Weed Barrier
Compare Top Landscape Fabrics
| Product | Dimensions | Design | UV Blocking |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECOgardener Weed Barrier | 50 x 3 feet | Woven | Not listed |
| Dewitt Bulk Woven Landscape Fabric | 250 x 6 feet | Woven | 70% |
| Mutual Industries Geotextile Fabric | 300 x 6 feet | Woven | 90% |
| HOOPLE Garden Weed Barrier | 180 x 3 feet | Nonwoven | Not listed |
| WAENLIR Heavy-Duty Weed Barrier | 250 x 4 feet | Woven | 98.7% |
| Product | Dimensions | Design | UV Blocking |
Best Landscape Fabric Overall
ECOgardener Weed Barrier
- $31.95
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Features double-layered weatherproof fabric
✔ Safe for use in vegetable gardens
✔ Is easy to cut and install
✘ May not eliminate 100% of weeds
✘ Refund guarantee lapses after 30 days
What Customers Are Saying
Our research showed those who are happy with this product said that it was sturdy and easy to use. Unsatisfied customers we found said that the fabric was flimsy. Several reviews also said that weeds were still able to penetrate it.
Landscape Fabric with the Longest Lifespan
Dewitt Bulk Woven Landscape Fabric
- $179.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Features 12-inch guiding lines to assist with plant alignment
✔ Woven is UV resistant
✔ Available in multi-roll packs for large projects
✘ Only available in one length
✘ Edges prone to fraying when cut
What Customers Are Saying
Customers we found said that the Dewitt Bulk Woven Landscape Fabric was hefty and long-lasting. Many also said that it was easy to install and better than other name-brand options. However, we also noted some customers who said they didn’t see much improvement in weed prevention, moisture retention, and other metrics.
Best Woven Landscape Fabric
Mutual Industries Geotextile Fabric
- $219.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Offers a more affordable alternative to sand or aggregate ground cover
✔ Design blocks 90% of UV rays
✔ Ideal for priming flower beds as well as concrete, gravel, and stone pathways
✘ Only available in one length
✘ Does not ship internationally
What Customers Are Saying
Customers used the Mutual Industries Polyethylene Woven Geotextile Fabric for landscaping, fire pits, playgrounds, walkways, driveways, and more. We found that many said that it was easy to install and performed well. Several dissatisfied customers we found said the product they received didn’t match the measurements advertised in the product listing.
Best Landscape Fabric for Weed Prevention
HOOPLE Garden Weed Barrier
- $72.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Features chemical-free fabric that won’t harm the environment
✔ Thick design stands up to tough loads, including bricks and stones
✔ Heavy-duty material lasts 5 years
✘ Nonwoven construction limits water movement and breathability
✘ Does not include guiding line pattern
What Customers Are Saying
Customers we found were pleased with the durability of the HOOPLE Garden Weed Barrier, noting that it was much thicker and tougher than options from big-box retailers. On the other hand, we noticed that some dissatisfied customers said they were frustrated with how quickly the fabric degraded.
Best Heavy-Duty Landscape Fabric
WAENLIR Heavy-Duty Weed Barrier
- $129.71
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Lightweight at 5.8 ounces
✔ Comes with an after-sales service to help you with installation and questions
✔ Available in multiple sizes
✘ Doesn’t include the recommended galvanized landscape staples
✘ Some customers said that the length of their fabric was shorter than advertised
What Customers Are Saying
Our team found that satisfied customers said that this landscape fabric was sturdy and durable. Others said that the fabric was easy to cut and fit around plants, fences, and other obstacles. Those who didn’t like this landscape fabric said that it didn’t stop weeds from sprouting. However, other reviewers used staples to pull the fabric taut and helped prevent weed growth.
Landscape Fabric Buying Guide
Read our buying guide on landscape fabrics below to learn about important factors such as applications, thickness, size, and UV protection.
Type of Landscape Fabrics
There are a few different types of landscape fabric to suit a variety of lawn, garden, and landscaping projects. The main categories are non-woven, perforated, and the most common—woven.
- Non-woven: Non-woven landscape fabric is sturdier than the other two options, but its sturdiness comes at a price. It doesn’t allow for much water movement, which makes it a poor material for flower beds or vegetable gardens, but ideal for gravel gardens and pathways.
- Perforated: Perforated fabric is highly permeable and lightweight. It’s commonly used in vegetable gardens and raised garden beds.
- Woven: Woven material is a popular choice for flower beds or around trees and shrubs. Most woven weed control fabrics are made of a loose-knit polypropylene or eco-friendly natural fiber that features small holes to allow water, air, and nutrients to reach the plant soil.
Thickness
Thicker landscaping fabric is more durable, but it’s more expensive and damaging to vegetables, herbs, and annual plants because it can crush the plant roots that are close to the surface. We recommend choosing a thin fabric for these plants and sticking to a thick fabric for gravelly areas where the rocks might wear down thinner fabric.
UV Protection
Landscape fabric can break down if it’s exposed to too much UV light, which is why some products have UV-resistant or UV-stabilized properties. UV-resistant fabric rolls have innate qualities that make them less susceptible to damage from sunlight, while UV-stabilized fabric has been chemically treated to get that resistance.
Landscape Fabric Size
Most landscape fabric rolls have widths around three feet and lengths between 50 and 300 feet. Choose a larger roll if you’re applying fabric to a large area in your yard.
Price
High-quality landscape fabric typically costs around $1–3 per square foot, while lower-quality fabric often costs less than $1.
Determine how much ground cover you need and what type of material you prefer before setting a budget and looking at the different fabric options.
Landscape Fabric Brands
Some of the most popular brands for landscape fabric are:
- Agfabric
- AGTEK
- Dalen
- DeWitt
- Easy Gardener
- ECOGardener
- GardenMate
- GDNaid
- HOOPLE
- Mutual Industries
- Quick Dam
- VEVOR
- Vigoro
- WAENLIR
Benefits of Using Landscape Fabric
Landscape fabric comes with several benefits to your garden. Here are some of the most beneficial elements of using landscape fabric on your plants.
Weed Suppression
Using landscape fabric helps to suppress weed growth by blocking sunlight, preventing weeds from germinating and penetrating the soil surface. Landscape fabric can reduce the amount of time and effort spent on weeding, particularly in garden beds or areas with gravel or mulch.
Moisture Conservation
Landscape fabric can help retain moisture in the soil by reducing evaporation. This can be beneficial in arid or dry climates or areas prone to drought, as it helps to conserve water and maintain soil moisture levels.
Erosion Control
Geotextile fabric can aid in erosion control by stabilizing the soil and preventing erosion caused by water runoff. It helps to maintain soil structure and prevents particles from being washed away during heavy rain or irrigation.
Soil Protection
Landscape fabric provides a barrier between the soil and other materials, such as gravel or mulch, preventing them from mixing together over time. This can help preserve the integrity and quality of the soil.
Landscape Fabric FAQ
Will my landscape fabric last forever?
No. Landscape fabric eventually breaks down, but our research shows it can last around 10 years if it’s not exposed to too much sunlight or extreme temperatures.
What are some of the drawbacks of using landscape fabric?
Some people prefer not to use landscape fabric because:
- it prevents natural mulch, such as fallen leaves and pine needles, from reaching and replenishing the soil
- weeds are still able to sprout in soil placed on top of the landscape fabric
- certain fabrics can discourage earthworms from aerating the soil
What can I use instead of landscape fabric?
If you don’t want to use landscape fabric in your yard, you can use the following materials:
- Burlap
- Cardboard
- Compost
- Gravel
- Mulch
- Newspaper
- Straw
How We Selected the Best Landscape Fabrics
To provide our readers with the best landscape fabric recommendations possible, we rely on several key sources of information to help guide our selection process.
Initial Research: Our research process began by generating a list of fabric barriers with a significant number of verified-buyer reviews and an average customer review rating of 4–5 stars. We looked at positive and negative reviews alike, focusing on information from both satisfied and critical buyers.
Expert Insights: Through our years of experience, we’ve learned that listening to what others have to say is key to building accurate, well-rounded articles. To complement our in-house expertise, our team looked at reviews and videos from trusted publications and independent testers, spoke with subject matter experts, and drew insights from reader contributions.
Final Product Selection: We then began fine-tuning our list by replacing older models with the latest versions and eliminating any discontinued models. From there, we pared the list down further by comparing each model’s feature set and selecting the best-in-class options for a variety of buyers, budgets, and scenarios.
Why You Can Trust Us
This Old House has empowered homeowners and DIYers for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement advice in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content.
Our Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content. To date, we’ve published countless reviews of garden, lawn, and outdoor products—from fertilizer and garden hoses to patio furniture and snow blowers.
Once we conclude our research, we craft a comprehensive, user-friendly article of recommended products and additional information to help our readers make the right purchase.
Questions or Comments?
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.