Home > Projects >

How to plant through weed-suppressing membrane

You will need: Weed-suppressing membrane, knife, trowel, mulch

If you want to make your garden less work, then one place to start is by using weed-suppressing membrane over the borders. This fabric is porous, so water can pass down through it to plant roots, but is dense enough to stop weeds growing up.

Best time to do it:

Step 1

Ideally, this is best laid over a bare border before you start planting. Overlap the edges if you use more than one strip.

Step 2

Cut an X with a sharp knife where you want to plant and peel back the flaps to dig the planting hole.

Step 3

Position the plant and fill in the hole, firming the plant into place. Fold the flaps of fabric back over the soil around the plant.

Step 4

Disguise the fabric (and help it last longer) with a deep layer of mulch, like bark or gravel. This also helps reduce moisture loss in summer. Leave a small saucer-shaped depression immediately around the plant stem so it cannot be damaged.

Related FAQs

Ask a gardening question:

Latest Gardening News

Hosepipe Bans Continue Across Southern England

Autumn Estate Tractor and Trailer Tours launched at Blenheim Palace

Give the Gift of Nourishment to Garden Birds This Christmas With Peckish and Gardman

Essential Gardening Jobs for Late Summer

Gardening Projects for November

---

How to Protect a Climber

How to Make a Bird Feeder

How to Protect Containers

How to plant through weed-suppressing membrane

Latest Gardening Videos

---

Five Essential Tips for Growing Lemons

How do I treat liverwort?

Growing Geraniums

How do I protect container plants from the cold?

Moving House and Taking the Garden with You | Garden Ideas | Val Bradley

Why are my pansies and violas wilting?

All Videos

Explore Gardens from Around the World

Saint Petersburg Botanical Garden
Saint Petersburg, Russia

Gardens of the Generalife, Alhambra
Granada, Spain

Nongnooch Tropical Garden
Pattaya, Thailand

Dubai Miracle Garden
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Villa d'Este Gardens
Tivoli, Italy

Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
Sydney, Australia