Plant Doctor

Product Reviews

World Gardens

Horticulture Jobs

Get Gardening Help!

Fruit Pests

Pruning Guide

Soil pH Guide

Veg Planting Guide

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:

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

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.

< All Projects

Related FAQs

Ask a gardening question:

Butchart Gardens
British Columbia, Canada

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
Melbourne, Australia

Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Nongnooch Tropical Garden
Pattaya, Thailand

Watch a Video!

Weed Control Using Mulch

Will tulips grow in the shade?

How do I 'thin' grape bunches?

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

Training Sweet Peas

How should I overwinter a potted Canna lily?

Get Gardening Help!

How to plant through weed-suppressing membrane

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

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

How do I plant through weed-suppressing membrane?

I have just found a bag of bulbs in my shed, can I still plant them?

How do I store bare-root plants until I can plant them in the garden?

Why does my avocado plant shed its leaves?

How do I divide a 'bird of Paradise' plant?

Ask a gardening question:

Latest Gardening News

Gardening Projects for January

Latest Gardening Videos

Latest Gardening & Horticultural Careers

Explore Gardens from Around the World

Watch a Video!