Using Mulch to Prevent Weeds

I recently starting using mulch to prevent weeds from growing near my front porch area. Since I live on a ranch, weeds are EVERYWHERE! I’ve spent many years pulling weeds, only to see them return a short time later. After looking at a few different options, I decided adding landscaping fabric along with a thick layer of mulch would be my best long-term option.

This project was a lot easier than I thought it would be. The hardest part was laying the landscaping fabric around already existing plants and flowers. The easier part was finding the materials and spreading the mulch. As you can see from the before and after picture, using mulch to prevent weeds leaves your garden looking clean and beautiful.

Items you will need for applying mulch:

All of the items were easy to find and fairly inexpensive. Depending on how large of an area you’re working with, the price of this project will vary. The area I worked on took 17 bags of mulch.

• Mulch: Mulch typically comes in three different colors: brown, black, and red. I went with brown mulch because it looked the most natural. Each bag costs anywhere from $2-$5. Keep an eye out for sales. I ended purchasing my mulch from Ace Hardware and Lowe’s Home Improvement.

• Black landscape fabric: This will act as an extra barrier between the weeds and mulch. If you don’t put mulch over the the fabric, it will eventually disintegrate from sun exposure.

• Landscape Pins: These help to keep the fabric in place. I purchased these Landscape Pins from Walmart.

• Rake: Use a rake to help spread the mulch around in an even layer.
• Scissors: You will need to cut the landscape fabric, especially when you get to edges or near plants.
• Utility Knife: Use this to open the bags of mulch.

How to use mulch to prevent weeds

• Clear the area you’re working with by removing flower pots and decorations.
• Cut the weeds down as much as possible with a trimmer or lawn mower.
• Starting at one end of your garden, lay the black landscaping fabric in a straight line and continue to roll it out until it reaches the end of where you want it.
• Cut the landscaping fabric with scissors and use heavy duty landscaping pins to firmly pin the fabric down.
• Repeat the process by starting on the next row, making sure to slightly overlap the fabric to prevent the weeds from growing in between rows.
• If you come across a plant that is already in the ground, cover the plant with the landscaping fabric and slice an “x” in the fabric where the plant will be. Position the fabric over the plant and adjust the fabric to make sure the plant is fully exposed.
• If your plant is in an awkward location and you cannot cut an “x”, simply cut the fabric around your plant and move on.
• Once the entire area is securely covered in landscaping fabric, use a utility knife to open the bags of mulch.
• Spread the bags of mulch over the landscaping fabric and use a rake to evenly spread it around, making sure there are no areas where the fabric is visible.

Helpful tips when applying mulch

• Keep the landscaping fabric as tight as possible when you’re securing it with the pins. If the fabric is not tight, it will bunch up and poke through the mulch.
• Use enough mulch and don’t be skimpy. It’s better to use extra mulch than less mulch. If you see any areas where the fabric is exposed, add a little more mulch until it’s covered.
• Save newspapers and cardboard boxes to use as a free and extra layer of protection. Place them over the area before laying the landscaping fabric. This step is totally optional.

Easy “How To” card for using mulch to prevent weeds

I’m really happy with how my garden area came out. The mulch makes everything look put together and clean. It’s also nice knowing I don’t have to spend hours pulling weeds every few weeks.

In the near future, I want to look into installing a decorative lawn edging to keep the landscaping fabric from popping up near the edges of my sidewalk. I will keep you updated with another DIY project 😊.