Try This Landscaping Hack If You Want To Banish Pesky Weeds From Your Gravel

A Soto Zen monk named Shunryu Suzuki once said, "For Zen students, a weed is a treasure. With this attitude, whatever you do, life becomes an art." While the task of pulling weeds can be calming to some — and rewarding to visibly see progress — a majority of people would probably say it's a stretch to refer to a weed as a treasure, especially when your yard is full of them. That's one treasure most of us would rather not possess.

There are many options to tackle weeds in your landscaping, including the use of home remedy weed killers. There are also many tips for killing large patches of weeds. But, ideally, it's best to create an unwelcoming environment for weeds to prevent their emergence at all ... especially if you have a gravel driveway or walkway. Thankfully, there's a hack: the use of landscaping fabric. This will increase your chances of banishing weeds from your gravel before they even have a chance to take root.

Landscaping fabric has long been used in yards to keep weeds at bay in gardens or to prevent erosion on slopes, but it can also be used under gravel and other areas without plants. It comes in large rolls and is easy to work with. There are many types of landscaping fabric, but for gravel areas, a product made from non-woven polypropylene and polyester material is ideal because you don't need water, air, and other nutrients to pass through like you would in planting areas.

Before laying down landscaping fabric, remove all gravel and weeds that are currently present. You'll also want to get rid of any sticks, other stones, or anything else that could pierce the fabric. Level the ground and dig down low enough to allow space for both your fabric and a thick layer of new gravel. The top layer of gravel should be level with the area around it, whether it's a planting area, driveway, or pathway.

When cutting and placing the fabric, leave a little extra. It shouldn't be flush against the edge of your gravel bed. Instead, leave about 1 inch of excess landscaping fabric around the perimeter, providing extra coverage from pesky weed seeds. If you're using multiple pieces of fabric, make their edges overlap by at least a foot to prevent any possible cracks. Secure the fabric with landscaping pins, like these HongWay landscape staples, that are spaced apart in 1-foot measurements along each edge of the fabric. Yes, the rocks will hold the fabric down, but the pins will ensure that it stays taut underneath. 

Although landscaping fabric is durable and can help banish weeds on a long-term basis, it isn't a "place it and forget it" solution. Mother Nature is always on the move, which means any remaining weed seeds may eventually break through and emerge from the gravel. Plus, a thin layer of soil and debris can settle into the rocks over time, offering weeds a place to grow. Keep a vigilant eye and remove those few rebellious weeds as soon as they appear.