A couple weeks ago a representative for DuPont contacted me and asked me to review one of their products. It was a weed control fabric (DuPont Garden O.N.E® Biodegradable Weed Control Fabric). I was skeptical about it at first (since weed control fabrics and myself don’t usually get along) but I said go ahead and send it and I’d take a look.When I looked at the weed fabric packaging I was pleased to find a 100% biodegradable weed control fabric for vegetable gardens and annual plantings! That’s what it says on the packaging.
If you read further down the roll you’ll find that the weed fabric is made from wood fiber, is suggested for use in organic gardens, and can be tilled into the soil at the end of the year! Sounds like newspaper put into a convenient roll for you.
I haven’t tested my weed control fabric yet but I’m planning to get it in the vegetable garden this weekend. I’ll lay the fabric down and mound my melon hills over it. The fact that it can be worked back into the soil at the end of the season makes it worth trying. Most weed control fabrics take years to break down and create issues the following year when you go to replant that bed, but since this fabric breaks down into the soil next year’s planting should go very smoothly. I’ll update you on the weed fabric installation next week.
DuPont sent me a $100 gift card to Lowe’s to get some supplies for testing the weed control fabric and is offering a roll of it (which can be found at Lowe’s) and a $100 Lowe’s gift card to one reader here at The Home Garden! To enter into the drawing simply enter a comment in this post explaining what your favorite weed control technique is! Next Friday (May 13, 2011) may be your lucky day because that’s when I’ll announce the randomly selected winner in a post with everyone’s weed control tips listed. (If you have a blog include the url to it in the comments and I’ll link to you in next Friday’s post.)
I used newspapers for my new garden beds this year to kill the weeds and grass, then placed new dirt on top. It worked wonderfully to my surprise! Makes me regret all the work I did digging up grass for the other garden bed :/
I tried the new paper with mulch over it. It worked in some areas but not others. Pulling the weeds seems to work best for me. I like the sound of the new weed fabric.
I really like using newspaper. This new weed control fabric sounds great though!
I used landscape fabric last year and just rolled it up and saved it at the end of the season, plan to reuse it this year.
This new weed control fabric sounds interesting. My favorite weed control technique involves me on my knees, pulling them out by hand.
http://bonneylassie.blogspot.com/
Hi – This fabric sounds interesting. I made a raised bed out of a logs from a large birch tree we had to take down. I put the logs on their ends in an oval. The bed looks a little unusual, but very cool. To kill the weeds, I put down cardboard and several layers of newspaper.
I then pull out any invaders either by hand or I also like the Corona Tools hand weeder.
A biodegradable weed control fabric? Wow, sounds pretty cool to me!
What a great giveaway Dave. I sometimes do back breaking weed/sod removal but have become quite fond of the lasagne method.
I'm looking to make my own potato bags out of fabrics that don't leach toxic materials from them. Could you ask the guy from Dupont if it is really safe for organic gardening. Wouldn't they have to use some kind of glue to hold the wood fiber together? Is it certified organic? I'd really be interested to hear what he says.
My favorite way to weed is our new flame weeder. It's very effective, organic and I don't have to do it because my husband loves playing with his flame thrower!
Enter me please! My favorite weed control is to use newspapers and leaves, pine needles or hay over the paper.
I was talking to a client yesterday and she said her favorite weed control was Preen. Works like a charm according to her and it has changed her whole way of gardening. She is elderly so it is a good help for her.
In my vegetable bed I used cardboard and new dirt. In my flower bed I used newspaper, first time trying it so I am hoping for good results.
Hey Dave,
Thanks for hosting this awesome giveaway. I've used other brand weed fabrics in the past to control weeds. Some were good and others not so good. I find that consistently pulling and staying on top of the weeds from the start is the best method; however, Roundup doesn’t hurt either…ha ha
http://www.birdsnsuch.com/
I use newspapers with mulch on top of it. It works well. I always wet the paper which will help with moisture, but if it is windy it keeps the paper from blowing away!
When we bought the house we live in now, it came with years of yard neglect. We put down layers of cardboard (helpful hint: some companies have recycling dumpsters with only clean, flattened boxes!) and then about a foot of tree-company shredded hardwood mulch. Total cost: $0. So far, nutgrass is about the only thing that creeps up through it, and it's still the bane of my existence… but there's not much of it.
I have always been a fan of layers of grass clippings and hay – that and still ending up pulling weeds. Thanks for sharing this give-away and all your photos and tips. I love your blog !!
I use lots of mulch, but really the best technique for me is to have my plants convenient. If I walk past a weed I can't help but pull it out. I pull them from other people's yards too!
After reading these posts I am going to try newspaper but in the past I've been weeding the old-fashioned way…pulling them by hand. Thanks! Love your blog!
When we moved to this house, they had black plastic down in the flower beds. Ugh, I am still finding pieces of it here and there. Then we tried the fabric, but that was an issue also. In our vegetable garden we have also tried the black plastic, and picked it up at the end of the season. However, the last few years, we have used newspaper and some straw and that seems to work the best for us.
I mostly just use mulch and pulling them by hand. I'm going to try newspaper plus mulch in the vegetable garden this year. Hopefully it'll be easier.
http://brandismainegarden.blogspot.com/
I just use newspaper topped with compost, mulch etc.. but it doesn't always look the nicest.
So glad you are having this give away Dave. I've seen this product on TV. They say there is no work involved to remove the weeds. The best part is it can be tilled into the soil at the end of the season.
I have used newspapers, cardboard & grass clippings. I feel the grass clippings work best for me as they do turn into rich soil them selves.
I need to work with something that is easy for me.
If I'm not planting I like the big bark chips. Every couple of years I add new chips. But for planting I use a black plant fabric, then lots of mulch.
My favorite weed control is newspaper. I have even used magazines and soft cover books in paths and edgings. If it is made of paper it is put to good use somewhere in my garden blocking weeds. I am way too frugal to throw these valuable weed blockers away.
http://simplelifeingeorgia.blogspot.com
i also use newspaper for weed control intime@myself.com
This sounds very interesting. I tried some weed control fabric years ago and was not pleased so quit using it.
Now I use plastic in areas where I just want to control the weeds/grass around shrubs and such that nothing else is going to be planted around. For the most part I use thick layers of newspaper, usually whole and then mulch on top. I've also used shredded paper from bills, scrap paper, etc. when I have it. But I always use mulch on top.
http://KayzKreationz.blogspot.com
My favorite technique is newspaper. It biodegrades, but lasagna gardening works really well for me. I also use straw between my raised beds in the veg garden which helps keep the weeds at bay.
I have always used newspaper and covered it with mulch. The old style of fabrics prevented weeds from growing up through the fabric, but some would grow down through it when you went to pull them out, up came the fabric with it.
Well I'm still new to gardening, so I guess right now the best weeding technique I've found is just being vigilant about pulling them up! I'm excited to read the list of everyone's recommendations, because I could really use them! Thanks!
http://lifeblessons.blogspot.com
lifeblessons -at- gmail.com
wow, dave, what a cool new product! i have always avoided weed control cloth because i like the earthworms to have access to my garden beds, so i put down a thick layer of dried leaves–we always have a ton of those!–and then a layer of cardboard, newspaper, brown paper bags, or whatever of that sort i have on hand. the leaves encourage the worms to migrate up into the gardens. then on top of all this i put a layer of compost and start planting. this system works even on burmuda grass, as long as the bed is at least 6" deep.
I normally just pull them by hand. A friend suggested grass clippings but I suppose I should have used only grass clippings that were weed free… The garden is a mess of weeds now!
I remember reading the volumous Rodale ORganic Gardening and drilled into my head – a healthy garden…healthy soil won't have weeds. And mulch out here in So Calif it's redwood bark
I use newspaper covered with dry leaves in some of my raised beds, but most of the time I rely on a tool that consists of thumb and index finger.
I've heard about this stuff- glad to read about it. I usually like to think of my weeds and compost- that was when I see them I can smile and know they'll soon be useful. To keep them down in the paths I like to cover them with newspaper and then hay or straw. I use straw and grass trimmings mixed as a mulch in my beds- essentially composting in place 🙂
I've tried this DuPont "fabric". First, it's not a fabric at all. It's nothing more than rolled up construction paper (significantly thicker than newspaper and more difficult to work with). Given the price of this, I'd suggest just continue using newspaper. Now, if DuPont had an actual FABRIC that was more flexible (what if you're planting seeds/rows like lettuce, peas, etc.?) perhaps I'd be more enthusiastic. The other issue I had is that because it's rolled up, you DO have to secure it (and secure it well, as we get lots of high winds in our area). Even then, it had a tendency to tear/lift up from the fasteners. DuPont's suggestion to cover with soil is stupid because then the weeds will grow on the soil that covers the "weed fabric".
–Kevin
Hi, Dave–I've been reading your blog for a long time now but never commented. You always motivate me and I love seeing your projects!
The newspaper and mulch combo seems to work best for me, along with diligently pulling anything that slips past. Thanks for hosting the giveaway.
Hi Dave,
I just stumbled onto your blog and thought I'd add my two cents. My weed control technique is pretty simple: basic mulch and pulling them out by hand. The best time is after a rain; I'm able to get muchof the root. Besides, I find weeding relaxing — I can get inside my own head and see a task through from start to finish.
Thanks,
Kevin
http:nittygrittydirtman.wordpress.com
I am a till it and kill it girl. I tried to use newspaper with weedcloth over it but the oklahoma wind undid all the work I put into it not to mention having to clean newspaper from every corner of fence we have. Bricks as weights = not a chance against our heavy winds.
A good layer of mulch and good old-fashioned hand-pulling for me.
I did put weedblock (despite my reservations about it) under our raised beds. In other areas, I just use a lot of pine straw and fallen leaves as mulch and that works remarkably well.
What a great contest – thanks for hosting!
I put down newspapers on the bottom of my raised bed gardens and then plopped all the dirt & compost on top. Hopefully I won't be seeing any weeds creeping up!
Perhaps it is just me but I have never had good results with the newspaper method. I find what works best for my garden is the back breaking work of just pulling them out by hand! It would be interesting to see if this works, be sure to keep us updated.
thepricklypinecone(at)gmail.com
Hello there! My favorite been control is marafi black cloth generally used in the installation of retaining wall products and usually can be found at landscaping businesses. Water and nutrients can enter the soil thru the woven material. I have never had to replace it, just purchase more for the next bed. I then put mulch or straw over it, but this year I am going to use composted horse manure (gotta love that stuff)! BTW – it is great to find a blog in my zone!
The way I deal with weeds is the old fashion method- pulling it up by hand. This Biodegradable weed control Fabric sounds great. Plus it's 100% biodegradable. My husband just build me a garden bed for Mother's Day and I was looking for ways to prevent weeds. I am so glad I found your site and that I am still able to play in this giveaway. Thank You!
I'm not good at weed control. I mostly just pull up whatever grows where it shouldn't. I also evaluate carefully which "wildflowers" (aka "weeds") I might actually want to let grow.
I've tried newspapers and mulch which works pretty well if I also pull out whatever weeds come up anyway.
Kay
Hi Dave. Thank you so much for your blog post about our product and for your willingness to try a new weed control method.
As Anonymous points out, we recognize that our initial product was much stiffer –and was very paper-like, but I'd like to share that we've recently improved the product and the current version is quite flexible and drapable. It is truly a real fabric! Unfortunately, you must've found the old version in the store you purchased the product from.
I also found it interesting that many gardeners rely on do-it-yourself methods, such as using newspapers or cardboard. However, these methods have significant flaws. Petroleum-based ink from the 60% of the nation's newspapers that use it is actually harmful to the plants. And cardboard is stiff to work with and does not allow certain nutrients to pass on to the plants.
The major advantages of DuPont Garden O.N.E.® Biodegradable Weed Control Fabric over these DIY methods are: 1) It does not contain harmful chemicals
or glues, so plants are healthy and safe, and 2)The fabric is drapable
and easy to work with, allowing air, moisture, and water to pass on to the plants.
I used DuPont ONE last year and I really liked it. It draped very well when I wet it and then I put a shallow layer of mulch on it to keep it in place and keep the weeds and grass below it from coming up (I had a lot of Bermuda grass in my veg garden). At the end of the season I raked up most of the wood mulch for reuse and the fabric was almost all biodegraded, and it worked well on the Bermuda grass. I'll definitely use it again. Ron
I used this Dupont fabric last year, It offered a tremendous improvement over a number of other types.
I just tilled my old fabric in today, as stated it is 99% gone. I found out you can add drip irrigation lines over it once its already laid down.
The bottom line is that the material did perform in every way that was listed on the label.
I just came from the local Lowes and all they had was 3'x 25'. I want longer rolls 100-2oo'