Question
Awesome Site... What is the best way to install black matting for a new home as we are away a lot and we want no grass or weeds. Just wood chips and white rock in the fern and evergreen type flower beds. When using chips or mulch what can be done if in a fairly windy area so it wont blow all over. And last but not least what is better the mulch or the chips if I can get Cedar up here. I live in Northern Alberta. Thank You So Very Much


Answer
I never recommend any kind of weed mats. The problem is they only work for a year or two then cause major problems. There a marketing dream and many companies are rich off these silly products. If you put down a weed mat and cover it with organic mulch the mulch will break down over time and become fertile soil. Also rocks and mulch collect blowing debris, small bits of leaves, etc. In both cases the mat ends up covered with a fine layer of soil in less than a few years. Then weeds start germinating in the soil between the rocks and mulch and the roots find their way down to the mat. The mats are designed with "one way" perforations that are supposed to allow water into the soil below but not allow weeds to grow up. Problem is the roots can grow down through the small holes that the water is supposed to grow through. Then the roots get larger as the grow and become bound tightly in the weed mat. So when you pull the weed up...up comes the weed mat also. Then its a huge mess, plus if you don't keep adequate mulch on the mat it becomes exposed which also looks bad. So you might be thinking how about plastic instead of a weed mat because it has no holes... Well, im never in favor of putting plastic into the natural landscape if it can be avoided. Soil still forms over top of plastic but it won't pull up when you pull the weeds. However plastic does not allow water through which causes a hole bunch of other issues. For one, it kills the soil nutrients and good bacteria in the soils that your trees need to live. It keep the soil very dry below also.

So what do I recommend...lots of mulch and remulching as needed to maintain a heavy 4-6" thick layer. Also stay on top of your weeds. the first few years are the hardest. But after you get them under control the problem becomes easier and easier to deal with.

Best of Luck

Sean J Murphy
www.seanjmurphy.com