I'm a bit worried about whether the absence of a weed barrier under the river rocks we laid around our house will lead to a muddy mess when it rains or after watering. We've just got shrubs planted, no flowers, and I wonder if everything's going to be okay without a plastic or fabric layer, assuming the rocks are deep enough. Will they sink quickly, and how manageable will the weeds be? I know I'll need to spray or pull some, but I want to hear from others who might have experience with this.
3 Answers
Honestly, I've had to deal with weeds whether I used fabric or not. Birds drop seeds and the wind helps too. I end up weeding about once a month, but it’s really not a huge deal for me.
I have a weed barrier under my gravel paths and river rock areas, but I still get weeds coming through. The main purpose of the barrier is to separate the soil and prevent it from mixing with the rocks, which can definitely help with your muddy mess concern. But, you'll still have to manage some weeds from seeds blown in and dropped by birds.
Rocks are denser than soil, and they'll sink over time, especially if there's moisture in the ground. The type of rock also matters; round rocks tend to settle faster than angular ones. You might want to consider talking to your spouse about laying down a quality geotextile instead. It's not plastic and might be an easier sell!