Next weekend, I'm planning to enhance my yard by adding some rock and a few Japanese maples surrounded by mulch. I want it to look decent, even though I'm not a pro, and I'm aiming for low maintenance in the long run. The trees are currently in 25-gallon buckets, and I'm also considering cutting down my front lawn by about half. My main question is whether I need to use a weed barrier when I mulch around the trees or if just having a good layer of mulch will suffice.
2 Answers
In general, it's not recommended to use a weed barrier around trees, as it can actually harm them and doesn't effectively prevent weeds in the long run. Instead, go for a thick layer of wood mulch, about 3 inches deep, but make sure not to pile it up against the tree trunks. If you're looking for extra weed prevention, consider using a product like Preen or Snapshot in your mulch area.
It's great that you're prepping the area thoroughly! If you’re looking to use a weed barrier, contractor-grade fabric might be okay under a layer of rocks, but it’s usually best to stick with geotextile fabric under the rocks to let water through without letting the rocks sink too quickly. Just make sure you have some mulch on top to help with moisture retention and weed control!