In a world where maintaining a pristine yard is a constant endeavor, a fifth-generation Colorado farmer, Briana Bosch of Blossom and Branch Farm in the Denver suburbs, has issued a dire warning.
Her message is simple yet crucial: a common yard maintenance item may silently wreak havoc on your trees. The consequences are dire, and it’s time to take notice.
Landscape Fabric Misuse
Earlier this year, Briana Bosch, under the handle took to the internet to share a tip that could save your yard and, more importantly, your trees. In a brief 20-second clip, she unveiled the unfortunate repercussions of improperly using landscape fabric.
The Professional Perspective
Bosch’s advice aligns with expert guidance in the field. When used beneath mulch or soil, landscape fabric can harm trees by obstructing the flow of essential elements such as water, oxygen, and nutrients to their roots.
One disgruntled user echoed Bosch’s sentiment, exclaiming,
“I have arguments about this stuff with people all the time! It’s awful!”
Bosch’s response was humorous and poignant:
“They like spending money and doing extra work??”
Alternatives to Landscape Fabric
Online users on Bosch’s post offered alternatives to landscape fabric. Some suggested using cardboard boxes or newspapers in its place, achieving the same weed-preventing goal without the adverse effects.
Sadly, some users shared their struggles with the remnants of landscape fabric left behind by previous property owners. It can take years to completely eradicate its presence and restore the soil to a healthy state.
Even a landscape contractor weighed in on the discussion, stating unequivocally that landscape fabric is a gimmick. “There’s no solution to a weed-free yard,” they proclaimed.
Yard Maintenance Benefits
The National Institute of Health recommends 2.5 hours of physical activity per week. Yard work, like tending to flower beds and lawn mowing, can help meet these activity goals.
Yard work offers multiple health benefits:
- It provides a cardiovascular workout, improving heart health, lowering blood pressure, and reducing stress.
- It engages the entire body, enhancing strength, fitness, and flexibility.
- Regular physical activity, including yard work, can slow down the aging process and stimulate critical thinking.
- After mowing, grass clippings left on the lawn enrich the soil by decomposing and forming healthy fertilizer.
- A well-maintained lawn recovers faster from pests and diseases.
- Maintaining a thick and healthy lawn can reduce neighborhood noise pollution.
- A well-kept lawn can increase the value of your home by up to 14% and speed up its sale.
- Healthy grass improves air quality through photosynthesis and enhances soil health, benefiting other plants and trees.
- Regular lawn care and irrigation prevent erosion by maintaining strong root systems.
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Sources
- snappys-outdoor.com/6-health-benefits-of-yard-work/
- securelawn.com/main-benefits-of-a-well-maintained-lawn/
- sprinklersystemsburlington.com/five-big-benefits-of-a-well-maintained-lawn.html
This article was produced and syndicated by Viral Chatter. It was inspired by this video:
@blossomandbranchfarm WE HAVE TO TALK. There are two ways to use landscape fabric: many professional growers use it on TOP of the soil as a water and air permeable mulch that gets removed each fall and the soil is amended. This method can actually be helpful for no-till growers who don’t use herbicides and have aggressively spreading weeds. The other way folks use it is as a weed suppressor UNDERNEATH mulch—which is a big mistake! what happens is the wood chips on top of the mulch just slowly break down into soil, and weeds grow on top of the fabric anyway! Instead, you can use wood chips in two ways: 1️⃣use a very thick layer to suffocate grass over 6 months to a year, after which you can plant into it (though in my dry climate it can take up to two years!). This is a good way to slowly convert a lawn one section at a time to do native plants, just smother them with wood chips until you’re ready to plant! Then plant small plants into the mulch, leaving the wood chips in place to help keep down weeds and hole in moisture 2️⃣ to use the same process, but seed afterward, just layer the woodchips and leave them for about a year until the grass is dead and the ground is softer, then remove the woodchips (you can reuse them elsewhere in the landscape) and use the exposed remaining soil as your seeding surface. Have you ever had to remove landscape fabric from underneath mulch like this in your garden? Tell me your story! #WoodChips #permaculture #LandscapeFabric #RegenerativeGardening #Gardening #KillYourLawn #LawnDestroyers #Garden #Gardening #gardenersworld #gardentok #foryou ♬ original sound – Bri
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Martha A. Lavallie
Martha is a journalist with close to a decade of experience in uncovering and reporting on the most compelling stories of our time. Passionate about staying ahead of the curve, she specializes in shedding light on trending topics and captivating global narratives. Her insightful articles have garnered acclaim, making her a trusted voice in today's dynamic media landscape.