Weed Barrier Installation
Both black plastic and landscaping fabric are installed
in the same manner. Unroll the barrier and lay it over
the area that your bed covers. Make sure that the
sides of the bed have adequate cover, as weeds
have a tendency to come up at the edges.
Once you have it laid out, pull the fabric tight with
your partner and stake down the edges. The staple
should push in by hand. Even if you have to pull up
stakes later on, it's good to tack the corners of the
barrier down so they don't blow away. I've found
that it works much better to start with fresh barrier
sheets with each section of the bed, instead of
piecing together scraps. Remember, the fewer seams
you have, the less likely you will have to weed later
on.
Now that the barrier is tacked down, you're ready to
trim around the edges. Feel the edge of the bed with
your hand. It should feel softer and more lumpy
than your yard. Take your utility knife and trim
along the edge. Remember! you can always trim
some more off, but it's hard to patch in small
sections effectively. After you've cut around the
outline of your bed, stake your newly cut edges so
the wind won't blow away all your hard work.