Soil Shield Pre-Cut Landscape Fabric

How to Setup Landscape Fabric on a Bed

Once the landscape fabric is on a bed, it’s impossible to work under it, so any bed prep needs to be done in advance.

Do all of your crop removal, amending, and tillage, then lay your drip irrigation on your bed and staple it down. Most market gardeners will use drip irrigation in conjunction with landscape fabric.

Line up the landscape fabric with one end of the bed, allowing for six inches of overhang on each end of the bed. Starting at one end of the bed, staple down both corners, grab the other end of the landscape fabric, and pull it tight over the length of the bed, stapling down the other end as well. Then go back and staple the edges of the fabric down every few feet. There is no need to staple the fabric over the center of the bed.

Landscape Staples

If you use landscape fabric, you will need to use landscape staples to hold the fabric in place while you install it and prevent it from blowing in the wind.

Most u-shaped landscape staples are made from 10-12 gauge steel, are six inches long. Like most tools, you get what you pay for. Higher gauge (thinner wire) staples will bend easier and break quicker. Cheaper staples are typically made from regular steel, which can rust away much faster than expected in a wet environment. Stainless steel staples will cost more but will last longer.

Typically you will only need to staple down the ends of the landscape fabric every few feet. In windier areas, you can increase the spacing to ensure that the wind doesn’t catch the edges of the fabric allowing the wind to catch them.

Like high-quality landscape fabric, high-quality staples will last for years. Get our premium staples here.

Planting into Landscape Fabric

Planting into landscape fabric is straightforward. The pre-cut holes make it easy for workers to know where a plant goes, and it becomes evident if one is missing.

Most farmers plant into the holes using a two-handed technique where they use two fingers on one hand to open up a small hole, after which the other hand quickly drops a plug in. They will continue working their way up the bed pulling the tray with them.

Some growers have hacked the process using attachments on drills to open up a hole requiring a follower to drop plugs.

The goal is to move quickly and efficiently. There is no need to baby the plant and pat the soil around it. Make a hole and keep the green end up. It’s as simple as that.

How to Fold Landscape Fabric for Storage

Folding landscape fabric is the easiest and cleanest way to store it.

Taking the time to fold your fabric strategically will make it easy to use next time.

First, remove the landscape staples from the fabric and set those aside.

Then, drag one end over the top to the other end, folding it in half.

Next, walk back to the center point of the fold, grab that segment, and again drag it to the other end, doubling it over.

Repeat this process, continuing to split the difference until you have reached the end. Once you have reached the end, the fabric will now be folded up to where you can see both ends.

If stored in this configuration, it will allow you to easily staple down one end and then drag the other end to stretch out your bed's full length when you are reinstalling your fabric.

If you invest in high-quality fabric, you want to ensure it is stored properly so you can use it for years. Store it in a dry location protected from rodents.