I think i d rather have just weeds to pull.
Black plastic sheeting under gravel.
Plain black plastic helps the soil retain moisture.
Bear in mind that if you plan to use the plastic for several years or bury it under mulch gravel or a layer of soil thicker plastic will last longer.
4 6 out of 5 stars based on 14 reviews 14 ratings.
It s generally more difficult for weed roots to penetrate plastic than fabric.
Putting a tarp or some other form of heavy plastic sheeting under the gravel instead of landscape fabric can be an appealing alternative in some cases.
This causes root rot if you have plantings in the area covered by the plastic.
It does not decompose quickly but if you need to remove the plastic it is bulky and cumbersome to dispose of.
The plastic was laid down about 20 years ago and from the looks of it bushes were planted right on top.
Plastic sheeting for weed control offers the advantage of being impermeable.
The dense plastic keeps weeds down effectively but stops air movement as well as water.
Product title husky 4 mil black plastic sheeting 3 x 50 average rating.
It may be less costly than high end fabric.
Black plastic landscaping fabrics come in many guises but those that are at least 4 feet wide and at least 1 1 5 millimeters thick are the most commonly used.
Lay heavy duty black polythene plastic sheeting on the ground and weight it down leave for 2 3 months in summer or six months in winter lift the plastic remove slugs and dig up perennial weeds dig over the soil and prepare it for planting.
I have root systems from butterfly bushes lilacs blackberries roses and evergreens all growing across the sheeting under all the weeds that have grown anyway.
The black plastic retains heat causing the temperature of the soil under it to become a few degrees warmer than usual so plants may dry out more quickly than expected.
It s such a nuisance.
I would put plastic down but i would also make sure the soil under the plastic was carefully graded so water that falls on the gravel runs off to the sides instead of pooling on top of the plastic.
It also helps warm the soil for early planting.