[gvc8]

you can spread some weed preventer at the very beginning of the season that can help keep them at bay for the season:

Green Light Amaze 10 lb. Ready-to-Use Grass and Weed Preventer 2-40518 - The Home Depot

[WestieJeff]

I never used the fabric, but the black plastic works. The only section of my yard I get any weeds (for close to 10 years now) is the sections where the black plastic has been torn/removed due to irrigation repairs, removing plants, etc.

Originally Posted by MediocreButArrogant

The previous owner of our home in the Bay Area did use fabric, and not only does it not prevent weeds, it makes removing them harder. I plan on removing it as part of converting our yard there to a low-water landscape.

[WestieJeff]

I used this on a bare dirt section of my yard this year and it worked amazingly well. You have to apply it before the weeds show up though, since it stops the seeds from germinating, once they've germinated it does nothing.

I applied it late Jan/early Feb and I didn't see any weeds until about 2-3 weeks ago. Looks like it would need to be reapplied after a couple months.

Originally Posted by gvc8

you can spread some weed preventer at the very beginning of the season that can help keep them at bay for the season:

Green Light Amaze 10 lb. Ready-to-Use Grass and Weed Preventer 2-40518 - The Home Depot

[tijlover]

Originally Posted by MediocreButArrogant

The recommendation from experienced gardeners and landscapers is to not use fabric or especially plastic under the rock. Just Google "should i use weed barrier underneath rock". Despite what the mfgr may state, they are very poor at allowing water to permeate, and of course plastic blocks it completely. What is recommended is a deep layer (4") of mulch (rock is fine) over the soil, which admittedly is more than more people have, but what a good landscaper would insist on installing.

I was a little surprised when my landscaper did not use fabric under the rock, but he recited the above, and after seven years, we spend less than an hour a year pulling weeds. Using plastic will disqualify you for the SNWA landscape rebate.

The previous owner of our home in the Bay Area did use fabric, and not only does it not prevent weeds, it makes removing them harder. I plan on removing it as part of converting our yard there to a low-water landscape.

Interesting! "Using plastic will disqualify you for the SNWA landscape rebate". So when someone applies for the rebate, it's all supervised, inspected afterwards?

I've seen, on my walks, plastic showing through the rocks, which is ugly to see, and if you walk on it, doesn't it crack, allowing water to permeate?

What I see as a nightmare, is planting some very prickly cactus, and the grass grows up around it, which I've seen too often, and I can understand why you wouldn't want to go pulling up grass there, and getting pricked to death!

I also wasn't aware of the various grades of AstroTurf. It all looks the same to me! I, sometimes, don't think my ferret even knows the difference, as he rolls around the AstroTurf as if it were real grass!

[Willy702]

Ground clear only thing that works. I preach this to my tenants and they never do it, then complain about the HOA with the weed notices. Yeah it's not the greatest thing for the environment but the weeds here are just outrageous and very few people put in any guard against it.

[MAXIALE02]

They only time I had problems with weeds is when I neglected to stay on top of them. I pull them up as soon as I see them in the spring and fall. This is done about twice per year labor intensively on a Saturday. I use my bare hands and pull out the root. It really is easy if the ground is moist from a rain. I've never thought to wet the ground first. Other times, especially if I've been too busy to keep an eye out and it's hella hot; I find the best treatment is to put my hiking boots on and stomp or smash them with my shoes. I don't even pick them up because I dont have that many and they fry and dry.

Hubby used to spray RoundUp and we'd go out two days later with little tools trying to work them out. Didn't seem to work any better than what I'm doing now. The builder put the yard in without and plastic coverings. I agree with having a thick layer of rock to smother the weeds.

[Clarkcty]

My sideyard at home, desert plants are blooming and soon the Palo Verde tree will be blooming as well.:cheers: