Here is what can be done with a typical backyard, where the grass struggles to survive. There was the sloped section that was covered with pinestraw. The existing plants were the dogwood and the large masses of azaleas. We worked around those items to transform the yard. The homeowner wanted a patio space, and by pushing it out into the yard, it also becomes something that is beautiful to look at when inside the home.
We removed all the grass, and after adding several tons of different rocks, the homeowner has a new yard. The overall desire was to keep it looking very natural. The 400 groundcovers, 86 perennials, 48 shrubs, and 1 tree will now need to grow and fill in the areas. In just a couple years, I will have to return to take photos of the area as it matures.
The problem with weed barriers is that they only work initially. They are also not inexpensive when you are covering a large area. If you put down a weed barrier, it does great for the first ...»
So, in my opinion, the weed fabric is only a temporary solution, but over time it becomes a serious headache and almost can cause more work down the road.
After seeing this picture, I plan to take out more of the wooded area (not trees) and extend my space. Maybe I will transplant some of my wild "southern trillium" for the area.