How do I add compost to a garden?

Anna
by Anna

I added landscape fabric and rocks to the garden in hopes of decreasing the weeds, Big mistake! Now I want to add more plants and compost. Do I just put it over the weeds and rocks? Do I need to remove the weeds first?Hep, I have a mess!

  6 answers
  • Kelli L. Milligan Kelli L. Milligan on May 19, 2019

    You should remove weeds first or they will come back worse. Remove as many rocks as possible and start over. If landscape fabric isn't working just get rid of it.

    • See 1 previous
    • Kelli L. Milligan Kelli L. Milligan on May 28, 2019

      I agree, when I used the fabric the weeds just got tangled up in it and when I tried to.pull them out it just pulled out flowers too or broke them because got stuck in the fabric.

  • 17335038 17335038 on May 19, 2019

    Why do you think it was a mistake trying to put down the landscape fabric and rocks to keep the weeds down?


    The effectiveness in landscaping fabric to act as a barrier to weeds depends on a few things:

    • killing and removing all existing weeds first
    • thicker and denser the fabric is better
    • more overlapping to the individual cut pieces is better
    • if the ends are anchored down from flapping up in the wind

  • Or you may have weeds nestle in on top of the landscape fabric, which is common. Weeds are spread by wind, wildlife and people. They don't have pilots and land willy nilly everywhere and just grow if the conditions are right. Easy to pluck out, or if there are no plants in the area, you can just spray with vinegar and let them die. Then decide where you want your new plants to go. Push rocks aside, cut an "x" in the fabric, dig your hole, amend soil, plant your new specimen, tuck in landscape fabric and fluff up the rocks.

  • Pamela chattergoon Pamela chattergoon on May 24, 2019

    I use shingles for weed barrier. Works well and easy to put down.

    • Anna Anna on May 28, 2019

      I have used them in the past. Weeds with runners were bad then as well. So I vacuumed the rocks out, tilled the soil, remove the weed barriers and will bring in compost and replant then mulch.

  • Thelma Travis Thelma Travis on May 26, 2019

    wooden shingles or asphalt? wooden ones will draw termites...…………..


  • Kate Kate on May 27, 2019

    i'm trying newspaper under the landscape fabric this year. Layered at least 5 pages then the fabric. Should help cut down on the weeds - fingers crossed anyway.

    • Anna Anna on May 28, 2019

      I usually place newspaper around the plants. it is a great weed barrier and a good composting material.