Should I put garden fabric down before I put mulch or stone down?

Yes use the heavy landscape fabric

I have yet to learn why people put down the garden or landscape fabric. It certainly does not stop weeds and when they put roots down through it the fabric becomes a major headache to remove. Took me a whole summer to remove piece after piece, sometimes little pieces, filling bag after bag, from the previous owner's installation. I am still finding pieces in the yard. If you find a good reason to use the stuff, let me know and I will go out and buy some. Warning, it will be a tough sell.

Ditto Ken. I have used "the best" most expensive landscaping fabric but weeds will always find a way through or on top of. I have started using cardboard and newspaper under mulch with much better results.

Thanks all

either landscape fabric or cardboard (thick layer) or you'll spend a good bit of your time weeding the mulch

The only good purpose I have found for landscape fabric is to use it in the bottom of containers with large holes to keep soil from washing out and drainage As a Master Gardener I agree with Ken, 7 or 8 layers of newspaper works well or cardboard also at least it decomposes after several years and is easier to re do. weeds grow because debris gather in the rocks or mulch and seeds root there.

I've also had bad luck with the landscape fabric for the yard , even laid it under a stone border, weeds do manage to grow right through it.