"Himanshu" wrote in message
news:j%r5i.11472$xP.8906@trndny04...
Zone 5 (Southern New England).

While renovating a flower bed a previous owner had put in, but it's my
first time, so and I'm wondering whether to use landscape fabric to
prevent weeds, or just go with mulch instead. Any opinions?

If I put landscape fabric I'd probably put a layer of much to hide the
fabric anyway.

How does one go about fertilizing and amending the soil if fabric is used?
I've read it's beneficial to lay down a few inches of shredded leaves
before winter sets in and I'm wondering if that means landscape fabric
would be more trouble than it's worth? Is it supposed to be removed and
replaced every so often?

FWIW, the lawn that's near this flower bed has weeds -- all kinds, I can
identify only dandelion, clover and maybe creeping charlie.

Thanks,

--
Himansh

My cousin lived here before I bought the house from my Mother. He had a
landscaping business and put landscape fabric everywhere. Darn near
impossible to plant anything as the stuff is impossible to put a shovel
through and a pain to get down on hands and knees to cut with a knife.
Besides, the weeds and grass grow on top of the stuff, anyway. It was
popular in Arizona where I lived for a while and it only kept the weeds away
for a year or two and then they grew in the dirt that had settled on top of
the stuff. I would never use it and wish I could figure some way to remove
it easily.

Tom G.