"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,

--
Himanshu

I'd vote for mulch, which will not only keep down the number of weeds but
also make any that come up very easy to remove. My problem with landscape
cloth is as someone else has written, once it's down it's not that easy to
add new plants, transplant out of the bed, etc., plus you still have to
mulch over it.

You'll want to have several inches of mulch, and you'll have to renew it
occasionally. I have a fairly extensive garden area, so I have the electric
company, tree trimmers, etc., dump their good wood chips at my place -- I
get the free mulch and they don't have to take them to the dump or pay for
their disposal.

Regards --