Yeah, soil type definitely matters. Around here we've got heavy clay—drainage nightmare, trust me. If you're not seeing much weed action without fabric, count yourself lucky...or maybe your weeds are just lazier than mine?
"Around here we've got heavy clay—drainage nightmare, trust me."
Yeah, clay soil can be a real headache...have you tried amending it with sand or compost? Curious if that'd help drainage enough to make weed fabric less necessary.
Sand can actually make clay worse sometimes—it can turn into a concrete-like mess if the proportions aren't right. Compost or organic matter usually works better in my experience. Have you considered raised beds or French drains to tackle the flooding issue?
Totally agree on the sand issue—learned that the hard way myself. Couple things I've found helpful:
- Mulch and compost really improved drainage over time.
- French drains are great, but materials can add up quickly... DIY gravel trenches worked pretty well for me on a tight budget.
Definitely second the mulch and compost suggestion—worked wonders for me too. One additional thing I've found helpful is planting native shrubs or grasses strategically around the property. Their deeper root systems help absorb excess water and stabilize the soil over time. Also, if you're going the DIY gravel trench route, make sure to line them with landscape fabric first... learned that lesson after a year of clogged trenches and extra maintenance.
