Interesting take on landscape fabric—I get the frustration, but have you considered layering cardboard instead? I tried it once on a rental property, skeptical at first, but it actually held up surprisingly well. Plus, it's eco-friendly and breaks down naturally over time. Sure, it might not be a forever solution, but isn't gardening always a bit of trial and error anyway? Glad your shelter passed inspection though... definitely one less thing to worry about.
Cardboard's not a bad idea actually, hadn't thought of that. My only concern would be how quickly it breaks down—might not hold up as long as I'd need. But hey, gardening is basically one big experiment anyway, right? I'll probably give it a shot in a smaller area first and see how it holds up against weeds and weather. Glad your rental experience worked out though, that's encouraging.
And yeah, huge relief on the shelter passing inspection. One less headache in this never-ending renovation saga... now onto figuring out drainage issues, because apparently water loves my basement more than I do.
Cardboard can work surprisingly well, but you're right—it does break down pretty fast, especially if your area's rainy. I've had better luck layering it thickly and topping it with mulch or wood chips. Helps slow weeds and buys you more time before replacing. Good luck with the drainage...basements can be tricky.
Have you tried landscape fabric under the mulch instead of cardboard? I've done both, and honestly, fabric holds up way better in wet conditions. Cardboard is great short-term, but even layered thickly, it eventually turns into mush if you're dealing with constant moisture. Fabric lets water through but keeps weeds down longer without breaking apart.
Also, curious about your basement drainage—are you using a sump pump or just relying on natural drainage? I've dealt with a few tricky basements myself, and sometimes adding a French drain system around the perimeter can make a huge difference. It's a bit of work upfront, but saves headaches later on...especially if you're already dealing with moisture issues.
I've had mixed luck with landscape fabric myself—ever had weeds stubborn enough to poke right through it? Also, speaking of drainage, anyone ever tried DIY-ing a French drain and regretted it halfway through digging the trench...? Asking for a friend.
