Questions about plantings with landscape fabric?

Hi, I am very new to gardening. So my question may seem silly to some, probably with a obvious answer. But please humor me.

I need to know if I can use bulb plants such as canna, callas, and gladiolus in a bed with landscape fabric under a layer of pine bark mulch. I am concerned that the fabric will interfere with the plants natural tendency to reproduce and spread. Or will it actually help the original plant to grow stronger and prettier by forcing all its energy into the original planting.

Again the answer may seem obvious to an expert gardener, but as I said, I'm no expert and I want to grow the strongest healthiest bulb plants possible. PS the bed in question is on the west side of my house, up against the house, if this helps.

Thanks for your answers

Questions about plantings with landscape fabric?
I think your instincts are right on!!!!!



I have been a professional gardener for many years, and I loath, loath, loath landscape fabric.



If your garden is small, here is what I think, and I know it sounds like a lot of work...but that is part of the deal with gardening. I would slowly remove sections of that landscape fabric. For a garden to truly thrive, you are going to want to keep building your soil. Bark mulch isn't bad...but the best mulch is compost, (your own or bought from a local farm/garden center), since compost builds the soil and provides plant nutrients, attracts worms for aeration, and retains moisture/repels heat. I add a fresh layer of compost to all of the gardens I tend every spring, and then again in fall. You can slowly add compost right in with that bark mulch, but remove the fabric as you go!



Of course your bulbs would probably bloom the first year no matter what you do. But you seem to want thriving plants! And you seem to truly want to learn about gardening.



There are several fantastic books out there on garden maint. One of them is written by Tracy DiSabato Aust.



The most important part of gardening is soil care. If you are investing your time and money in a garden, you want it to reward you back. My suggestion to you, from the bottom of my flower beds.....learn about soil and mulch!



Also check out Brent and Becky's Bulbs online. They are a wonderful source of information on bulb care, and also great inspiration on plantings.



Good luck to you!
Reply:I use it for daylilies and it cuts down the weeds which helps the plants I love. I don't really want the plants to spread, I prefer to control where they grow.
Reply:Crimminy I thought you were planting landscape fabric.

Did you think you might try to use that bulb planter (a round cone punch with depth gage expressly for planting bulbs)

and punch right through the fabric.

But have you heard of hydroponics??

That bulb don't care if it is in the ground - -as long as it gets water and food.

Grow them in a glass jar.
Reply:there are alot of different fabrics out there to use. if you are using one that is almost solid like a bed sheet i would cut a hole in the fabric so the plant can have a place to come up through. some weed barriers might get pushed up by the plant. i would cut a hole to be on the safe side. and no it will not make the plant stronger by "forcing" it to work harder?.
Reply:I think you will be ok. As long as you have a large enough hole for water to get through. Did I understand correctly that you have a 12" hole per plant? That's good.



On the other hand, I don't use landscape fabric or pine bark mulch. If you have it there already, don't worry about it. However, I find that weed seeds still germinate on top of the fabric. And I like the natural look of shredded bark mulch.



I may be wrong, but I don't think those bulbs you are planting spread. They may get to be larger plants, but not multiply.



If this planting is on the west side of your house and near steps, be particularly sure that they get enough water and do not dry out.