The first fork is really about permanence. Do you need a membrane that stays in place for the life of the surface built on top of it, or one that quietly rots away once the planting has taken hold?

Permanent separation, or biodegradable weed control?

Under paving, driveways and car park construction, Terram 1000 is the geotextile most UK civil engineering specifications reach for: it keeps sub-base and surface layers apart, sand from gravel for example, while still letting water drain through. It is a permanent fixture, not something you lift again.

Woven and spun bonded polypropylene cover ordinary weed suppression under gravel, borders and general landscaping. The woven fabric holds for up to 5 years, the lighter spun bonded version for up to 3, and both let water, air and nutrients reach the soil while stopping weeds from establishing beneath. Ground Cover, in 90g and 100g weights, does a similar job specifically under patios, block paving and driveways, and Spun Bonded Weed Control Fabric is sized for flower beds, embankments and the ground under timber decking.

Where the fabric is there to help planting establish rather than to last forever, biodegradable options do the job without a return visit to remove them. Eco-Mat, a jute erosion control matting, suits hedgerows, new plantings and soil awaiting stabilisation. Coir mulch mats and jute and hybrid jute matting both work well fitted around individual trees and shrubs, protecting the root zone from frost and drying out while suppressing weeds beneath. Phoenix Ecotex is worth a specific mention on sloping sites, where loose dressings such as bark tend to wash downhill: being a fixed mat rather than a loose material, it stays put, then breaks down fully into organic matter over 4 to 5 years.

What is holding it down?

Fixings matter as much as the fabric itself. Where the fabric is biodegradable, Greenstake Bio-Peg and the wider GreenStake stake range rot down alongside it, so there is nothing synthetic left in the soil once the job is finished. Where the fabric needs to hold for longer, the Black Plastic Oxy-Degradable Stake is formulated to last at least 7 years, and steel fixing pins cover most other site conditions. Pin length and gauge depend on the ground, so it is worth telling the sales office what you are laying and where before ordering.

What goes on top?

Fabric rarely goes down on its own. Bark mulch comes in amenity, ornamental and play grades depending on how decorative the finish needs to be, and growing media and topsoil are available to British Standard specification for the planting itself. All three are quote-based on volume and delivery, so a call to the sales office gets a faster answer than trying to guess a price online.

Which product for which job

Weed-free gravel path or driveway edge: Ground Cover or woven polypropylene. Under new paving: Terram 1000. Border or bed under bark mulch: Spun Bonded Weed Control Fabric. New tree or shrub planting: coir mulch mats, jute matting or Phoenix Ecotex, depending on how long you need it to last and whether the site slopes. Erosion control on a bank or hedgerow: Eco-Mat.

Get in touch with the sales team with your site’s ground conditions, slope and planting plan, and they will confirm the right combination of fabric, pins and dressing before you order.

Frequently asked questions

Does groundcover fabric stop weeds completely?

It suppresses weed establishment underneath by blocking light, but it will not stop windblown seed germinating in mulch or soil that collects on top of the fabric over time. Combining fabric with a mulch dressing, and topping that dressing up occasionally, keeps weed growth down for the life of the planting.

Biodegradable or synthetic, which lasts longer?

Synthetic fabrics last longer by design. Woven polypropylene suppresses weeds for up to 5 years and spun bonded for up to 3; Phoenix Ecotex, a biodegradable mat, breaks down fully over 4 to 5 years. Choose synthetic where the surface needs to keep working indefinitely, under a gravel path for instance, and biodegradable where the planting itself will eventually take over the job, such as tree and shrub establishment.

What pins should I use?

Match the pin to the fabric. Biodegradable matting pairs naturally with Greenstake Bio-Peg or the GreenStake stake range, so nothing synthetic is left in the ground once everything has rotted down. Longer-term synthetic fabric under bark or gravel often uses steel fixing pins or the Black Plastic Oxy-Degradable Stake, rated to last at least 7 years. Tell the sales office what you are laying and where, and they will confirm the right pin.