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Choice of mulch next to artificial turf
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Posted by penaddict Z4 CO (My Page) on Mon, Jun 29, 09 at 13:05
We will be installing about 450 sq ft of artificial turf soon. Our landscaper who's installing this suggested using "Gorilla Mulch" (which I found out is either Redwood Mulch or "Cascade Cedar Mulch").
The company that sells the mulch mentioned NOT to put down weed fabric but to put it over the dirt (and to dig down 3 to 4 inches) as the smooth surface of the weed fabric won't hold down the mulch.
First, is this a good option of mulch next to artificial turf, as we want to avoid the wind from blowing the material (mulch) onto the turf.
Second, my husband and I don't have the energy anymore to dig down 3-4 inches of dirt (it will be a large space).
Is putting weed fabric down a waste? Husband wants to install weed fabric though.
Any suggestions would be so much appreciated.
Thanks. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Choice of mulch next to artificial turf
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| Gorilla hair tends to become somewhat impenetrable to rainwater. Add that to your artificial turf which is impenetrable to rainwater and you are going to have tremendous sheet flow across your parcel, esp when we get our cloudbursts. We use 'Medium Bark Nuggets' for our bed adjacent to the veggie garden and some other spots, and they seem to hold in place fairly well, as opposed to the ubiquitous wood chips that end up in the lawn. You will, in addition, have pieces of any mulch blow onto the turf; your goal is to minimize this. Weed fabric will ensure any sort of wood mulch you put down will have a higher likelihood of getting blown around, esp in spring or in downdrafts. The 'weed fabric' will work for a few years, then when the mulch breaks down enough (and the wind brings in soil), it won't make any difference. So you want to do your cost/maintenance calcs for, say, no more than 4 years. If it is worth it for the amortization of only 4 years, great. If you have any sort of slope, the fabric will ease gravity's work by reducing friction, and your mulch will be more easily carried away in cloudbursts. Dan |
RE: Choice of mulch next to artificial turf
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The landscaper who is installing the turf said that putting down a weed barrier is fine as long as we put four inches of the mulch.
Are we wasting our money with the weed fabric? |
RE: Choice of mulch next to artificial turf
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| Yes. 4 inches of mulch is a pretty effective weed deterrent in and of itself. There is no need to add the additional layer of landscape fabric, which doesn't really work all that well anyway -- most professionals avoid it like the plague! |
RE: Choice of mulch next to artificial turf
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| Whatever mulch you choose, you may want to think about avoiding rock. You already are really heating up the area with the Astroturf, and rock will make the area a furnace, and plants will really suffer. The thicker the mulch, the better chance of keeping the soil cool. Dan |
RE: Choice of mulch next to artificial turf
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We weren't planning on using any additional rocks for the planting bed areas. The area is about 1600 sq ft and only 450 sq ft is the artificial turf.
So I think we going to just put down mulch and leave it at that. My goal is to Xeriscape and use plants that utilize less water.
Thanks for your comments! |
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