Geotextile for beds: what is it and how to choose, rules of use and installation steps

New technologies and modern materials greatly simplify the process of growing plants on the plots. Geotextiles for garden beds are a real salvation from weeds. You can also pick up a canvas for decorating country paths. The main advantages of the material: ease of use, affordable cost, a large selection of canvases of different thicknesses.

What is geotextile for beds

Woven or non-woven fabric is made using special needle-punched, thermally bonded methods from polyester or propylene threads. Materials are in demand in various industries: medicine, construction, agriculture, geotechnics, furniture production.

Summer residents and gardeners in their garden most often use it to protect beds from weeds. Manufacturers produce different types of geotextiles, the scope of which is quite wide. When choosing a material, both its positive and negative characteristics must be taken into account.

Which one to choose?

Geotextiles can also be used on the garden plot for arranging ponds, ornamental ponds, equipping parking lots, and organizing children's play areas.

When choosing a material, you need to consider its characteristics:

• polyester textiles are made from polyester/polyester materials. The canvas acts as a filter in the arrangement of drainage systems. It is used in the construction of sports grounds, the design of the drainage layer, for the reinforcement of high embankments, in the arrangement of garden paths, areas for cars.Material advantages: long service life, resistance to alkali and acid environments, does not rot or decompose in the ground, does not pollute the environment. Water seeps through the canvas well, but large particles do not pass. Minus textiles - not used to protect the beds from weeds;
• polypropylene fabric is made from synthetic polypropylene fibers. The material is resistant to external mechanical influences. Advantages of the material: strength, elasticity, good drainage and filtration characteristics. Cons: Unsustainable to direct sunlight, high cost.

To cover the soil in the beds, it is recommended to use polypropylene geotextile. The material is optimal for soil mulching, it is used to protect the beds from weeds. In hot weather, textiles prevent the evaporation of moisture, and on rainy days freely passes water. Therefore, irrigation rates are reduced. Since moisture and air circulate freely, the soil maintains a constant temperature.

Rules for the use of covering material

Features of laying geotextiles are determined by the type of work. Approximate steps for arranging garden paths:

• the contours of the paths are marked with a rope and ditches are dug 30-40 cm deep. The bottom is covered with sand and carefully leveled, the walls are decorated with a slight slope;
• the groove is covered with textiles so that the edges protrude 5-10 cm above the ground;
• a layer of crushed stone 12-15 cm high is poured into the recess. The stone surface is leveled, and the ditch is covered with another sheet of geotextile;
• final stages - a layer of sand 10 cm thick is poured and leveled. Tiled elements are already laid on top of the sand. The remains of textiles protruding above the ground are carefully cut off. The seams between the tiles are covered with sand and rubbed with a stiff brush.

A popular way to use geotextiles is to decorate beds. Work is carried out in the following order:

• a layer of earth 30-45 cm thick is removed in the allotted area;
• sand is poured into the bottom of the bed with a layer of 10-15 cm, which is carefully leveled;
• geotextile cover the bottom so that the edges protrude above the ground;
• a drainage layer 5-7 cm thick is poured over the material (pebbles, crushed stone);
• top of the drainage hole is covered with black soil.

It is advisable to use textiles also in beds with strawberries. The essence of the preparatory work: the site is covered with a canvas. Small cruciform cuts are made in the material according to the strawberry layout.Bushes are planted in places of cuts. In this case, the canvas prevents the germination of weeds on the soil, but does not retain moisture when watering or on rainy days.

The quality of the canvas is determined by the type of technology used in the manufacture of the material. When choosing a canvas, the following parameters are taken into account: strength, elasticity, water permeability. You also need to take into account the purpose of using the canvas, the type of soil on the site.

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