Gardening - Q&A: Preventing Weeds From Growing in Marble Chips

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Q&A: Preventing Weeds From Growing in Marble Chips

Question: I have a small garden with white marble chip rocks separating the plants. Is there something I can be put down on the ground before laying the marble chips to prevent weeds from growing up between the rocks? I have heard that laying newspaper or plastic bags down will keep weeds from growing. Is this true?

Answer: Black plastic is not recommended around plants because it keeps both air and water from reaching into the soil. Newspaper or a layer of cardboard will work for a certain period of time to prevent weeds from germinating, but eventually it will rot away and need to be replaced. Some gardeners use a weed barrier fabric under gravel -- it is specially made to be porous to water. While it will stop weeds from growing up through it, it will not stop seeds from germinating in the surface gravel.The gravel combined with bits of leaves and so on that work their way into the gravel make a perfect germination bed. The gravel can be raked periodically to disturb the seeds that land in it, or the area can be treated periodically with a pre-emergent herbicide such as corn gluten.

Content provided by the National Gardening Association