The geotextile sometimes called to give is a protective film made of synthetic material used by construction companies. But he also knows how to make himself indispensable in the garden. Thus, landscape designers use it frequently and today even amateur gardeners can no longer do without it. This polypropylene felt can be non-woven or woven and comes in different quality levels. If you opt for a geotextile of good quality, you can derive many advantages. So let’s see what is the point of laying a geotextile and how to install it.
Geotextile: advantages
If the geotextile is so often used in different areas including gardening, it is because it provides many services. Its advantages are many.
- rot-proof,
- Solid, it is tear-proof, so it is necessary to use a cutter to cut it during its installation or to plant plants in it,
- Allows air to pass through but also moisture and water, which is essential so that it does not stagnate at the level of the roots of the plants,
- Limit the use of products harmful to the environment and health such as herbicides, pesticides and insecticides because:
- It prevents unwanted weeds from growing,
- It protects plants from pests such as gastropods (slugs, snails), the processionary caterpillar, rodents,
- It limits the development of the invasive roots of certain plants such as bamboo, which can cause a wall or a swimming pool to deteriorate,
- Prevents drains from clogging with soil,
- Stabilizes gravelled driveways,
- Prevents pebbles from piercing the waterproof cover of a natural pond,
- Allows you to plant plants that have specific needs in terms of soil when the soil in the garden does not suit them since it is enough to add good soil to the geotextile to solve the problem.
The geotextile can be laid in the vegetable garden, in the pleasure garden, under an alley. It is also the essential ally if you want create a petanque courta playground for children or even a slatted terrace, a pond… Installing a geotextile felt is very useful for not spending your time weeding and therefore allows you to have an impeccable garden and paths.
Geotextile: disadvantages
Felt or geotextile film has few disadvantages. We can only blame him for not being of a transcendent aesthetic! But never mind, if we take care of cover it well so that no piece is apparent, it goes completely unnoticed.
Geotextile: how to lay it?
It is very important to properly lay your geotextile so that it keeps its promises. The method to follow is as follows:
- Completely clean the area on which you want to lay the geotextile felt, which involves rigorously eliminating roots, stones and large stones, dead wood, etc.
- Level the ground with a roller so that it is well equalized,
- Place the roll at the beginning of the area to be covered, ensuring that it protrudes sufficiently on each side, then unroll it,
- Do not hesitate to overlap the strips by at least 25 cm, if the case arises,
- Cut the excess with a cutter or with a good pair of scissors,
- Then fix everything either with sardines or with staples, knowing that this step is optional if the felt is covered with a sufficiently thick layer of earth or gravel.
All that remains is to cover the bidim with the material of your choice, leaving no visible part and using the back of the rake rather than the teeth which could damage it. Depending on the project, we spread good topsoil, gravel, sand, wooden slats, or we put a grating, or even a waterproof tarpaulin for the future pool…