Non-Woven Landscape Fabric: The Ideal Choice for Water Drainage

Not all landscape fabrics are created equal or serve the same purpose. Non-woven fabric is the recommended choice for effective drainage applications in landscaping.

Although woven and non-woven geotextile landscape fabrics may appear similar at first glance, they have distinct differences. Both are designed to enhance soil stabilization and ground support, but the type of fabric you choose depends on the surface you’re working with and your specific objectives. Selecting the right landscape fabric can be crucial in achieving the desired results.

Non-woven geotextile fabric is the preferred option for applications where efficient water drainage is the primary goal. This type of fabric is commonly used in French drains, drain fields, and erosion control.

Woven vs. Non-Woven Geotextile Landscape Fabrics

Woven geotextile fabric is made from tightly woven strips of linen, polypropylene, or polyester. This fabric is relatively impermeable, making it difficult for fluids to penetrate and flow through. Its strength and resistance to warping make woven geotextile fabric ideal for high-load surfaces such as gravel or rock footpaths, highways, and parking lots.

Common Applications for Non-Woven Fabric

• Water flow management
• Filtration
• Xeriscaping (a type of landscaping that reduces or eliminates the need for irrigation)

Common Applications for Woven Fabric

• Weed barriers
• Under roads and paths
• Parking lot stabilization

Continue reading to determine if non-woven fabric is the right choice for your project.

Understanding Non-Woven Fabric

Non-woven fabric is either needle-punched or poly-spun, allowing water to flow through easily. These fabrics are sturdy and versatile, making them excellent for landscaping drainage. Non-woven geotextile fabric supports effective drainage, filtration, and ground stabilization.

Non-woven fabrics come in lightweight, medium-weight, and heavy-weight varieties. They have a felt-like texture and are categorized as follows:

Lightweight (2 oz to 3 oz):
This fabric offers high flow rates and is ideal for substrate cushioning and drain field applications. The 3 oz variant is commonly used behind retaining walls to separate dirt from gravel.

Medium-weight (4 oz to 6 oz):
This fabric permits water penetration without disturbing existing soils. It’s useful for controlling soil erosion, separation, and drainage tasks like French Drains. Additionally, the medium-weight fabric is used beneath gravel paths as a separation barrier between gravel and the underlying soil.

Heavy-weight (8 oz to 16 oz):
This durable, puncture-resistant fabric is suitable for applications requiring strength and permeability. It’s an excellent choice for placement under large rip-raps, geomembrane cushioning in retention barriers, and lining artificial lakes. However, it’s important to note that the thicker, 10 oz fabric can significantly reduce water flow due to its density.

Heavy non-woven fabrics are also used as separation layers under sand in volleyball courts (8 oz) and to prevent ballast and soil from mixing under railroad tracks (16 oz).