Is weed matting detrimental to the soil/plants in the long run?

[TeaMonsta]

Having lifted the weed matting (which was covered in bark) from the beds a while ago, I found compacted soil and wondered if, in the long run, weed matting is not so good for your beds. The soil can't be forked over with it in place so there's little aeration and no fertile bulk can be added easily. It's great to have weed-free beds but if the plants are going to suffer, I'm not sure I want it. What are your thoughts? (Totally new to growing anything, by the way).

[Alison]

I only tend to use it on paths so am quite happy for them to get compacted as I walk on them. However I grow in edged beds which I never walk on so I wouldn't expect a problem there either.

[Thelma Sanders]

In Autumn/Winter I lift it and lightly fork over and add compost/manure/cardboard and then cover again, and don't walk on it. (I don't cover the weed matting at all, perhaps the bark weighs the soil down?)
Mine is still quite fluffy under the weed fabric at the end of the year - as long as I don't walk on it! So no problem with compaction here.

I think it's worth it to keep the weeds down all year round, saves me hours of weeding

[Glutton4...]

Having seen the results of two mirror image beds, planted around a year apart, and where matting was not used on the second bed, due to funding issues (this was a commercial site), I would say don't bother.

Both beds were given a good layer of bark mulch, and a year later, when we went back to tend the beds, the one with the matting was far behind the other, in terms of both the size and health of the plants. I believe the matting drastically reduced the water availability for the plants, and the weeds still grew in the bark mulch anyway.

As Alison says, it is great for pathways, but personally, I wouldn't bother for any planted areas.

[PyreneesPlot]

Interesting question.
Presumably the matting must also inhibit the the activity of worms as there is nothing available for them to pull down into the soil?
I've only used matting for strawberries which was useless, although I confess it was uncovered - ripped from above by hailstones and beneath by mole hills.

[TeaMonsta]

Interesting question.
Presumably the matting must also inhibit the the activity of worms....

I actually found ALOT of worm activity underneath which surprised me. I think much of the compaction issue I've had is that it's quite a clayey soil and it seems to get a certain amount of compaction from rain (or moisture) settling it.

Thanks for your replies, everyone.

[Thelma Sanders]

I believe the matting drastically reduced the water availability for the plants, and the weeds still grew in the bark mulch anyway.

Earlier this summer, when it was very dry here in the SE, I found the covered beds had more moisture under the weed fabric, so needed less watering than the uncovered beds. Mind you I don't cover the fabric on the beds with mulch.

[Stan79]

I've only done a couple of seasons of growing and have had two years under fabric and this year used it less. As has been said, I would say the fabric has kept more moisture in and obviously decreased the weeds. This year has been a pain in the backside with the amount of weeding I've had to do. As I'm away with work a fair bit it makes a massive difference using the matting. Again, as above, I just add manure over the winter when I lift the fabric. This gets incorporated into the soil over the winter and then the fabric goes back down before spring kicks in properly.

I think it's great!