should i cover my veggie garden with black fabric weedblocke

just cleaned up my small garden. does it pay to put down that black fabric and what exactly does it do.

also -- just got a very large hardy mum in a basket which i would like to plant. they told me that after the first hard frost, sometime near thanksgiving i should cut the plant down to the ground and mulch it with leaves. is this the correct thing to do and do i cover the branches with the leaves or just around the base? would appreciate any advice you can give me. thanks

Herbie...I've used that black weed mat. In a bermuda grass patch it didn't help at all...that stuff still got thru it!

If you could get as many weeds/grass as possible out of your garden, then lay it down you'll have much better luck w/it. And also mulch over it.

Can't help you w/the mum except to tell you most folks here cut them back to the ground, then mulch them completely with leaves or whatever is available.

horseshoe - thank you for your answer. will do as you suggested. will rototile the veggie garden and then cover with the black fabric. last year i covered it with a white tarp but when i uncovered it in the spring, the area wall filled with weeds each growing about 3 inches high. hope this will be better. in fact, dont even know if covering the ground would do any good? do you think i should just leave it uncovered and then rototile it in the sp0ring? thanks for any help.

Herbie, I wouldn't waste my $$ on the landscape fabric. Several thicknesses of newspapers will do just as well, covered with leaves, mulch, and/or some soil. Omit the soil if you want to uncover it and plant it next year.

darius - already bought the fabic. it was on sale. two 125 ft rolls for 10.oo. thanks for advice regarding newspapers. will give it a try before i use the fabric. thanks

Herbie43 I would dig as much grass out roots and all before using the tiller. More work but better results.

Don't worry about removing too much you will still have enough.The thing is a lot of grasses grow new grass with each bit of root broken off.Ernie

EWEED - thanks will try to get to this this weekend

Herbie43 Thinking about the price you paid for the weed blocker. I'm thinking you must have the type that is without u.v. protection.

I use both types, unprotected is pretty well shot by the end of one growing season. The protected type is good for several years.

I agree with Darius about the effectiveness of news papers covered with mulch to prevent weeds and some grass from growing.

Since I don't mulch my cheap fabric I don't know how long it will last if you mulch over it. If you do mulch over it think about what you are going to do next year when it comes time to work your soil the second season. Maybe some one else can help you with this part.Regards Ernie.

EWEED - i have no intention of mulching over it. i just want something to keep weeds out and next spring maybe i will just dig holes thru the fabric and put my plants in that way.

Herbie43 is the fabric installed? Ernie