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We're thinking of paving the area under our second-story deck but aren't budgeting for it until next year at the earliest. The area, which is roughly 30 feet by 10 feet, has black lava rock partially covering it right now - because of price and general lack of availability where I live, I've been slowly moving it to the front of the house where the lava rock there was thinning out.

I'm tempted to remove the rest of the rocks under the deck, smooth out the dirt, and cover it up with landscaping fabric to make it easier to deal with weeds in that space in this coming summer. Because we may pave over this next year, I don't want to deal with the expense and hassle of putting a bunch of mulch down on top of this area. Would it be a bad idea to leave the fabric exposed like that, knowing that it's out of the way of foot traffic and otherwise isn't being used for plants? I've seen all sorts of mixed reviews on using landscape fabric, though. Is there a cheaper way to temporarily deal with this, perhaps leaving things as they are for now and occasionally using a weed control spray?

Here's a photo of the area I'm dealing with:

enter image description here

Derek
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Landscape fabric was NEVER meant for weed fabric. I hate whoever decided to make more money perpetuating this LIE. This fabric is meant to go gravel, BENEATH rock, lava rock so that the fines in the soil below don't come up to the surface while your gravels go down into the soil profile. That is what they should only be used to do. (I've heard the word 'sumping' which is mainly when pressure is applied topside it pushes the larger rock down allowing the soil to come up replacing the gravel and allowing weeds to go nuts and you lose your investment).

By your photo, it looks like this lava rock is fairly recent and the rain dripping through your deck or prior to your deck has splashed up on your masonry. Pressure washer will take care of that.

Landscape fabric needs to go BELOW the lavarock or gravel or drain rock... which looks even better in this application. As long as the fines or soil do not come up into your rock that should be no shallower than 4" deep/thick, you'll have little weed problems. I'd pull that rock out of there, excavate and level the subsoil to get your 4", use PT 2X4's for edging the tops of which are level with the top of your gravel, secure with stakes and SCREWS not nails! Install your fabric. One thickness is JUST FINE. I'd use clean drain rock instead of this black lava rock or at least wash this stuff free of soil before installing on TOP of the fabric. Every other year when soil and weed seeds blow in just spray glyphosate to kill the weeds. This is pretty much the only time I even have to use a pesticide for which I am licensed. If you get contractors to do this make sure they are licensed and bonded or if they screw something up (water pipes, electrical conduits, posts, garf up your beautiful masonry, break windows) YOUR homeowners insurance will take the brunt of the financial downfall. A nice clean line of 2X4 edging at the foot of your posts will make your entire home project look far more professional and well thought out. Raising the value of your home!

stormy
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