When the summer heat turns up, dry soil follows. And if you’re in charge of keeping landscapes healthy—whether on a commercial site or in a home garden—you already know that water loss is one of the biggest threats to plant health this time of
year. But here’s the good news: moisture retention isn’t just a watering issue. It’s a materials choice.
Smart use of DeWitt landscape fabric can make a measurable difference in plant performance, labor hours, and overall stress on your soil. At DeWitt, we build woven and non-woven fabrics that help your soil hold onto moisture during the hottest weeks of the season. That means less water loss, better root conditions, and fewer fried plants when the sun doesn’t let up.
What It Does and Why It Works
Landscape fabric acts like a built-in insurance policy for your soil. It goes down before mulch or gravel, and forms a breathable, permeable layer that reduces evaporation, keeps root zones shaded, and stabilizes moisture in the soil profile. Unlike plastic sheeting, our fabrics are UV-resistant and water-permeable, which means irrigation and rain still reach the roots—but that moisture doesn’t disappear the moment the sun comes out.
This is particularly critical in July and August when surface soil temps spike and roots start to dry out fast. That’s also when you start seeing signs of stress: wilting, stunted growth, and increased vulnerability to pests and disease.
DeWitt fabric gives you a buffer. It reduces stress on the plant, creates a cooler microclimate at the root zone, and cuts down the need for constant watering.
Weed Control That Preserves Water
Here’s the other side of the equation: weeds compete for moisture. And in the summer, that competition gets ugly fast.
Landscape fabric helps solve both problems. By blocking sunlight at the soil surface, you eliminate weed germination—no chemicals needed. And with fewer weeds, your plants don’t have to fight for every drop. So not only are you saving on labor and herbicides—you’re maximizing water efficiency for the plants you actually want to grow.
Fabric That Lasts—and Fits the Job
We offer both woven and non-woven options, depending on the scale of your project and what you’re planting.
● Woven fabric is the heavy-duty workhorse. Strong, durable, ideal for high-traffic sites or commercial jobs that need longevity and structure. It’s the go-to for nurseries, parks, and any location where foot traffic or long-term installs are a factor.
● Non-woven fabric is lighter, more flexible, and easier to work with. Available in both pointbond for lower cost, and spunbond for maximum strength to weight characteristics. Effective for moisture retention and weed control—used commonly in residential beds, decorative landscapes, and in the case of Spunbond, many hardscape and decorative rock applications. Either way, both options are high quality, highly permeable, and engineered to perform for the long haul.
Maximize the Benefit: Install It Right
To get the most out of your fabric, follow a few key steps:
● Always cover the fabric with 2–3 inches of mulch or gravel. This protects the material and further cuts down evaporation.
● Overlap your seams by 6–12 inches and secure the fabric with staples every few feet to prevent shifting.
● Rake the surface regularly—especially in fall or after storms—to remove debris and prevent buildup that could allow weeds to grow on top.
● Choose the right fabric for your project. DeWitt has a great application guide to help determine the fabric you need for your upcoming project. Contact your sales rep today!
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a simple way to keep plants healthier with less watering, landscape fabric is one of the smartest seasonal investments you can make. It’s clean, low-maintenance, and works behind the scenes to stabilize your entire landscape.
At DeWitt, we’ve spent decades building fabrics that hold up to weather, traffic, and the pressure of real-world growing conditions. Our products help professionals and homeowners spend less time fighting the heat—and more time watching their
landscapes thrive.
Looking to spec in fabric for an upcoming project? Let’s talk. We’ll help you find the right product for the job and get your landscape through the heat in one piece.