Write an article based on this "Pick beds that house annuals instead of perennials. Ensure your fabric is permeable. Lay the fabric out in one long piece. Cut out the pieces around barriers. Apply the next piece alongside it. Anchor the edges down. Place mulch on top."
Weed barrier fabric works best if you reinstall it each year, so pick beds where you'll need to pull out plants and add new ones each year. That way, you can just pull up the barrier fabric with the plants and replace it. You obviously want water and nutrients to get through to your plants, so your fabric needs to be permeable. Check the label to see what it says. If you're not sure about your fabric, try pouring water on it. If it drips through, it's permeable. If it doesn't, it's not. Start by tacking down 1 end of the fabric at the edge of the bed with a stake or pin. Going lengthwise, pull the fabric along the whole length of the bed. Stake the end of the fabric at the other end of the bed, going over any barriers like rocks and plants. Don't worry about it overlapping the edge of the bed. Once you've staked down the fabric, go back and cut out around any barriers, such as plants or rocks. You can use regular scissors. Leave about 6 inches (15 cm) of space all around the plants. Also, cut along the edge of the bed, making the fabric align with the bed. If you're installing it in a bed that doesn't have any plants yet, you'll need to cut out spots where you want the plants to go. If your bed is wider than one piece of fabric, lay a piece next to it. Use the same principles of staking and cutting to install the fabric. Drive in stakes around the edges of the barrier, so that it stays in place. Otherwise, the fabric will come up later, and it will look unsightly in your garden bed. Once you have the fabric barrier in place, you can add mulch on top. You only need enough to cover the fabric. You can use natural mulch or gravel, whatever your preference is. However, keep in mind that organic mulch can break down into soil, creating a space for weeds to grow.