What is the best drainage landscape fabric?

On the surface, there appears to be little difference between woven and non-woven geotextile landscape fabrics. Both are designed to increase soil stability and ground support. However, depending on the surface and goals you have, choosing the right landscape fabric for drainage can have a significant impact on the outcome of your project.

Nonwoven geotextiles are the best choice for drainage applications where water flow (permeability) is a major concern. Nonwoven landscape fabrics are commonly used in French drains, drainage fields and erosion control. 

Only two main types of fabrics are used for landscape and construction applications; woven geotextiles and nonwoven geotextiles. Read on to learn which is better for your application.

Geotextile Landscape Fabrics: Nonwoven vs. Woven

Woven geotextiles are strong, finely spun strips made of linen, polypropylene or polyester materials. It is usually impervious to water and has very little drainage through the material.

The durability (tensile strength) and warp resistance of this geotextile is ideal under high bearing capacity surfaces, including gravel/rock sidewalks, highways and parking lots. 

Common nonwoven applications

✱Xeriscaping

✱Water flow (permeability)

✱Filtration

Common woven fabric strengths.

✱Parking

✱As a weed barrier

✱Under roads/trails

Here are the benefits of woven and nonwoven geotextile products to help you make an informed decision.

Benefits of non-woven geotextiles

Needle-punched and multi-spun varieties of non-woven geotextiles allow water to flow easily through them and are both strong and versatile for landscape drainage. Nonwoven geotextiles are most commonly used as landscape materials to support adequate drainage, filtration and ground stabilization.

Available in light, medium and heavy weights, these fabrics feel like felt to the touch.

Fabric weight classifications.

Light weight (2 oz. to 3 oz.)

High flow, substrate cushioning and leaky field type applications. 3 oz. weight is typically used behind retaining walls as a barrier between dirt and gravel.

Medium weight (4 oz. to 6 oz.)

Medium weight nonwovens allow water to penetrate without displacing existing dirt. It also helps control soil erosion, separation and drainage functions (French drains). In addition, we have seen these weighted fabrics used as a barrier between the gravel and the dirt below underneath the gravel path.

Heavyweight (8 oz. to 16 oz.)

Heavyweight nonwovens are ideal for applications that require strength and permeability. They are more resistant to punctures and their durability makes them a good choice for use under large tears, geomembrane buffers when used in water retaining barriers and artificial lakes. Note that at the upper end of the weight range (10 oz +), water flow is significantly reduced due to the thickness of the material.

Heavy-duty nonwovens are also used as a barrier for sand under volleyball courts (8 oz.) and to prevent ballast and soil mixing under railroad tracks (16 oz.).