Whether you are tending to your community, home, or workplace garden, you are bound to come across unwanted weed growth. Weeds have the potential to invade and take over your garden entirely if left unchecked.
Weeds cause a wide array of problems many aren't even aware of. Understanding these impacts is the first step towards effective weed management.
More than just disrupting the aesthetic of your garden, weeds create unnecessary competition for your other fauna and flora. Weeds can grow faster, outcompete desirable plants and use up precious water, nutrients, sunlight, and space.
Often, weed growth occurs so fast it can seem like they are growing back just as fast as you are removing them. Eliminating relentless weed growth can be expensive and exhausting. A jute weed mat is one of the most effective methods for long-term weed and erosion control because it stops the problem at the source through prevention rather than constant removal.
Jute matting, sometimes called hessian matting in Australia, offers a natural solution to weed problems without relying on harsh chemicals or constant manual removal. It is an organic and eco-friendly geotextile used to protect your garden, trees, and shrubs in particular.
The jute matting allows both air and water to pass unimpeded through its construction. The soil beneath it can breathe, promoting the growth of desired plants while reducing evaporation and minimising watering needs.
Unlike synthetic weed mats, jute is completely biodegradable and breaks down naturally over time. This means you won't need to remove it later, and it actually enriches the soil as it decomposes. Synthetic weed fabrics can release microplastic fragments into the soil as they break down, which is worth knowing if you are growing edibles or working on a revegetation site.
The dense weave of jute fabric blocks sunlight from reaching weed seeds beneath the surface. Without light, these seeds cannot germinate, effectively stopping weed growth before it starts.
For standard garden beds and tree protection, this 620gsm jute roll provides excellent coverage at 1.83m width, making it ideal for most residential landscaping projects. For areas with heavy weed pressure or commercial applications, the 750gsm heavy-duty option offers superior durability and longer-lasting weed suppression in demanding conditions.
Jute matting is environmentally friendly and the simplest, safest, and most cost-effective method of combating annoying weeds. Used as a jute mulch mat around trees and garden beds, it also promotes the healthy new growth of young trees and shrubs.
Applications of the versatile organic fabric include weed control, erosion control, water retention, landscaping, tree protection, and slope stabilisation. The material performs particularly well on banks and embankments where both erosion and weed control are priorities.
Beyond weed suppression, jute matting is widely used for erosion control on slopes, embankments, and exposed soil. The open-weave structure holds topsoil in place and lets rain soak through rather than sheet off the surface.
On steep banks and construction sites, jute matting protects freshly seeded areas from washout during heavy rain. It slows water velocity across the surface, giving seeds and young roots time to establish before the mat gradually breaks down into the soil.
Council revegetation projects, road cuttings, and creek bank stabilisation are common applications where jute erosion control matting outperforms bare mulch or spray-on alternatives. Bush regeneration projects across NSW regularly use jute matting for both weed suppression and slope stabilisation in a single installation.
For erosion-prone sites, pair the matting with appropriate pinning at three pins per square metre and ensure overlaps run downhill to prevent water from lifting the edges. Browse the full range of erosion control products for complementary solutions like coir logs and silt fences.
Choosing the right landscaping supplies for a commercial project means weighing your specific needs, budget, and environmental priorities. Here's how jute matting benefits your garden compared to common alternatives.
| Method | Pros | Cons | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jute Matting | Biodegradable, adds nutrients, breathable, natural appearance | Breaks down over 1-3 years depending on climate and soil conditions | Eco-friendly gardens, tree protection, revegetation projects |
| Synthetic Weed Mat | Long-lasting, durable, low maintenance | Non-biodegradable, can prevent water penetration, sheds microplastics | Permanent pathways, commercial landscapes |
| Mulch | Inexpensive, improves soil, natural look | Requires regular topping up, can harbour pests, washes away | Garden beds, around established plants |
| Chemical Herbicides | Fast results, kills existing weeds | Environmental harm, recurring cost, health concerns | Large-scale agriculture (not recommended for home gardens) |
| Manual Weeding | No cost for materials, precise control | Time-consuming, physically demanding, weeds return quickly | Small gardens, between plantings |
If you're weighing up whether a plastic weed barrier actually works for your situation, the answer depends on whether you prioritise longevity or soil health. Plastic barriers last longer but don't break down, and fragments can contaminate the soil over time.
For gardeners wanting a longer-term synthetic solution, this 1.83m woven poly mat provides durable weed suppression for permanent garden borders and pathways where biodegradability is not a priority. If you're working with established plants that need individual protection, the pre-slitted jute version saves time during installation by eliminating the need to cut individual planting holes.
For help choosing the right weed mesh type and weight for your project, our buying guide breaks down the options by material, GSM weight, and application.
Before installing the jute, make sure that you have all the right equipment at hand. Proper preparation ensures your jute matting stays in place and performs effectively throughout its lifespan.
What you will need:
Alternatively, you can also use U-shaped pins to fasten the mat to the ground. Use the following variations of sizes depending on the sloping terrain:
For site preparation, be sure to take out objects such as stones, weeds, or scraps. Afterward, start levelling the ground according to the slope grade you want.
You may need to supplement soil treatments on the surface by distributing fertiliser or soil conditioners depending on the finish you want to achieve. Remove any existing weeds completely, including roots, to prevent them from pushing through the matting.
Dig a trench with a recommended depth of 200mm and a width of 150mm at the top of the area you have seeded. After you do this, insert the top edge of the matting into the trench and pin the fabric into the ground using a rubber mallet.
Backfill the trench firmly to anchor the matting securely. This anchoring method is essential on slopes to prevent the matting from sliding downhill during heavy rain.
Carefully unroll the jute matting down the slope. Ensure that the top end of the mat is compacted in the trench by backfilling the area you have dug.
The jute matting should be pinned using three U-shaped pins placed on the right end, centre, and left end of the fabric. It is recommended that you use three pins per square metre to ensure that the material remains fully intact to the ground.
Work methodically down the slope, smoothing out any wrinkles or air pockets as you go. The matting should lie flat against the soil surface for maximum effectiveness.
When laying the next roll, you have to overlap the ends of the mat across the preceding mat by at least 100mm and pin it into place. Continue doing this with the following rolls.
After the overlapping mats were successfully fastened altogether, spray the jute matting with water. This will help it conform to the land surface and make planting much more manageable.
You can purchase both slitted and non-slitted jute mattings. Non-slitted jute requires you to cut any slits for planting using scissors or a suitable cutter.
Dig a hole through the cut fabric and pour a teaspoon of Terraform Plant Establisher into the hole. This mixture will facilitate the development of the plant while it grows.
Position plants carefully and firm the soil around roots before replacing the matting flaps. Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil and activate any soil amendments.
Walk over the entire installed area to check for loose sections or inadequate pinning. Add extra pins wherever the matting feels loose or elevated from the soil surface.
Water the area thoroughly to help the jute settle and begin the initial decomposition process that helps it bond with the soil. Monitor the matting regularly for the first few weeks, adding pins if wind or water movement causes any sections to lift.
The installation process is similar to laying jute soil saver mesh, though soil saver mesh uses a finer weave suited to seeded areas rather than planted beds.
While jute matting is relatively low maintenance, some basic care extends its effectiveness and ensures optimal weed control. Regular inspections help you catch and address any issues before they become problems.
Check the matting after heavy rain or strong winds to ensure it remains securely pinned. Replace any pins that have worked loose and add additional pins in areas showing movement.
Remove any weeds that manage to grow through gaps or damaged areas immediately. While jute is highly effective, persistent weeds can occasionally find weak spots, especially near edges or overlaps.
As the jute begins to decompose after 12 to 18 months, you may notice thinning in high-traffic areas. The exact timeline depends on rainfall, soil acidity, and temperature. For a deeper look at what affects breakdown speed, read our guide on how long jute matting lasts under different conditions. Thinning sections can be patched with additional pieces of matting or allowed to decompose completely if the plants are well established.
Keep the matting moist during dry periods to accelerate beneficial decomposition and maintain soil temperature regulation. A well-watered jute mat breaks down more evenly and continues to suppress weeds effectively throughout its lifespan.
For garden paths and areas where weed mat sits under pebbles or gravel, jute matting works as a biodegradable underlayer that suppresses weeds during the establishment period before naturally breaking down.
They are the same material. Jute is the plant fibre; hessian is the woven fabric made from it. In Australia, "hessian weed mat" and "jute weed mat" refer to the same product. The term you see on packaging depends on the supplier, but the performance is identical.
Yes. Cut a cross-shaped slit with sharp scissors, fold back the flaps, plant into the soil beneath, then tuck the flaps back around the stem. Pre-slitted rolls are also available, which removes the need to cut holes manually.
It does. The open weave allows rain and irrigation to pass directly into the soil while still blocking enough light to prevent weed germination. Unlike solid plastic barriers, jute also allows air exchange, which keeps the root zone healthy.
For residential garden beds and tree surrounds, 620gsm jute matting is sufficient. For slopes, heavy weed pressure, or commercial revegetation sites, choose 750gsm for longer-lasting performance and stronger erosion resistance. Heavier GSM means a tighter, denser weave that takes longer to break down.
Jute is a natural plant fibre with no chemical treatments, so it is safe to use around edible crops. As it decomposes, it adds organic matter to the soil rather than leaving synthetic residues. It is a popular choice for weed control between rows in veggie patches.
Yes. Jute matting is regularly used on slopes for combined weed and erosion control. Anchor it into a trench at the top of the slope and pin at three pins per square metre minimum. On steeper gradients, increase pinning density and always overlap rolls in the downhill direction so water flows over the join rather than under it.
All Stake Supply stocks jute matting, woven poly weed mat, and erosion control geotextiles in a range of weights and roll sizes from our St Marys, NSW warehouse. Browse the full product range or contact the team for advice on the right matting for your site.
