How to stop weeds and fix rotting timber steps?

[nishtha]

 

 

We have a few wooden steps in our backyard which are rotting.

We got a few quotes and both the carpenters mentioned that removing them would be too much work and that we should spray them and then they can put a fresh slab of wood on top of the existing steps.

My question is will that stop the weeds from growing as it's too close to the soil?

Or do we really need to do the hard yards and have them removed.

Even if we have them removed then do we need to take any additional steps to make sure weeds don't grow in between them?

[MitchellMc]

Hi @nishtha,

Weeds are a constant battle in gardens—wherever there’s soil, they’ll try to pop up. Whether you lay new sleepers over the existing ones or completely replace them, it’s likely that weeds will continue to make an appearance. Regularly spraying or pulling them out as they emerge is the only way to thin them out and prevent them from returning as often.

The decision on whether to overlay new timber or remove the old steps depends more on the condition of the existing sleepers. If they’re heavily deteriorated, it would be best to remove them to ensure you have a solid base to work with. If they still have some structural integrity, adding a fresh layer on top could be a simpler option, but it won’t necessarily stop weeds from growing in gaps around the timber. If you’re concerned about weeds, you could consider installing a weed barrier fabric underneath before laying new timber to help reduce their growth. 

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

[nishtha]

Thanks for the very helpful reply.

I agree with adding a layer of weedmat fabric in between but I was just thinking about it.

What would be a good way to hold the weedmat fabric in place?

Weedmat pins won't go down in the wood underneath?