Methods for Controlling Weeds and Water Using a Bag Filled with Landscaping Material

Abstract

A bag constructed of a weed suppression material for packaging a ground cover material. When the bag is in a closed configuration, the bag serves as a container for shipping, handling, and storage of the ground cover material. When the bag is opened and unfolded, and the ground cover material within the bag is spread over the opened and unfolded bag, the bag serves as a layer of weed suppression material on top of underlying soil and beneath the ground cover. In addition, the bag may be used for planting individual plants in a planting bed, for establishing a buffer zone around the foundation of a building, or for controlling erosion around a downspout of a building.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method for preventing erosion of soil adjacent a water discharge opening:
 a. providing a bag that has a front panel and a back panel having edges and joined along the edges, that is constructed of water permeable, non-degradable bag material, and that is filled with rock material; and   b. placing the bag under the water discharge opening so that the water discharged from the downspout impinges on the front panel of the bag and the back panel of the bag frictionally engages the soil.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bag material is selected from the group comprising a sheet of perforated plastic or cloth fabric. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bag material includes an additive selected from the group comprising a pesticide, an insecticide, or a herbicide.