For many of us, one of the least-favorite garden tasks is dealing with weeds. The traditional way to get rid of them was with a hoe, a shovel and a strong back. Today, woven-fiber landscape fabrics are the rage for various reasons. They are light, easy to install and, unlike sheet plastic, they breathe, allowing air and water to pass through the fabric. This eliminates sour soil and slows down evaporation, which means you don't need to water quite as often. What's more, landscape fabric eliminates the need for potentially hazardous chemical herbicides. That's a terrific alternative for families with small children or pets. Parents, now more than ever, are taking steps to limit the use of toxic products around the house. One of the toughest parts of using landscape fabric is deciding how to spend all the free time you'll have that you?d otherwise spend pulling weeds. And that's the On The House tip for today.