I was given a large roll of woven geotextile. I was hoping to use it for mud control somewhere, but from what I can find online it seems like I need the non-woven kind for my horse pens.
Am I better off using this woven stuff for my gravel driveway or something?
Not really sure what the differences are… does this stuff not drain as well, or not hold up as well?
We put that woven cloth in our arena to keep water and snow out of it and it doesn’t really work as it needs to.
We found also out that for geotextile ground or our screen use, it needs to be the kind that is, woven or not, strengthened with the right plastic coating, that makes it rigid but still flexible.
Once we found the right material, we are now in the process of changing our screens to the proper kind.
The soft, greenhouse kind, that can be also used on the ground, just is not as good, is half the price at least from the real geotextile for ground stabilizing uses.
Do go around to the different places that sell that stuff, landscapers/garden stores, awning companies some of those, also Home Depot and Lowes may have some of that and see the differences yourself.
https://www.growtivation.com/woven-vs-non-woven-geotextile-fabric-best
https://www.usfabricsinc.com/geotextileapplications/drivewayfabricgeotextile
I work for a building materials company specifically in landscape material sales and deal with some fabric for our contractors. Not all landscape fabric is created equal, but generally speaking I would think a heavy duty woven fabric would be ideal for mud control. Typically it is used for soil separation or erosion control. Most would have a high water flow rate-so that should work well. If you are able to compact/roll the dirt in the area you want to control mud, then lay the fabric down, then put aggregate down and lime you should be able to create a pretty mud free area. It would help keep the aggregate from getting pushed down into the mud. But like Bluey said, it needs to be a certain strength and grade to really be effective. Does it have the wrapping on it still? Most companies have the specs for each on their website for specific use.
I would think a spunbound/non woven would not have the strength for this-typically those are used for general landscape fabric in gardens, behind retaining walls to keep rock/dirt from going through, etc.
Hope this helps!
No packaging on it unfortunately… they used some to build a foundation under a shed and are giving me the rest of the roll.
It kinda looks like a giant black tarp and has some green lines on it here and there (cutting lines maybe?) It isn’t super thick or anything.
Yes we would ne compacting the dirt umderneath and cover with drainrock/gravel 
Those were interesting, thank you.
OP, why not take a piece of what you have with you and go ask landscaping and hardware companies, see what they can tell you you have and what is good for?
We have some black material we bought at Home Depot to use in our garden long ago that has green lines in it you can cut the different lengths by.
I wonder if that is what you have?
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