If I use the black weed-stop paper under my plants, will they still spread?

Question

I laid out a small circular perennial flower garden and wonder if the black paper stops the weeds, won't it also stop the flowers from spreading?

Answer 1

it will stop those that spread by seed and any that spread by underground runners.... those that just increase in size like hostas, by adding another to the edge, can be accomodated by cutting the hole a little bigger.... you could try newspaper.... it will decompose over a year and the seeds or runners could still get thru.... but it would keep the weeds down the year before pretty good.....cover the papers with a nice mulch of compost or finely shredded bark that will become part of the soil , too.... the seeds can still sprout in that.....