I hate to rain on your parade, but I've read a lot of awful reports on the results of landscape fabric. I've never used it myself though. Others report that plants and weeds can grow through it and then it's nearly impossible to remove. And if someday you do decide to plant something deep-rooted, the fabric might be a problem. I think I'd try cardboard or newsprint instead of landscape fabric.

I would think that enough soil on top would control flies and/or odor.

Good luck with your project.

Karen

I've read that putting unfinished compost materials right in the soil will take nitrogen away from the plants as the soil works to decompose that stuff. I was going to do exactly that idea, but with leaves and I changed my mind-working in only fully composted material into my soil.

good luck!

Mamacotti, whatever you do, DO NOT USE LANDSCAPE FABRIC - unless you plan to NEVER plant anything there. Several forums I visit regularly have had visitors who've complained about the difficulty of trying to plant if it's on the soil or even under the soil a foot deep. I have had to cut continually to plant everything because I inherited the stuff. It is for lazy people who don't care about having good soil (because you can't topdress well and you can't till and you can't dig so the soil never gets aerated). And kqcrna's comment about weeds growing on top is true - weed seeds will be carried by wind and sprout right on top of it. It's the most worthless crap on earth. Use layers of paper or cardboard, then mulch. Or just mulch.

Westy