Skip the cloth and just use mulch. Landscape fabric/weed cloth is really not very efficient at controlling weeds at all and when fresh weed seeds blow in - as they will - removing them as they grow roots through the cloth becomes a weeding nightmare.

A decently thick layer of mulch - at least 3-4 inches - will provide very good weed control all on its own. Nothing will ever prevent weeds - they will even grow in cracks in concrete - so periodic maintenance and weeding will be required. Stay on top of it and it will not develop into a problem.

Thank you. Do you think pine straw or bark mulch would provide better weed prevention?

I would use pine straw or as a second choice shredded mulch. I have found that the nuggets, large or small, float away in the rain. The landscape fabric works for only a short time. Then the roots and weeds come up and the seeds sprout and go down. Then you have an awful mess to pull, cut, and dig out. Including poison ivy, trumpet vine, and Virginia creeper. Not to mention privet, tree of heaven, and princess tree.

It is much easier to weed without the fabric. Ask me how I know, lol.

ETA: If you have a source for leaf mulch, use that first, then the topping. You can keep adding every year.

Mulch does not prevent weeds, it helps control weeds. Pine straw and bark mulch are both good- if used in a decently thick layer like garden gal suggests. You still need to pull weeds out of mulch, but if you keep up on that it should be far less weeding in general. Make sure you apply fresh mulch as needed to keep the layer deep since mulch breaks down too.

It doesn't matter what kind of mulch you use. As long as applied thickly enough, any mulch will have a similar weed suppressing effect. Personally, I'd just use whatever is plentiful and inexpensive in your area.

Thank you all--this is very helpful.