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Landscaping with stones instead of mulch


Using rocks instead of mulch: the versatile alternative |

(Image credit: GettyImages)

Thinking of using rocks instead of mulch in your garden? This naturalistic technique is amongst the most effective ways to control some weeds and improve drainage, and its natural aesthetic will accentuate almost all spaces instantly. 

If you're looking for a timeless way to elevate your rock garden ideas – whether that is in terms of landscaping or plant health – using rocks instead of mulch may be the solution you desire. Here's what the experts want you to know before bringing this organic material into your exteriors. 

Using rocks instead of mulch – 3 benefits of this stylish alternative 

This method is a favorite amongst the experts, but its benefits extend beyond its style – here’s how rocks can improve your garden, fast.

(Image credit: GettyImages)

1. Rocks are the aesthetic alternative

While the advantages of using rocks instead of mulch are not limited to its good looks, it's still a great place to start.  

'In a garden, garden rock creates a sharp, clean look. It contrasts nicely with the rich textures of the plants, unlike mulch,' explains Zaeem Chaudhary, an Architectural Draftsman at AC Design Solutions .  Every type of stone has different benefits to improve your garden landscaping ideas – whether you choose pebbles or crushed gravel – that are particularly popular choices in the garden. 

'Crushed gravel, for example, is a popular choice for paths because, unlike other hardscaping options, it has a natural feel. It can also be used to create a natural border across walks and garden bed ideas,' Zaeem says.

The architecture expert suggests creating a 'zen portion of the landscape' by also using sand that can act as an alternative to water. 

2. Rocks are a durable solution

While mulch is described as a 'porous material' that degrades over time, rocks will stand the test of time. 

'Rock is [strong enough to survive] rain and wind and heavy enough even to stay put even in the face of powerful winds and storms,' Zaeem says. After laying rocks in your garden, they have no defined lifespan and, as the expert suggests, care is simple. He recommends scrubbing the area occasionally to ensure the pebbles look fresh throughout the seasons. 

(Image credit: GettyImages)

3. Impact weed control and drainage

In some cases, using rocks instead of mulch can promote better drainage in your garden and control weeds. But you do need to use this method carefully.  

'Mulch retains excess water, resulting in unattractive puddles that can lead to root disease and plant death. On hot days, the liquid evaporates quickly, producing too dry conditions; nonetheless, rock maintains a comfortable balance,' Zaeem explains. 'It helps drainage by preventing extra water from being absorbed by the ground beneath it, while also providing shade on hotter days to keep the soil moist.'

However, if you're looking at how to get rid of weeds above the stones, this method may not help. Tim Sheppard from Soil Shepherds warns that while weed fabric may stop the seeds currently on the ground, it does not consider all weed seeds that will be deposited on top of the rocks.  So, if you're looking to get rid of all weeds, you may need to rely on another tactic.  

Whatever your reasons for using rocks instead of mulch, this alternative has benefits that will work in every garden – and we expect it will stay in style for many more seasons to come. 

Megan is the News and Trends Editor at Homes & Gardens. She first joined Future Plc as a News Writer across their interiors titles, including Livingetc and Real Homes. As the News Editor, she often focuses on emerging microtrends, sleep and wellbeing stories, and celebrity-focused pieces. Before joining Future, Megan worked as a News Explainer at The Telegraph, following her MA in International Journalism at the University of Leeds. During her BA in English Literature and Creative Writing, she gained writing experience in the US while studying in New York. Megan also focused on travel writing during her time living in Paris, where she produced content for a French travel site. She currently lives in London with her antique typewriter and an expansive collection of houseplants. 

Landscaping with Rocks, Rock Vs Mulch and Landscaping Ideas

Landscaping with rocks instead of mulch is easy and is something you won’t have to replace year after year. Learn what we think about mulch vs. rock, the cost of our river rock flower beds and see how we mixed in rock and mulch landscaping in our front yard.

If you are new here, we have just under an acre of land and we have a ton of flower beds. We’ve lived in this house for ten years now and have learned a thing or two in regards to what works with all the trees that we have and landscaping with rocks and mulch.

See more of our dry creek including all the pricing!

With all of our landscaping beds, the biggest takeaway to having a prettier, manicured lawn but with less investment each year is to choose to go with rock flower beds when you can.

I want to share more about the landscaping river rock that we installed along the backyard patio including the cost and process. Our patio has seen a few updates over the course of time we’ve lived here including the patio spruce-up and projects like the DIY Scrap wood rolling planter. We’ve wanted to be able to use the space but also, haven’t ever invested much into how it looks on the actual concrete pad (maybe someday!).

All of that being said, when the season starts to change and we want to be outside more, we want it to look decent. The mulch flower beds were always showing tons of weeds and always needed more mulch to look nice. But, I forget myself… let’s chat about our decision of using rocks instead of mulch and what that entailed.

Mulch or Rocks?

Our Backyard Patio Story

A few years ago, we spruced up the back patio landscaping beds with mulch. Actually, we spruced up all our flower beds with mulch. They all looked great. But, at over $600 in mulch to get all the areas looking nice, it was just too much. It would have been ok if that $600 lasted a few years, but really the mulch in our area needs to be done yearly.

We have tons of trees on our property and on the property all around us. So, between the branches and leaves that constantly fall, we are out there with a leaf blower trying to keep the spaces cleared. Well, the leaf blower not only takes care of the leaves but it also moves the mulch around. So, about six months after we put in all that mulch – it was looking pretty bad.

Luke and I finally came to the realization that we just couldn’t keep up with all the flower bed areas and we had to start making some changes. One of the changes we made was to replace all the mulch around the patio with river rocks and, possibly, all the flower beds with rocks instead of mulch. I had seen some river rock flower beds online and thought they looked nice. I knew from experience, in our past house, that landscaping river rock would stay much better than mulch, so we decided to go for it.

*Affiliate links below. Thanks for supporting this blog. Click to read my privacy and disclosure statement.

How to Make Rock Flower Beds

My step-brother and I put in the rock flower beds a few years ago and it’s been working well for us. I wanted to wait a bit to share because I wanted to give my honest opinion on the mulch vs. rock look. I felt like I really needed to see how the river rock looked over time before reporting back.

How Much Does a Flower Bed Cost?

The landscape area around our patio is pretty large. I think it took about 20 bags of river rock. The total for this project came to around $175.

In hindsight, it would have been cheaper to grab river rock by the truckload instead of the bags. I was just eye-balling the bags and we used way more than I expected to use.

Since doing do this project, we’ve done front yard river rock landscaping and I thought I’d answer a few questions about both projects.

How to Prepare Rock Rock Landscaping?

Clean out your existing flower bed, lay landscape cloth and add rocks to the flower bed. It’s that easy.

Do we prefer landscape with mulch or rock?

Fresh mulch is truly beautiful but it starts to look dingy pretty soon after it’s put down. For the ease and longterm aesthetics, I prefer to landscape with rocks BUT will say that I do think when you can incorporate a bit of landscaping with rock and mulch.. that’s the sweet spot.

Overall, we are definitely glad we chose to landscape with the rocks instead of the mulch around the patio. It has helped the patio stay cleaner and more put together and, in the long-run, it will be much cheaper. If you want to see more of our patio, then make sure to check out our home tour!

Now, let me show you the front yard and how we used gardening rocks for added curb appeal.

Front Yard Landscaping Ideas with Rocks and Mulch

It’s hard to understand how long and big our driveway is and the the landscaping beds that run along it. It’s big, you’ll just have to trust me (this photo cuts off about half way down the driveway). We had a retaining wall built with a flagstone patio on top and a river rock bed (with flat rocks which I love) coming out from underneath it. The dry rock creek really changed our front yard landscaping and added a great focal point to the front of our house. I love how easy the rock is to care for. I think this space really shows how landscaping with rocks and mulch works because all-rock would have been too much rock.

Front Yard Flower Bed Ideas

Check out my Pinterest board for more inspiration.

Overall, I think when you are considering the whole rock vs mulch situation, just weigh what you personally love, what investment you are willing to put in (time and money) and how you want the space to age.

Active Time 4 hours

Total Time 4 hours

Difficulty Easy

Estimated Cost $175

Materials

Tools

Instructions

  1. Start the flower bed by ripping out all the old plants if there are some plants you aren't keeping
  2. Rake off excess old mulch
  3. Add landscape fabric under rocks. Hammer in landscaping pins (if using) about every 12"
  4. Place your plants on the landscape fabric to determine placement
  5. Once you have determined plant placement, cut into fabric and plant
  6. Dump river rock for landscaping and spread out

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.

Bark mulching or rock filling? Advantages and disadvantages! |

Topsoil adds beauty and health to your garden. Mulching with rock or organic fill keeps the ground warm and moist. Prevents the growth of weeds.

Old school gardeners prefer open ground as a way to grow their garden naturally. Keeping up with the times, site owners know about the benefits of mulch firsthand. The main advantage of the coating remains the suppression of weeds that interfere with the growth of the roots of the planted plants. Competing with them for natural resources. nine0003


There are 2 main types of mulch. organic and artificial. We recommend reading about it in a separate article on our website.

5-10 cm backfill creates an extra layer on top of the soil. Maintains a favorable microclimate for beneficial microorganisms. Feeding and development of the root system. By covering the surface of the earth, you protect fertile soil from erosion, retaining the nutrients that plants need.

Decorative stone filling

Covering the soil with stone is used in landscaping and maintenance work. There are 7 basic materials for decorating the site:

Pre-prepared filling helps to zone - visually highlight certain areas. Reduce labor costs for maintaining the beauty and health of the garden. nine0003

For example, marble is used in rose gardens, fountains, alpine slides. White and colored chips are ideal for garden paths. Large stones are suitable for a dry stream, a small pond. The ways of using decorative stone in design are limited only by the imagination of a specialist.

What is stone mulch?

Filling with small stones is actively used in horticulture and horticulture. The most popular varieties are crushed stone, pumice (other substrates), gravel. Mulch differs in appearance and compound characteristics. The main advantages of stones are beauty and durability. However, they do not enrich the nutrient medium of the soil. Let's talk about the benefits in more detail. nine0003

Consistent and unpretentious

Stone mulch is reliable. Does not require regular maintenance. It is not subject to decay, decay. Not consumed by slugs and rodents for food. The stone does not need to be watered, dug up or mowed. Dumping practically does not lose color, is not afraid of moisture, frost and drying. The desire to “put it and forget it” is the main motivation for gardeners using this material for mulching.

Cost savings on course

From the point of view of investing in the beauty and health of the garden, backfilling with decorative stone saves money for the future. It provides reliable protection of plants from weeds, soil from freezing or drying out without the need to change the material.

For example, tree bark enriches the soil and nourishes the root system through natural decomposition. Despite the benefits of organics in horticulture and a noticeable difference in the cost of the material, stones pay off faster at a distance. Mulch should be changed or refilled twice a year. Stones are laid once and almost forever. nine0003

Sustainability

The material is ideal for zoning the site. Design of paths, dumping around trees, lawns. Environmentally friendly mulch is ideal for lawns. The stone does not take moisture and does not require additional care. It is pleasant to walk on it without fear of spoiling the soil cover.

Beauty

Rare landscape design without stones. To decorate the local area, use:

Due to their enviable strength and unpretentiousness, the stones are suitable for paving paths and driveways. Visual division of the territory into sections. Large boulders form rockeries and flower beds. Backfilling with decorative stone around flower beds and trees looks expensive and spectacular. Zoning allows the use of several breeds for the play of color, the selection of even and curly lines.

The main disadvantage of the stone remains the relatively high cost, along with the available larch or pine bark, free leaves and grass clippings. The material does not supply the soil with nutrients. It is easier for weeds to germinate through large stones. nine0003

Bark mulch

Organic cover keeps moisture in the soil. Helps retain heat without the risk of drying out. During the natural decomposition process, the mulch provides the root system of plants with additional elements. Microorganisms useful for fertilizing and loosening the soil use organic matter as food. Let's talk about the benefits of bark for mulching in more detail.

Less start-up costs

Along with rocks and inorganic mulch, organics make spring gardening faster and cheaper. The bark, depending on the fraction and volume, is distinguished by an affordable price. Does not require additional backfilling for 6-12 months. nine0003

By retaining moisture in the ground, the frequency of watering and the amount of water used are reduced. Based on the advantages of "live" mulching, small costs will pay off with the enviable beauty and health of your site.

Soil microclimate

The bark protects the earth from overheating in summer, early spring and late autumn frosts. Maintains optimal temperature, retains moisture and prevents evaporation. Controls soil acidity. Due to the activation of microorganisms and earthworms, the soil is loosened and saturated with oxygen. nine0003

Weed control

Mulch prevents the growth of weeds that compete with plants for nutrients and root space. Caring for a garden is easier when the soil is covered with a layer of bark. Annual weeds will never grow through it. Years will have to work hard.

One of the main advantages of organic mulch is also a disadvantage. The bark is subject to decomposition, eaten by insects and microorganisms. nine0003

In the process of decay, it gives the soil elements useful for the development of plants. The thickness of the layer and the amount of mulch are reduced, requiring additional maintenance. At least twice a year, the gardener should pay attention to backfilling the bark.

Which material is best?

We considered two options for soil mulching. Use of decorative stone or bark. What's better? You will have to answer this question yourself. On the one hand, it attracts ease of care and comparative advantage at a distance. On the other hand, an enviable saturation of the soil with oxygen, moisture and useful substances. nine0003

Green-Yard has been providing landscaping, landscaping and gardening services for over 13 years. We offer bark of our own production and buy stone only from trusted suppliers.

Regardless of the choice of materials, living in Rostov-on-Don and the region, you know who to contact.

Call Green Yard +7 988 998-69-96 or fill out the simple form at the bottom of the page. For you consultation and departure of a specialist - for free!

Mulch, needles and decorative stones

Mulch, needles and decorative stones | PositiveProject

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Mulch, pine needles, decorative stones will complete the design of your future garden. Each of these materials creates its own unique look of the site. With new trees, bushes, flowers planted, and small architectural forms installed, now is the time to put the finishing touches on your project. It is important to know and understand the differences between these three materials. nine0003

Mulch is very popular nowadays and is available on the market in a wide range. Natural materials have many advantages. Mulch will help create both a formal and informal look. The first step is to decide which type of mulch is best for you. There are three main types of grinding - depending on the number of times the mulch passes through the machine (1,2 or 3). One of the best grinding materials is tree bark. The more layers of shredded wood you place on the ground, the better quality mulch you will achieve. Professionals recommend doing at least two layers. As for various pests, well-chopped wood does not pose any danger. And yet, you should study the specification for the materials purchased for grinding. nine0003

Color is also an important factor. Hardwood - light or dark brown. In cedar, it is in red, orange tones. By the way, when using cedar wood, keep in mind that manufacturers often add dyes to it. Such mulch can stain your path or lawn. Look at the colors of your home's cladding - brick, siding, wood shutters. What color goes well with all the elements of the house?

One of the best places to use mulch is in the playground. Although this is quite expensive. The materials used here are of high quality and very well ground. Many modern kindergartens use such mulch when creating playgrounds. Shredded coniferous wood is at the same time quite popular, largely due to its durability. As time passes, the mulch loses its color and needs to be renewed. They are held every six months or once a year. nine0003

Pine needles make you feel like you are in nature - for example, in some forest. It is sold in bundles. Usually one such bunch is enough to cover a strip of 12-18 m. 15 cm wide. Needles are easier to use than mulch, but over time it also needs to be updated - 1-2 times a year. Needles create a fairly acidic environment, and this can be of great benefit when growing some types of plants (for example, azaleas in the south love coniferous litter). If coniferous trees grow nearby, collect and use their needles on your site. Prices for needles vary depending on your geographic location, and range anywhere from $2 to $4 per bunch. You have a huge advantage if you live near a coniferous forest where needles naturally accumulate on the ground. The needles are safe for buildings, children or animals. But be careful - from time to time, pieces of climbing plants come across in bunches among the needles. The use of gloves is recommended. After all, as you may know, birds and other small animals use pine needles to create their nests. nine0003

In general, if you are creating a calming landscape and want to feel like walking in a forest among the trees, then needles are a great solution for you.

Decorative stones are the third way to complete your project. They usually measure 2 - 7 cm in diameter and come in a variety of colors. Decorative stones give an official look to your garden. This material is much more durable than needle mulch. The stones are sold in packs in nurseries, horticultural pavilions and large flower shops. In some of them you can order a truck. Depending on the size of your project, stones will be delivered to you (usually the minimum delivery is from half a ton of stones). Ordering a truck is a good solution for delivering stones to your home and will cost you $20-$40. If your site is well lit by the sun, be careful when laying absolutely white stones in the beds, because the white color reflects the sun's rays very well. Partially or completely shaded stones create an excellent impression. It might be a great idea for you to use rocks in certain beds and mulch or needles in others. Stone also looks good around trees, when decorating bird feeders, sundial, outdoor flower pots, ponds and pools. nine0003

Pebbles are also widely used. These flat pebbles are small in size and are convenient for creating paths.

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