ROCK VS. MULCH IN PLANTING BEDS
RONSTICK/ PIXELLS IMAGES
RONSTICK/ PIXELLS IMAGES
Mulch is one of the most helpful additions to your planting beds that you can make. Mulch improves the health of your plants by controlling weeds, preventing soil erosion, retaining moisture and nutrients, and beautifying your garden overall.
This simple component may also save you many hours of garden upkeep by reducing the amount of time you spend watering, weeding, and even fighting pests. This protective barrier can be made up of organic wood fines, bark mulch/wood chips, or a variety of ornamental rock.
Difference Between Rock And mulch
Mulch is made from a wide range of trees, including cypress, cedar, pine, hemlock, and oak.
Double shredded hardwood bark mulch is our go-to mulch at Level Green. We go above and beyond by using dark brown mulch that has been colored. The extra color keeps it lovely and black for longer and prevents it from fading. It’s a little more expensive, but our customers love the deep, black look all year.
Rock mulch is a decorative gravel or rock that ranges in size from pea-size to golf ball-size and is frequently collected from riverbeds.
It comes in a range of sizes, colors, textures, and forms, ranging from porous, lightweight red or black lava rock to beautiful, silky purple or pink quartz gravel mulch.
When to use the rock
We like the look and expense of bark mulch most of the time, as well as the way it breaks down over time to nourish the soil. Mulch made with rocks. When, on the other hand, is rock a good option?
If your home has drainage difficulties, rock is a fantastic mulch option since it allows water to escape rapidly. If you don’t have any plants in your open bed areas, rock is a low-maintenance choice.
Rocks are ideal for high-traffic locations where people are prone to cutting corners. Trampled plants are unsightly, but rocks are resilient.
Rocks offer a wonderful backdrop for a high-impact entry, whether it’s a fountain or a monument.
If you’re a hard-nosed property manager who doesn’t want to mulch, forget it; rock is your thing.
upkeep of the rock
Nothing beats a thick covering of dark brown mulch. It quickly transforms the appearance of your beds.
If only it could keep its good looks. However, this is not the case. Mulch deteriorates and fades over time, so you’ll need to refill it every spring.
To keep it looking new, some Level Green customers replace it twice a year, in the spring and fall.
occasional washing to keep them looking clean and tidy. Over time, you might. Rocks on the other hand, require little maintenance. They may need an want to add a new top layer after they settle
Attractiveness
Enhance the curb appeal of your pathway by mulching and planting flowers. This is purely a question of personal preference in terms of taste and design.
Mulch is a thing for certain individuals, and seeing a load of the rich brown material delivered makes them very pleased. Others prefer the bright, uncluttered appearance of rocks.
A clean, modern atmosphere is created by a bed of pebbles with sharp, square edges accented by contemporary decorative grasses
However, if you want to create curved beds with colorful drifts of annuals and perennials, bark mulch is the way to go.
Cost
The cost of rock is higher than the cost of bark mulch.
The cost of rock mulch varies based on the kind and size, but it is often two to three times the cost of mulch application.
However, unlike bark mulch, it does not decompose and sink into the soil. It does not need to be replaced every year. As a result, you may be able to save money over time.
Rock mulch may not be the greatest choice for your landscaping if your trees shed a lot of leaves and trash, since it collects and adheres in the rocks.
To prevent plants from poking through the rocks, a cloth weed barrier is required beneath them.
To avoid errant pebbles from moving into grass areas, steel edging or a raised concrete barrier is required. The use of edging maintains the appearance of rock beds clean.
Soil preference
Flowers don’t grow well in rock mulched areas, but drought-tolerant plants like succulents do. Because rock beds are inherently warmer than mulch beds, plants must be able to withstand the heat. Before you choose a mulch, think about the type of plants you have.
Durability
Traditional wood fines and bark mulch decomposes over time and has to be replaced every year or two. Wood mulch appears fresh and rich at first, but fades with time, losing the original appeal.
Like wood mulch, rock mulch does not decompose and must be replaced on a regular basis.
The rock will not wash away in heavy rain due to its weight, and its natural hue will remain consistent over time and in all-weather situations.
