Should I Landscape With Rocks Or Mulch?

When you finish planting new flowers, shrubs, and trees, you need to bring a final touch - this is where mulch comes in. Mulch makes your outdoor space appear polished and clean. Is it essential what type of mulch you use? Should you perhaps use stones instead? Below are the pros and cons of having a landscape with rocks or mulch.

Pros and Cons of Mulch (the organic kind)

Pros

• Healthier Growth: With mulch, plants and trees grow twice as much. You can get organic mulch from any Rochester stump grinding service.
• More Nutrients: As mulch decomposes, it adds nutrients that plants need to grow.
• Less Water: Mulch lessens water evaporation, so you spend less money on your water bill.
  

Cons

• Yearly Replacement: Based on your mulch type, you’ll have to replenish it every four years. So, it’s a regular expense.
• Too Much: Putting on a layer of mulch stresses out plants.
• Too Late: Mulch stops weeds from growing. If you mulch too late, it might not stop them as much.
• Seed Check: Some mulches might have weed seeds in them (i.e., hay and pine bark).

Pros and Cons of Using Rocks in Your Landscape

Pros

• Weed-Free: Rocks can keep weeds at bay for a long time.
• Little Maintenance: You practically never need to replace them.
• Lower Cost: Since they last a long time, it is usually less costly to use rocks in your landscape.
• Wind-Resistant: Rocks are ideal at stopping soil erosion.
  

Cons

• Too Hot: Rocks increase the soil temps, creating thirsty and stressed plants.
• No Benefits: Rocks don’t aid in soil health or plant growth.
• Nasty pH: Most trees like acidic soil. However, rocks produce alkaline soil which hurt trees.
• Weeds Come Back: Wind will ultimately blow soil between rocks, making a place for weeds to thrive.
• Not Pruning Friendly: Rocks can hinder revitalization pruning, making unmanageable shrubs.
• By Hand: If you want to get rid of your stones, you have to do it by hand, which can be tiresome.
  

The answer to whether mulch or stone is a better choice for your landscape? Mulch is a better option than stone, however rock is better than no mulch at all.​ Trees and shrubs have moisture requirements, contact a local arborist if you want to find out the needs of the trees in your landscaping.

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