Landscaping: Rock vs. Mulch vs. ??

[JohnN]

Experience, Opinions, Etc. welcome as I ponder whether to use river rock, some other rock, or a plant based material (mulch, bark, etc) or something else (ie: ground up tires)

Situation: Patio Villa, Budget minded, wanted LOW (read as NO) maintenance.
Will get to the plants another time, just wanting to firm up the foundation.

Initial thoughts - rock - costlier but long lasting, doesn't retain moisture for bugs, not weed friendly.

Mulch, if used, would be less expensive initially, but likely would have to be eucalyptus or cypress (not good to use cypress, is it? cypress folks say it's endangered) to deter bugs.

What do you think?

[784caroline]

The other factors against rock is that 1) rock retains heat,2) more labor insensive to haul and spread, and 3) During the tornado, the small rocks were actually propelled by the winds and acted as bullets smashing through windows and siding

[Lil Dancer]

We used rubber mulch at our patio villa. It is obviously more expensive than plant mulch, but we liked the looks, and it should last a long time. You have to put it in thick enough.

[JohnN]

Here's an interesting Consumer Reports link on rubber vs. plant mulch...

https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/home-garden/lawn-garden/outdoor-living/mulch-rubber-vs.-wood-/mulch-rubber-vs-wood-506/overview/index.htm

[gemorc]

If you are going to have plants, by all means, use mulch. The purpose of mulch is to retain moisture for the plants. Insecticides can be used to control the insects.

If you want a purely decorative look then you could use stone. Besides the heat and blowing features mentioned above, rock is very labor intensive.

[barb1191]

I had rubber mulch put in and eventually had it taken out. I found it to be very messy as the rubber bits ended up on the lawn and pavements. Figured that critters running around during the night must have had something to do with the spread of the rubber bits. Then went to rock. .....b

PS: Someone in our neighborhood also had rubber and had it removed for the same reason.

[784caroline]

Another isssue with wood mulch is "Termites"/ If you dont have them now you will eventually!

[Laura]

We had mulch, took it all out. It blows around with a little wind, attracts termites and spiders. We have rocks now and are very happy with them. Also, the mulch just disappears after a while.

[F16 1UB]

Our mulch is coming out. Looks awful. Rock going in. As for plants a landscaper can install drip line for your plants. Ask DickY.

F16

[Donna]

F16.. :agree: I hate looking at mulch, pine staw and all that other stuff they use..

[travelstiles]

HB and I attended the garden club meeting this week and the cooperative extension repesentative was the guest speaker (Jim Davis). In terms of rock vs mulch, some considerations discussed were:
- rock & stone retain heat and draw water from the soil, so any plants surrounded by rock would need more frequent watering
- mulch too close to a house is not a good idea because of termites.
- allow a 6" border of rock (no mulch) around the house foundation
- rubber also holds the heat
- mulch retains more moisture
- mulch needs to be replenished annually, and turned over as well
- pine bark and straw is economical and used by TV in their landscaping
- keep mulch 3-4" from the base of a tree

If any of you have specific gardening questions, you can contact Jim Davis at the cooperative extension office located on 466 and Morse in the sherrif's building. They have some reference materials as well. Some good websites suggested:

http://floridayards.org/
http://www.ufl.edu/
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/

[Donna]

Travel,
Are there any places to buy lanscape rock and have it trucked in?? I think it would be cheaper than buying it from the landscapers...

[JohnN]

Donna, barefoot at last knows a lot about this topic, she suggested
Zach Andrews at Have Rock will Roll 352-274-5635 for rock only and reasonable prices.
Also says a place called Dirt Cheap on 441 is the source for all the rock around here.

[JohnN]

travel , and others, good tips, thanks

[Donna]

Thanks guys...great info.. :bigthumbsup:

[travelstiles]

Donna,
Not sure where to get rock or stone, but you can check with the cooperative extension office in Sumter Landing at the county office on 466 and Morse - Jim Davis. He may be able to answer your questions and is very helpful.
Travel

[Barefoot]

Donna, barefoot at last knows a lot about this topic, she suggested Zach Andrews at Have Rock will Roll 352-274-5635 for rock only and reasonable prices. Also says a place called Dirt Cheap on 441 is the source for all the rock around here.

Donna, just to confirm what JohnN said: I was told that Dirt Cheap on 441 North of the Villages (east side) supplies all the landscapers with rock, and then they sell it to you. So I went there to choose my rock. They have a vast selection and it helps to go there and view all the piles of rock when you are making a decision. They have some really neat choices.

Instead of using a landscaper to deliver and install the rock, I used Zack at Have Rock will Roll. He is a nice young man, did a great job, and it was less expensive than having a landscaper do it.

I much prefer rock instead of mulch. I think it looks nicer, discourages termites in the area close to the house, and lasts forever.

[renielarson]

We had pine mulch and took it out. The zoysia grass/weeds invaded the mulch and I was spending hours upon hours doing nothing but pulling it out. Enough was enough.

We hired a landscaper (don't know the name because my hubby took charge of that). We had a mesh barrier laid on top of the soil then about a 3-4 inch layer of rock. It has been the most wonderful blessing I could have wished for.

Although the grass and some weeds still creep in, it's limited to the area that abuts the concrete and to the "holes" where the plants are. It's a breeze to keep "weeded"/"degrassed" and I would recommend rock in a heartbeat.

[Donna]

Barefoot..Thanks so much..I will go there next week..I will also call Zack, is he in the phone book???

Maybe I should have the landscapers remove the pine straw, an do the plantings, then call in the curbing peeps, then Zack to add the rock...

Does that order sound right..LOL

I had curbing done here at my Villa, the man did a great job..I tend tho think the landscapers are charging more to curb the beds..

Any thoughts???

[Barefoot]

Donna, barefoot at last knows a lot about this topic, she suggested
Zach Andrews at Have Rock will Roll 352-274-5635 for rock only and reasonable prices. Also says a place called Dirt Cheap on 441 is the source for all the rock around here.

Donna, above is Zack's phone number. He is a nice young guy and will tell you the directions to Dirt Cheap so you can pick your rock.

[travelstiles]

In my earlier post I forgot to mention that the speaker at the garden club recommended using the mesh fabric rather than plastic sheeting under mulch or rocks to minimize weed growth and retain moisture as well.

[Donna]

Thanks again guys.. :bigthumbsup:

[Sidney Lanier]

Not thrilled with the mulch and wood chips that our home came with that we're living with for now (and even adding to), but I do remember the emphasis on considering that rock retains heat, especially in the summer, that is not good for the plants. For what it's worth....

[Ceevee]

In the original post wasn't a name mentioned for putting in the plants.? I think it was posted by Graciegirl and I intended to keep it but well...
....I can't find it.

Thanks

[Hyacinth Bucket]

Another organic way of keeping weeds prior to putting down mulch or rock is thick layers of newspaper. We have done this for years and where we put it down there are no weeks, where we put the mesh down there some weeds.

The lecture that Travel and I attended was extremely formative and well presented.

HB

[Hyacinth Bucket]

Hi, I accidentally deleted an email I received. The question was about the Lawn and Garden service that we have.

We do not have a contract with her for any of the services she does. When we are in TV we do, what she normally does.

There are no annual contracts for weeding - cost is $10 per month

Pest control is $20 per month

Pruning, trimming and clean up is billed at $40 per hour, but you are charged in 15 minute increments.

Fertilizer application is based on actual quantities used.

They all sell trees and plants. I found the cost of there plants lower than in some of the nurseries I visited while in TV.

Fernview Farm - Sandra and James Harrison
352 245 7905 email fernviewnursery@aol.com

i think she has been invited to speak this November at the Garden Clubs - one in Hacienda Center.

Hope this helps.

HB