Hi,
I need a little help on what I should put here. I'm going to lay a cardboard foundation to help with weed control, but I'm torn what I should put on it. I was set on black mulch a few days ago, but then I saw a neighbor had decorative rocks thought it looked really nice. Wanted to get some thoughts and opinions of what I should lay here. If you're thinking rocks, what kind(s) should I put here?
I have some edging that I plan to install this weekend. Glad to provide follow-up pics once I decide and put everything down.
Thanks!
by Icy-Abbreviations825
8 Comments
If your going to do mulch just give it 2-3 inches of depth at the concrete fling the dirt to the back rake it out walk on it … add 3 inches of mulch DO NOT use fabric or cardboard….. itll end up being a pain in the ass mulch is a natural weed barrier…
Stone is really difficult to remove should you change your mind. The cardboard won’t last forever, so any weeds that come through are going to be deep and hard to pull. Mulch also helps with water management.
Go ahead and thank yourself for not putting down landscape fabric.
Mulch. What are those plants going to look like when fully grown?
I did my buddies area. Dug 2 inches. Places GOOD weed barrier, and tossed wood chippy mulch on top till leveled. When grass or weeds pop up. I rake off most of the wood chips. Lift the barrier like I’m taking the fitted sheets off the bed and all the weeds pop out.
Collect the weeds. Push the wood back on and done.
If you do pebbles/rocks. You can use a flame thrower like the pyro uses on ”team fortress 2” to burn the weeds. Though to might have scorch marks any white rocks.
Or you can use weed killer and make sure no one (kids)ever plays in those rocks
Urinal
OP mulch is the way to go. Improves soil health over time, and lots of crap gets into rock over time and you still get weeds in it even with landscape fabric.
I’d be cautious about putting mulch on the brick tho. I might put down 2 inches of mulch but taper way down as you get close to the brick. Mulch helps hold moisture, and you don’t want brick being moist over long periods it will damage it.
Depending on how shady it is and what your soil is like, could you plant some ground cover? That could keep the moisture in and be pretty low maintenance
As someone that has done landscaping I do have to partially go against some thoughts on not using landscaping fabric. If you are going to use gravel/rock then definitely use fabric but not the cheap one, pay for a good longstanding one as it does not fall apart after a few years. By not using it the gravel/rock will start to mix with your soil and be a mess down the road. Plus if you ever want to remove the gravel it will make life a lot easier.
If you go with mulch do not use fabric, cardboard is optional as long as you do it thick enough. You also will need to add more over the years as it will decompose and some will drift away with water and wind.
If you want something super low maintenance there is a polymer you can use with a fine gravel to lock it in place that allows water and air to pass through.
If you get lots of moisture you might consider a ground cover to help keep the area from staying too wet.
One other thing to consider is as your evergreens mature they will do some shedding. Think about what’s going to be best for you on cleaning up any of that falling into your bedding material.