Choosing from Rocks or Mulch for your Yard

Spring is just around the corner which means many people are starting to think about their landscaping goals for this season. One of the most basic, yet important, parts of great landscaping is the ground cover that you use. You can choose rocks or mulch to make your garden, landscaping, or other areas in your yard look amazing, but which one is best for you?

It is hard to decide because both stone and organic mulch can provide a pop of color to your landscaping and make your yard look very distinctive from the neighbors. Basically, the decision of whether or not to use rock or mulch in your landscaping is a personal preference. In this article, we will explore the pros and cons of each one so that you can make an informed decision as to which one would be better for you to use in your landscaping.

Pros and Cons of Mulch

You can opt for organic mulch or more mainstream mulch that is sold at department stores for your landscaping. It comes in several different shades for you to choose from and it is cheaper to purchase initially. Typically, it costs about a dollar per square foot and you can lay it yourself if you so choose to do so. It is made of organic material, so it is a great insulator that will protect your trees and flowers from fluctuations in temperature throughout the season. It also acts as a great barrier against the evaporation of water, which can help the soil in your landscaping retain water longer. This is great during drought conditions or very hot summers with little rain. Mulch can also help reduce the number of weeds in your garden since it can help stop them from germinating if you lay it early enough in the spring.

When it comes to the cons of mulch, it can deteriorate and its color fades over time since it is organic. This is because many times it is exposed to a high level of sunlight. This means you will have to replace it every year or every other year. Also, since March weighs much less than stone, it can blow away when there are high winds or it can be washed away if your area experiences flooding or very heavy rains throughout the summer.

Pros and Cons of Rocks

Rocks are a great option when it comes to landscaping, even though they are more expensive than mulch. To purchase stone for your garden, ground cover around trees, or landscaping, it’s going to cost you about $2 per square foot. This is double the cost of mulch, but you don’t have to replace it very often. This is due to the fact that rocks will not blow away in the wind and will not be washed away by flooding. They will stay put during the most extreme weather conditions, even throughout the winter months, and they retain their color. Rocks are the best choice if you do not want much maintenance to do in the future.

The downside of stone is that it absorbs and holds heat, which can raise the temperature of the soil beneath the stone in your landscaping areas. Certain stones can even reflect heat back to the areas around them. What this means is you’ll need to water your plants that are surrounded by rocks much more frequently than the ones that are surrounded by mulch. You may also find it harder to keep your house cool since there will be ambient heat around your home from the landscaping stone.

Contact Us

If you want your landscaping to give you the best curb appeal on the block, you can consult with the amazing team at Siouxland Sod. They can even hook you up with their top-quality landscaping company, J-Lan Lawn Services, who can get the job done for you, so you can simply relax and enjoy your beautiful yard. Call today for more information!