Best groundcover for a large flower bed: stone or mulch?

[Jumpem]

Would the mulch do a better job of preventing weeds and grass from growing? Stone seems like it would leave a lot of spaces between them.

 

[iamwiz82]

Wood mulch is better because it decomposes and improves the soil. It's easier to clean up, it also retains water better for the plants.

 

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Wood mulch is better because it decomposes and improves the soil. It's easier to clean up, it also retains water better for the plants.

What would I be cleaning up mulch for?

It is an old flower bed with alot of weeds and grass in it. Do we have to get it pristing before putting mulch down, or will the weeds be killed under it?

 

[0roo0roo]

well later if you want to plant things.. stone if smaller types can mix with soil etc.

its just a matter of thickness, if you got a reasonably thick amount of stone nothings going to grow there.

it doesn't have to be pristine before multching, just remove the big ones, behead the others and they'll have tough going trying to recover.

 

[MustISO]

Weeds will go in anything. You could go with something like crushed marble. There's also a mulch like product made from recycled rubber. It's supposed to last a really long time.

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: Jumpem
Would the mulch do a better job of preventing weeds and grass from growing? Stone seems like it would leave a lot of spaces between them.

mulch is the best way to go if you want to plant flowers or shrubbery as it helps keep moisture in.

you should pull the larger weeds and then turn the soil over before mulching.

on a side note there are some plants that will smother weeds as they grow.

 

[nerp]

Mulch won't kill all weeds. It will help control then and retain moisture, but if there are any seeds in the soil (and likely there are, unless you're using good compost that was created with good heat) they will likely germinate. Just use the mulch and expect to do some weeding here and there. The key is to get the weeds before they seed otherwise you'll never gain the upper hand. And bits of root can be enough for a weed to get going.

 

[nerp]

Here's my technique for starting a flower bed. . . Pick the area that you want to grow flowers then lay down newspaper, about 5-10 pages thick. Make sure you're only using actual newspaper, not the inserts and supplements since those use thicker paper and inks with heavy metals. Regular newspaper uses soy based ink. THen wet the newspaper. THis will do a few things: kill the grass/weeds underneath and eventually break down, building your topsoil.

Then, cover the newspaper with good quality compost, about a foot or so worth. I like growing stuff in raised beds for a number of reasons. Then you can plant your seeds or small flowers. Eventually, the roots will work their way through the newspaper and over time, the ground will soften up underneath and you'll have improved your soil a bit.

This method is easy because it eliminates having to remove the grass and toposil layer and it turns the grass and newspaper into valuable organic material.

 

[nerp]

One last note:

mulch can often increase the acidity of your soil. I'd do some PH tests with your soil and make sure that it's not already high acidity. IF so, you might want to add some limestone to the soil. But most plants like a little acidity so you're probably OK.

 

[0roo0roo]

well most weeds don't have super powers. under a thick layer o f rock they'll die ..or stop coming back after you yank it one more time. they sell plastic sheeting you can put as the base as well. if there are no plants you like near the area you can just douse a stubborn weed with boiling water. its not coming back after that

 

[MrDudeMan]

We have stone all around our yard and you people are nuts if you think weeds can't get through it. There aren't many, but in a few weeks I'm sure I'll be spending some time digging them out. You are going to be dealing with weeds either way so that shouldn't have much influence on your decision.

 

[nerp]

Originally posted by: MrDudeMan
We have stone all around our yard and you people are nuts if you think weeds can't get through it. There aren't many, but in a few weeks I'm sure I'll be spending some time digging them out. You are going to be dealing with weeds either way so that shouldn't have much influence on your decision.

Correct. Consider how quickly grass and arrogant pioneers will take over an abandoned stretch of pavement or basketball court. Those roots are small and easily shredded by hand yet they will drill through rock, turning it to dust. If anything, sone might encourage growth by retaining sun warmth providing a nice warm moist habitat for weeds to germinate.

The best weed control is good compost that has reached a high temperature from the biological processes, which will destroy any seeds. Building beds with this material will nip 90 percent of the problem in the bud.

 

[Oceandevi]

Originally posted by: MrDudeMan
We have stone all around our yard and you people are nuts if you think weeds can't get through it. There aren't many, but in a few weeks I'm sure I'll be spending some time digging them out. You are going to be dealing with weeds either way so that shouldn't have much influence on your decision.

I agree. "Weeds" will grow damn near anywhere. I doubt a few landscape rocks will hinder them. Not that it's hard to fix, but lets not pretend it maintenance free.

 

[0roo0roo]

he doesn't have enough stone. i've got plenty and only in areas that are worn down or the rocks get patchy do weeds ever get through.

 

[SonnyDaze]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Wood mulch is better because it decomposes and improves the soil. It's easier to clean up, it also retains water better for the plants.

This.

I went through this dilemma once. Went with white stone first. Weeds grew through. After a few years decided to go with mulch. Stone is a PITA to remove. Sprayed the flower beds real good with weed killer. Layed down some weed fabric and applied mulch (which is cheaper then stone in the long run). Weeds aren't as persistent but still pop up in a few places.

Each year just add more mulch to it.

 

[natto fire]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
well most weeds don't have super powers. under a thick layer o f rock they'll die ..or stop coming back after you yank it one more time. they sell plastic sheeting you can put as the base as well. if there are no plants you like near the area you can just douse a stubborn weed with boiling water. its not coming back after that

EDIT: re-read your post, you did say most. We have the minority here
Not necessarily. Here in the high desert, weeds most definitely have super powers. They grip to life unlike anyone can comprehend. Some here can take all your suggestions as well as salt water, multiple entire turning and scorching of the soil, and pretty much anything else organic you can throw at it. Even though the "soil" here is extremely alkaline (think like 9-11) and the weather is fairly harsh, there is plenty of weeds here that manage to survive, and absolutely explode when introduced to the good soil we keep around here.

Nerp is definitely on the right track, sounds like good horticultural advice.

 

[MrDudeMan]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
he doesn't have enough stone. i've got plenty and only in areas that are worn down or the rocks get patchy do weeds ever get through.

We have black plastic under a very thick layer of rocks. Weeds still grow.

 

[Newbian]

I use cement but only because it's harder for them to find the bodies then.

 

[meltdown75]

weed barrier and then mulch on top. IMHO

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: nerp
Here's my technique for starting a flower bed. . . Pick the area that you want to grow flowers then lay down newspaper, about 5-10 pages thick. Make sure you're only using actual newspaper, not the inserts and supplements since those use thicker paper and inks with heavy metals. Regular newspaper uses soy based ink. THen wet the newspaper. THis will do a few things: kill the grass/weeds underneath and eventually break down, building your topsoil.

Then, cover the newspaper with good quality compost, about a foot or so worth. I like growing stuff in raised beds for a number of reasons. Then you can plant your seeds or small flowers. Eventually, the roots will work their way through the newspaper and over time, the ground will soften up underneath and you'll have improved your soil a bit.

This method is easy because it eliminates having to remove the grass and toposil layer and it turns the grass and newspaper into valuable organic material.

A foot thick?! 3-4" should be just fine.

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
well most weeds don't have super powers. under a thick layer o f rock they'll die ..or stop coming back after you yank it one more time. they sell plastic sheeting you can put as the base as well. if there are no plants you like near the area you can just douse a stubborn weed with boiling water. its not coming back after that

Weeds have no problem coming up in cracks between rocks. One of my annual fights is the weeds in the gravel driveway.


If it's a new bed, I'd cover it completely with newspapers & put a layer of mulch over it - then leave it alone for a month. After a month, then I'd put in the plants that I wanted. Less overall work that way. Otherwise, you end up having to pull out weeds by hand around the plants you put in. Of course, no matter what you do, you're going to have to pull weeds. The easiest way, long term, is to just pull them out when they're little. Let them go, and establish themselves, and it becomes a pita.