Mulch is usually based upon your personal preference. What do you like the look of? Read below the pros and cons of common groundcover types.
Rocks
Pros
Cost efficient. While they might be expensive upfront, because you don’t have to continuously replenish, they end up being cheaper in years to come.
Low maintenance. You almost never need to replace them.
Wind/ rain resistant. They do not move around during heavy winds, rains, or leaf blowing.
Less weeds. Rocks can keep away weeds longer.
Dry beds. Perfect for succulents or cacti, or having a xeriscape!
Cons
No nutrition. Rocks do not add any nutritional benefits to the soil for your plants. Some- like limestone- may even alter the ph in a negative way.
Too hot. Rocks heat up rapidly and do not have good water retention.
Removal. They are not easy to remove and can be a tedious task if you want them out of your yard.
Mulch
Pros
Less water. Mulch has great water retention which means you can water less and save money!
More nutrients. As the bark or wood breaks down, nutrients are added into the soil, benefiting your plants for years to come.
Temperature control. Mulch will keep plants warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
Cons
Replacement. To keep your yard looking good, you’ll need to replace once – twice a year. Keep in mind, you might want to remove old layers entirely as having too much mulch can start causing issues for your plants. There shouldn’t be more than a 2-3″ layer of mulch around your trees and shrubs.
Weeds. Mulch can house different weeds, and wind blown/ dropped seeds can easily take root in mulch.
