GoodSeed Farm Nursery & Landscaping
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Mulching your landscape with stone can reduce weeding for a few years. Then what?
Published October 4th, 2015
Our garden center sells quite a bit of bulk stone mulch, particularly to landscapers who do commercial projects. Washed river stone of one-inch (pebbles) and two-inch diameter (cobbles) has been popular for many years in places like office parks and fast-food restaurants, because it reduces the need for regular weeding and mulching for the first few years after it’s installed. Personally, I would never use it on my own landscape, however it’s worth a discussion of the pros and cons.
Stone mulch should always be applied over weed barrier fabric. If care is taken to keep it free of organic debris like grass clippings, dirt, leaves, bird droppings etc. it will remain weed-free for several years, and won’t need re-mulching each year like wood mulches. It keeps its color, doesn’t wash onto pavement or lawn areas, and looks quite sharp in certain types of plantings. But is it good for plants?
Let’s assume that, before planting and mulching, you take the trouble to thoroughly till your beds. We call this “adding air” or “making fluffy dirt”, and it’s the secret ingredient for healthy plants. Spreading stone mulch adds tons and tons of weight on top, quickly squeezing the air out of the soil and suffocating plants. Simply spreading weed barrier fabric on hard-packed soil and cutting planting holes in it isn’t healthy for plants, and their growth will be restricted.
Years from now, once stone mulch has become polluted with wind-blown weed seeds, it will be twice as hard to pull the weeds. Some stone mulches, particularly lava rock and white marble chips, are only practical in very clean setting like pool decks and parking lot islands. Lava rock attracts clippings and debris like Velcro. Once the stone is dirty and full of weeds, the fix is to dig up and remove tons of stone. It can’t be simply tilled into the soil like wood mulch. Colonizing perennials and groundcovers won’t take over and cover it.
We like to say that whatever you add on top of your landscape each year, that’s what your soil will become. Some wood mulches, pine bark in particular, are very beneficial to plants and improve your soil over time, provided you don’t put a layer of plastic fabric between the mulch and the soil below. Weed barrier fabrics will prevent existing weeds or sprouted weed seeds from coming up, however they do nothing to prevent windblown weed seeds, bird droppings etc from sprouting on top of the mulch. They also prevent the natural process of soil mixing with mulch, so mulch will pile up on top of the fabric and have to be removed.
So, what’s the answer to weed control in landscape beds? First and most important, prepare your beds by killing all the existing weeds and grasses beforehand. Glyphosate (Roundup) will kill most weeds in a week or so. Stubborn weeds like wild violet, nutgrass, ground ivy and clovers may need special weed killers. Only when every last weed is dead toast is it time to till and plant. After planting, you need to apply enough mulch to smother any leftover weed seeds. The best weed control is complete darkness, so three inches of mulch is a minimum. Then you need to renew your mulch every year in March or April, before weeds start to take over.
Sound complicated? Then perhaps stone mulch over weed barrier fabric is for you.
There are 343 weekly columns.
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Boxwood - The Ideal Foundation Shrub
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Bug Killers – Choosing the Right One
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Building Trails on Your Property
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Bulbs for Early Spring Color
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Bulbs Give Early Spring Color
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Corn Harvesting & Handling
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Crape Myrtle – A Taste of the South
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Design - Hate Your Landscaping?
Published August, 11th 2014
Design - Necklace vs. Den
Published May, 16th 2016
Design - Planning for Practicality
Published September, 11th 2011
Design for the Future
Published November, 4th 2014
Design Homework Assignment
Published February, 14th 2011
Design: Getting Free Assistance From a Professional
Published July, 30th 2013
Designing & Installing Perennial Gardens
Published February, 10th 2020
Does Beauty Mean High Maintenance?
Published November, 13th 2017
Dogwood Alternatives
Published March, 20th 2012
Dogwood Alternatives
Published April, 28th 2019
Dogwood Trees
Published May, 13th 2018
Driveway Tree Colonnades
Published February, 7th 0002
Driveway Tree Colonnades
Published July, 6th 2020
Drought Tolerance
Published July, 28th 2019
Drought Tolerant Plants
Published July, 21st 2019
Enjoying Your Landscaping After Dark
Published November, 14th 2017
Fall Color – Paint Box for Gardeners
Published October, 7th 2018
Fall Garden Tips
Published November, 8th 2010
Fall Housekeeping for Perennials
Published November, 18th 2018
Fall is The Best Time to Landscape
Published September, 6th 2018
Fall is the Wrong Time to Prune Lilacs
Published October, 21st 2019
Fall Orchard Tips
Published November, 11th 2019
Fall Planting is Best For Plants
Published September, 14th 2015
Fall Vegetable Gardening
Published August, 4th 2014
Fall Vegetable Gardening Starts NOW
Published September, 4th 2013
Fast-Growing Shade
Published April, 21st 2019
Feng Shui and Landscaping
Published June, 16th 2019
Fertilizer – When, What & How
Published March, 13th 2017
Fertilizer Timing & Tips
Published February, 23rd 2015
Fertilizing at the Right Time
Published March, 13th 2011
Forsythia Management for Best Bloom
Published March, 31st 2019
Frost Damage - Preventing It
Published April, 12th 2010
Fruit Tree Pests - Controlling Them
Published January, 8th 2010
Fruit Tree Restoration
Published September, 8th 2019
Fruit Trees - Fall Orchard Tips
Published October, 8th 2012
Fruit Trees - Spraying for Insects & Diseases
Published March, 20th 2010
Garden Centers At Risk
Published March, 30th 2020
Garden Clubs for All Ages
Published November, 4th 2013
Garden Expo 2016
Published June, 8th 2016
Garden Tour Film “The Gardener”
Published July, 7th 2019
Gardeners are Sick of Fast Food
Published January, 8th 2010
Gardening - Getting Satisfaction
Published April, 19th 2015
Gardening - Pass it On!
Published December, 6th 2010
Gingko Tree - a Living Fossil
Published August, 5th 2019
Good Landscaping Starts With Good Design
Published January, 8th 2010
Groundcover Plants
Published March, 4th 2018
Groundcover Shrubs Reduce Maintenance
Published December, 30th 2018
Groundcovers Reduce Weeding, Mulching and Erosion
Published May, 26th 2012
Growing Your Own Food
Published January, 8th 2010
Heirlooms, Hybrids & GMO’s
Published April, 25th 2016
HGTV Unveils Plant Collection
Published June, 18th 2013
Hiking North Country Trail
Published January, 8th 2010
Hollies - It Takes Two to Berry
Published December, 2nd 2014
Home Orchards Step By Step
Published February, 11th 2018
Hostas Are Problem Solvers for Shade
Published August, 6th 2013
Hostas Are Problem Solvers for Shade
Published October, 14th 2019
How Did This Landscape Disaster Happen?
Published January, 27th 2020
How to Treat Buck Rubs on Trees
Published October, 31st 2016
Humane Mole Control is the Most Effective
Published March, 3rd 2019
Hydrangeas – How to Choose
Published June, 24th 2018
Hydrangeas Bloom All Season Long
Published June, 17th 2014
Instant Raised Beds Make Growing Food Easy
Published May, 19th 2014
Invasive Honeysuckle
Published November, 8th 2016
Invasive Woody Plants Revisited
Published November, 19th 2017
Is Your Pine Tree Dying?
Published September, 25th 2017
It’s Time to Start Your Vegetable Garden
Published March, 6th 2017
Japanese Beetles
Published July, 14th 2019
Japanese Honeysuckle Control
Published October, 28th 2019
Japanese Honeysuckle Invasion – The Sequel
Published November, 25th 2019
Jasna Polana Part I
Published July, 19th 2017
Jasna Polana Part II
Published July, 25th 2017
Johnny Appleseed
Published October, 14th 2018
Kiwi - Hardy for Home Orchards
Published July, 4th 2011
Knock-Out Roses – Pruning & Care
Published March, 11th 2018
Knock-Out Roses for Easy Color
Published June, 5th 2011
Lack of Fall Color is Good News for Trees
Published October, 25th 2017
Landscape Mistakes – Top 10
Published May, 28th 2018
Lawn Care Tips for Spring
Published April, 9th 2013
Lawn Management
Published September, 3rd 2018
Lawn Restoration
Published May, 1st 2017
Lighting Serpent Mound with Luminaires
Published December, 11th 2017
Lilacs - Dwarf Varieties Are Best
Published January, 8th 2010
Lilacs - Fragrance & Powdery Mildew
Published October, 20th 2014
Longwood Gardens Bus Tour
Published February, 22nd 2011
Longwood Gardens Conservatory
Published February, 3rd 2019
Low-Stress Landscaping
Published November, 24th 2013
Magnolias Are a Solution for Clay Soil
Published August, 14th 2017
Magnolias Are a Solution for Clay Soil
Published April, 13th 2020
Maidenhair Tree is a Living Fossil
Published July, 20th 2015
Mail Order Plants
Published January, 20th 2019
Making an Entrance
Published February, 24th 2019
Malabar Farm & Soil Management
Published February, 25th 2018
Meet Pam Bennett, Author & Master Gardener
Published June, 1st 2015
Mosquito Repellent Plants
Published July, 30th 2017
Mosquito Repellent Plants - Fact or Fiction?
Published June, 3rd 2013
Mulch - How to Pick the Right One
Published April, 22nd 2014
Mulch Selection & Tips
Published May, 5th 2019
Mums: Early Planting is Best
Published August, 25th 2015
Mums: Early Planting is Best
Published August, 18th 2014
Mushroom Compost is a Twofer
Published May, 18th 2020
Mushroom Compost: Kryptonite for Gardens
Published April, 27th 2014
Native Plant Landscaping at Brandywine
Published September, 24th 2012
New Years Resolutions for Tough Times
Published January, 8th 2010
October Glory Maple Puts On A Show
Published January, 8th 2010
One Gardener’s Dreams for 2020
Published January, 6th 2020
Onion Plants - The Secret to Huge Sweet Onions
Published March, 20th 2011
Onion Plants Yield Huge Sweet Onions
Published March, 4th 2012
Onions - Start Early For Success
Published March, 16th 2010
Orchard Plant Labeling
Published April, 26th 2015
Orchards - Fall is the Time to Plant
Published September, 5th 2010
Ornamental Grasses Add Winter Interest
Published October, 25th 2016
OSU Arboretum has Four Seasons of Color
Published October, 16th 2011
Pansies & Kale for Fall Color
Published September, 22nd 2015
Pansies Are Cold-Hardy Color
Published April, 14th 2019
Paver Walks Set the Tone
Published December, 20th 2017
Peaches - Nature’s Candy
Published August, 10th 2015
Peat Moss Dries Out Wet Soils
Published June, 23rd 2019
Peppers: How Hot is HOT?
Published June, 10th 2014
Perennial Asparagus Produces More Each Season
Published June, 15th 2020
Perennial Garden Design & Installation
Published May, 15th 2017
Perennials -
Published January, 8th 2010
Perennials Put On a Midsummer Show
Published August, 13th 2013
Perennials vs. Annuals
Published June, 10th 2018
Perennials vs. Annuals
Published June, 22nd 2020
Pesticides - Six Favorites
Published May, 31st 2016
Philadelphia Food & Garden Tour
Published April, 15th 2011
Philadelphia Garden Tour 2012
Published February, 19th 2012
Pine & Spruce Tree Ailments
Published November, 4th 2018
Pine Bark is the Ultimate Mulch
Published May, 18th 2015
Pine Cones – How and Why
Published December, 16th 2018
Plant Hardiness: It’s on the Map
Published December, 16th 2019
Plant Onions by St. Patrick’s Day
Published March, 11th 2014
Planter Pots Make Flower Gardening a Breeze
Published May, 25th 2020
Planting and Care
Published May, 12th 2019
Planting Too Deep
Published March, 17th 2019
Plants Need to Breathe
Published February, 24th 2020
Plants On Steriods
Published January, 8th 2010
Poinsettia Success
Published November, 25th 2018
Poinsettias Make a Dazzling Show
Published December, 20th 2016
Ponds-Keeping Water Clear
Published August, 28th 2017
Potato Planting the Easy Way
Published April, 12th 2015
Potato Planting Timing & Tips
Published March, 18th 2014
Potatoes - Easier is Better
Published March, 15th 2016
Prune Young Trees Now to Fix Defects
Published November, 18th 2019
Pruning Evergreen Trees
Published April, 1st 2018
Pruning in Late Winter
Published November, 24th 2014
Pruning Young Trees Saves Future Cost
Published January, 14th 2018
Pumpkins from Amish Family Farms
Published September, 23rd 2014
Purple Empress – Fast-growing Tree
Published November, 11th 2018
Purple Foliage Adds Color
Published March, 24th 2019
Raised Bed Soil Recommendations
Published February, 1st 2015
Raised Beds Make Gardening Easy
Published February, 25th 2014
Raised Beds without Carpentry
Published March, 24th 2014
Raising Annuals From Seed
Published March, 3rd 2013
Raspberries from Your Own Garden
Published June, 18th 2012
Raspberry Shortcake Made Easy
Published May, 7th 2014
Red Maples – Which One Do You Mean?
Published September, 9th 2018
Red Maples – Which One Do You Mean?
Published March, 23rd 2020
Redbud Facts & Tips
Published April, 7th 2019
Relish Recipe & Home Canning
Published January, 8th 2010
Remembering Life as an Estate Groundskeeper
Published December, 12th 2016
Retaining Wall Tips
Published July, 1st 2018
Retaining Walls Solve Many Landscape Problems
Published November, 27th 2017
Retaining Walls That Last
Published December, 23rd 2019
Ripley Garden Walk
Published September, 6th 2016
River Birch is Beautiful and BIG
Published October, 2nd 2017
Roses - Easy Constant Color
Published January, 8th 2010
Roses - What’s In a Name?
Published August, 11th 2019
Roses – Practical All-season Color?
Published March, 10th 2019
Roses – The Best Shrub Rose of All
Published May, 20th 2013
Roses Need Winter Protection
Published November, 15th 2017
Salem Academy Landscape Project
Published November, 17th 2014
Shrub Grooming & Shearing
Published March, 24th 2015
Shrub Management for Best Bloom
Published July, 3rd 2017
Shrubs - Are You Afraid of Large Shrubs?
Published August, 20th 2017
Side-Dressing Refreshes Your Vegetables and Flowers
Published July, 8th 2014
Sod vs. Grass Seed for New Lawns
Published August, 10th 2020
Soil - Making Soggy Dirt Fluffy
Published January, 8th 2010
Soil – Drying Out Wet Soils
Published May, 2nd 2016
Soils - How to Improve Them
Published April, 4th 2016
Spring - Time to Play in the Dirt!
Published February, 17th 2014
Spring Feeding For Plants
Published February, 17th 2019
Spring Grove Arboretum
Published January, 8th 2010
Spring Housecleaning For Your Landscape
Published January, 8th 2010
Spring Housekeeping & Grooming Checklist
Published March, 3rd 2012
Spring Pest Prevention
Published March, 19th 2012
Spruce Decline
Published May, 8th 2017
St. Patrick’s Is Onion Day
Published March, 9th 2015
St. Patrick’s Is Onion Day
Published March, 9th 2020
Stepping Stone Tips
Published May, 20th 2018
Stone Mulch Pros & Cons
Published
Stone Mulch Pros & Cons
Published August, 5th 2018
Stone Mulch vs Wood Mulch
Published October, 4th 2015
Strawberry Success Tips
Published May, 28th 2012
Strawberry Success Tips
Published April, 25th 2012
Strawberry Success Tips
Published March, 27th 2017
Sugar Pie Pumpkins Make the Best Pumpkin Pie
Published September, 29th 2015
Sweet Potatoes - Timing & Tips
Published April, 29th 2012
Teach Your Children to Grow Their Own Food
Published February, 3rd 2020
Time to Plant Sweet Potatoes
Published May, 15th 2013
Time to Prune Trees & Shrubs
Published January, 21st 2020
Tomaccios - Sundried Tomato Raisins
Published May, 23rd 2011
Tomato Blight - How to Avoid It
Published May, 2nd 2010
Tomatoes and Viviparity
Published August, 29th 2016
Top Dressing with Compost
Published August, 31st 2015
Topping Trees is Not the Answer
Published March, 2nd 2020
Touring Fantastic Columbus Gardens
Published August, 26th 2013
Tree Planting Questions & Answers
Published October, 7th 2019
Tree Staking Tips
Published June, 9th 2019
Tree Transplanting Tips
Published October, 21st 2018
Trees - Avoid “Row Run” Trees
Published August, 11th 2016
Trees - Choosing Driveway Trees
Published January, 8th 2010
Trees - Choosing the Right One
Published October, 11th 2010
Trees - Fall is the Best Time to Plant Trees
Published October, 28th 2018
Trees - Fixing Defects I
Published November, 28th 2010
Trees - In Search Of The Dwarf
Published January, 8th 2010
Trees - Managing Volunteers
Published October, 13th 2015
Trees - Mulch Circles
Published August, 4th 2015
Trees - Shade Saves Dollars
Published June, 14th 2016
Trees - Shopping For Quality
Published October, 18th 2010
Trees - Watering in Drought
Published September, 19th 2010
Trees - What is a Red Maple Tree?
Published July, 21st 2014
Trees - Windbreak Save Energy
Published January, 8th 2010
Trees Are Nature’s Air Conditioning
Published June, 23rd 2015
Trees as Living Memorials
Published August, 1st 2017
Trees – Adopt One Today
Published June, 5th 2017
Trees – ANLA Standards
Published July, 15th 2018
Trees – Fall is the Best Time to Plant Trees
Published October, 26th 2013
Trees – Growing Them Takes Many Steps
Published December, 4th 2017
Trees – Professional Planting Tips
Published September, 26th 2016
Trees – Protection During Construction
Published August, 25th 2019
Trees – Topping is Harmful
Published April, 9th 2017
Trees: Ten Favorites
Published August, 26th 2018
Trim Strips Save Maintenance
Published December, 9th 2019
Using Windbreaks to Reduce Energy Cost
Published October, 29th 2017
Vegetable Gardening Classes at Southern State Community College in Mt. Orab
Published January, 26th 2015
Vegetable Relish & Home Canning
Published September, 5th 2017
Walnut Trees for Profit
Published August, 12th 2018
Walnut Trees: Blessing or Curse?
Published January, 7th 2018
Water Features – Keeping Water Clear
Published June, 29th 2020
Watering - Avoid Drowning Your Plants
Published January, 8th 2010
Watering by Drip Irrigation
Published August, 7th 2017
Watering Plants – How, When & Why
Published August, 19th 2019
Watering Plants Properly
Published January, 8th 2010
Weed Control in Landscapes
Published April, 29th 2018
Weeding With Roundup
Published August, 3rd 2020
Weeds - Prevention & Control
Published January, 8th 2010
Weeping Cherry Trees
Published May, 6th 0218
Weeping Cherry Trees
Published May, 6th 2018
What You Should Know About Tree Grafting
Published October, 4th 2016
When & How to Feed Your Plants
Published May, 11th 2020
When, Where, How and Why to Water
Published July, 15th 2014
Windbreak Plantings - How and Why
Published December, 13th 2010
Windbreak Plantings – How and Why
Published October, 14th 2012
Winter Can Be Hard on Trees
Published January, 8th 2018
Winter Hardiness - What Does It Mean?
Published February, 3rd 2014
Winter Housekeeping for Trees
Published February, 4th 2018
Winter is Good for Most Plants
Published January, 13th 2019
Winter Protection For Roses
Published January, 8th 2010
Winter Reading For Gardeners
Published January, 8th 2010
Winter’s Coming – Time To Water Your Plants
Published December, 5th 2016
Winterthur Enchanted Woods
Published April, 16th 2011
Winterthur Museum and Garden Tour This September
Published July, 2nd 2013
Wisteria Tips & Tricks
Published July, 22nd 2018
Witch Hazel Blooms in Late Winter
Published February, 18th 2018
Woodland Management
Published January, 2nd 2018
Woodlot Management for Homeowners
Published May, 4th 2020
You Can’t Fool a Tree
Published November, 4th 2019
Zelkova – Heir to the American Elm
Published September, 23rd 2019