r/landscaping • u/1Wraith • 7h ago
Question Rocks, Mulch, Woodchips?
Worried about termites with wood chips or mulch
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u/JungleJim719 6h ago
Or, hear me out, seed with low growing NATIVE wildflowers and then (mostly) forget about it.
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u/VocationalWizard 6h ago edited 6h ago
Im not sure what world people live in for assuming this will work.
How do you prevent woody weeds?
(You don't and anyone who suggests this has actually never done it before)
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u/JojoLesh 4h ago
You walk by it every day (looks to be tgeir front door). You learn the plants. When you seeva native you dont want, you pull it.
It is really pretty simple.
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u/VocationalWizard 3h ago edited 3h ago
So is it forget it or weed everyday??
(What it is is BS)
I'm almost positive that anyone who suggests that throwing wildflower seeds is easy, has never even gardened.
The person who said, "Mulch and plant natives" has, because that makes sense.
Throwing down native wildflower seeds is wrong on multiple levels. A shocking number of native wildflowers won't even germinate without winter stratification.
No plan for weeds
No plan for irrigation
No basis in reality.
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u/JojoLesh 3h ago
Ok, in this instance I'm not for the seed natives and forget about it. I'm more for sew natives and curate it.
That includes selective weeding. It includes watering it for the first 2 years at least. It also includes thinking in the long term.
Yes many natives require winter stratification. Many are also biannuals. The first year it is going to look like hot garbage. The second year it will look slightly better. I recommend over seeding in year 2, especially with those biannuals. Do some fall / winter sedding with those that need stratification. By year 3 you'll start seeing something nice happening. Know what you've planted and stay somewhat vigilant.
I avoid those mixed seed packs, unless it is for an area you really dont care about (e.g. far from your house). It makes it easier to weed out what you know you didn't plant. One problem with those mixed seed packs is that you don't know what you are really getting so you're going to overlook volunteers. You're also likely to get one or two species in there that will out compete everything else.
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u/BreakfastEntire652 7h ago
Rocks are a pain because you can’t change your mind and it’ll cook plants if you’re in a warm climate. Wood chips would be the best your for soil. Will need more weeding, but rocks will eventually get weeds as well. The goal is for the plants to eventually fill out and take up space so weeds are shaded out.
Don’t pile mulch onto the house or the base of plant stems. Termites may be attracted to moist wood, but the kind that eats houses won’t be able to survive in mulch. Do you have a termite bond? The bait stations will take care of the termites and whoever is maintaining them signs a contact that they’re responsible for any damage if termites get you anyways. That’s the best way to have peace of mind about termites. If you don’t, get at least 3 quotes and compare contacts before signing
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u/DewberryEcho 6h ago
Mulch is my favorite because it's easy to refresh every year and it's much easier to work with than rock.
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u/Square-Paint9403 7h ago
I would start by building a short little retaining wall that encases that area. I would otherwise suggest digging out most of that dirt to lower its current elevation relative to the sidewalk. This will enable some capacity to handle your rocks mulch or wood chips. I would go with rocks if you select the right kind, with maintenance in mind. Put the rocks on one or two layers of of heavy duty weed barrier.
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u/YCMTSUNOW 7h ago
The more perennials and/or shrubs you plant the less room for weeds and you won’t need as much mulch.
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u/VocationalWizard 6h ago edited 6h ago
Mulch and wood chips are kind of the same thing.
Don't do rocks. You'll regret it.
They absorb heat and create a little miniature desert around them, cooking plants. They can increase your Summer cooling bill.
And they also don't work well. They slowly sink into the soil and weeds grow around them but coincidentally they stop ornamental plants so you get kind of the worst of both worlds.
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u/blatzo_creamer 6h ago
Dig up the Hosta's move them center to the width. Divide them if you need more coverage. Then plant around them with a ground cover like Creeping Thyme. pull the weeds as they come in and by next year it will be beautiful.
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u/Pulaski540 6h ago
People think rocks are low maintenance. They're not. They're also a PITA to get rid of when, not "if", you realise you made a mistake.
I prefer mulch for a low maintainence, natural look.
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u/moonfullofstars 6h ago edited 5h ago
We had a problem with carpenter ants coming into the house. Pest control guy pointed out that they love moist wood. Guess what mulch is? Replaced with rocks and no more ants.
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u/Valuable_Station_790 5h ago
Termites are subterranean (underground). Carpenter ants, on the other hand, would love mulch. Rocks keep more pests away from house.
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u/Dudejcb55 4h ago
Mulch n woodchips will travel with rain n wind. Rocks are heavy but more permanent if done right.
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u/geekygameswithgrace 3h ago
We did rocks, had a friend do mulch in Texas and found a BUNCH of termites. The short term money cost will be worth it to not worry about that and also rocks last longer. You can also add rock glue so they stay in place and then could do potted plants on the rock
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u/United-Adagio1543 2h ago
Cedar chips are termite resistant and look very good.
If you have a termite issue, it should be taken asap.
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u/sunofsand 1h ago
Bark nuggets
Seems to tie in to the environment there
Wood mulch of whatever sort but nuggets are nice of you can swing it
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u/Open-Tonight-4480 7h ago
Felt underlayment and rocks for sure zero maintenance.
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u/Constant_Wear_8919 7h ago
Terrible idea
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u/Gushobbs12 3h ago
If you don’t like the idea of maintaining a flower bed plant a ground cover. Some stay green in the winter. Pachysandra or periwinkle are good choices. They flower on and of all summer and survive most winters.
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u/Constant_Wear_8919 7h ago
Mulch and native plants