Pros and Cons of Using Rocks Around the Base of Your House Fewer pests: Because mulch is made of wood, it tends to attract pets, some of which can wreak havoc on your house; termites, for example. Conversely, with rocks, there's no need to worry about pests, because it doesn't attract bugs or insects.
Mulch regulates soil moisture and temperature and adds nutrients as it decomposes. It supports a garden of healthy plants. Rocks do not. If you just want tidy landscaping and you like using the leaf blower every week, do rocks. If you want a beautiful and healthy garden, use mulch.
Like cedar and cypress mulches, straw mulch can also help to repel insects. The straw itself is not an ideal food source for most insects, so they are less likely to be attracted to areas where straw mulch has been applied.
Heat Retention: Rocks can absorb and retain heat, which may make the surrounding area hotter, potentially affecting nearby plants and outdoor comfort. Less Softness: Rocks don't provide the soft, grassy area that is ideal for children playing or pets. This can limit outdoor activities.
As another commenter said, just don't pile mulch up thickly against house. If you keep your gutters clean and make a point to not have sprinklers hitting too close to the house, the mulch (woody or leafy) stays fairly dry, which most insects find inhospitable.
Sure, bugs may hang out in the rocks and gravel, but because there is no food source, they won't stick around. Landscaping rock and gravel don't attract insects, unlike mulch which decomposes over time and attracts all kinds of pests.
Remove sources of food, water and shelter. Store food in sealed plastic or glass containers. Garbage containing food scraps should be placed in tightly covered trash cans. Remove garbage regularly from your home.
The benefit of using landscape gravel is that it doesn't attract pests. Some bugs like to hide out under the rocks, but if they don't have a food source, they aren't going to stick around.
We do not recommend that you use rocks as mulch around trees. While rocks can be a decorative feature, they tend to make their way into your yard and can damage your mower. They do act as a weed block but do not add nutrients to the soil like a plant-based mulch.
Finally, avoid large, bark type mulch or big wood chips. Since these big pieces take a long time to decompose, and they end up depriving the soil and plants of nutrients.
The color of the mulch can actually have an affect on the type and number of insects that it attracts or repels. A 2000 study by the University of Tennessee found that black mulch attracted significantly more insects around tomato crops compared to silver reflective mulch.
If you happen to purchase mulch in bags and are concerned about any pests inside, you can leave the bag in the sun before spreading the mulch. Once the mulch reaches 120 degrees Fahrenheit for one or more hours, any bugs within the bags should be terminated.
By using rocks instead of mulch, you can help your plants stay hydrated while minimizing water usage. Pest Control - While mulch can provide a cozy habitat for pests such as insects, rodents, and termites, rocks act as a deterrent.
Gravel (and other rocks) act as barriers that shun rain and other forms of precipitation away from a building's foundation. Another benefit of using rock for drainage is that exposed rock absorbs the heat from sunlight more than other materials like mulch. Rock then radiates this heat at night.
While the material itself does not draw termites to the area, mulch spread over three inches deep creates an inviting habitat for the pests. Layers of organic matter trap heat and moisture next to the ground. Termites use this thick mulch as shelter from harsh weather. Some kinds of mulch may even repel termites.
Installing a 3-foot gravel strip, made of quarter-inch pebbles, around the entire perimeter of your facility can help deter different pests from finding a way inside. Rodents don't like crossing open spaces and the rocks present a formidable obstacle to roaches, ants and other crawling insects.
If you're seeking the most budget-friendly option, crushed stone often emerges as the winner. Other cheap landscape rock options include pea gravel and river rock. These cheapest rocks for landscaping are cost-effective due to their abundance and minimal processing requirements.
However, this can lead to root girdling because of how groundcover plants cover up the root flare of the tree. Root girdling can lead to poor tree health and even tree death. Additionally, groundcover plants might also contribute to tree rot caused by the build up of moisture, debris, and plant material underneath.
It kind of depends on the type of rock or mulch, how thick you lay it on, etc. But, weeds can come up through either. Rock is more expensive but is basically permanent; mulch, you have to redo every year or so. Depending on where you live, you might end up with more bugs, if you have mulch.
That being said, there are some instances when rocks present disadvantages that include: rocks the fall from higher elevations on to people or property, rocks that are dissolved by acidic water and cause sinking of the land, rocks that contain minerals that are chemically or physically harmful to heatlh (like asbestos ...
Inorganic mulches like pea gravel or rubber mulch do not support the life cycle of pests that require organic material, thus, they might be a better choice in areas prone to infestations.
After all, mulch doesn't just look great. It also helps retain soil moisture and temperature, prevent weeds and decrease the risks of washouts. One popular mulch choice you may be debating is cedar mulch, which is highly regarded for its bug-repellant properties.
Get rid of bugs in mulch by choosing pest-resistant options like cedar or cypress sapwood that repel insects. Maintain healthy mulch beds by keeping layers thin, ensuring proper drainage, and regularly cleaning debris.