I have some bull rock in my rear landscaped bed ringed with slate/flagstone. The areas in red have ponding water in heavy rains. Over time leaves have gotten between the rocks and made it easier for weeds to grow. Needless to say it's becoming overrun and I want to fix it permanently. Ideally I'd just throw mulch on top of the bull rock and add another layer of slate around the sides. Any thoughts/opinions? Post the bull rock for free to anyone who can take as much as they can?

I say pull the rocks, wash them, and put them back, but that's me because I hate the look of mulch.

I just love the convenience of mulch and being able to just add more on top.

There's a good foot deep of rocks across that bed. It's absurd.

Just take it out and let the grass grow up to the trees. You will have weeds in mulch also unless you constantly maintain it. It is correct that you should not stack the mulch up past the root flare. Live Oaks tolerate that condition better but I wouldn't do it with a pine. Cedar Elm, which I think is what is on the right will tolerate it also.

Thanks guys. HOA regs mean I have to have landscaping

Dill-Ag13 said:

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Thanks guys. HOA regs mean I have to have landscaping

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HOA? But those trees are in your backyard??

Remove the rocks and mulch, fertilize and water as needed and your trees will be much happier.

Yeah, neighbors have been called out for non-compliant back-yards

Roundup the rocks?

Very discreetly take some of the flagstone from around your trees and create a border for a bed around your ugly transformer. Remove grass from within the new bed. Apply landscape fabric. Plant some nice screening shrubs in the new bed so that the transformer can not be seen. Take rocks from bed around your trees and place in new bed. If you have kids make them move the rocks. Under cover of darkness slowly remove the remnants of the old bed, if anything is left. Covertly bring in some topsoil if needed and some sod - would recommend using the sod from the new bed to not draw attention. If your HOA says anything show them before and after pics. I cant imagine them saying you didnt improve the look of your backyard. Thanks!

ABATTBQ11 said:

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I say pull the rocks, wash them, and put them back, but that's me because I hate the look of mulch.

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do this. but then replace with larger rock

looks like you also have one of those dumba$$ HOAs that require the alternating fence panels. i don't think i could bring myself to live in one of those.

Trees are a type of landscaping. Get rid of the other crap and put up an ornamental sign for nosy neighbors to kindly pound sand for peering into your PRIVATE backyard.

pull up rocks, put down a black fiber anti-weed mat, put rocks back. No more weeds for years

If you get rid of the rocks, I'll load them in the Jetta and haul them away for you.

Free expert advice for the asking

https://www.kamufm.org/programs/garden-success-kamu-fmhd-1

htxag09 said:

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I'm amazed an HOA can make it mandatory to have flower beds around your trees in your backyard..... How is that even possible

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They can't. I did the research. I've posted the rocks up for free. Have had 3 people come and take all they wanted. Maybe 30% gone...

Bruh. Message me. Come get all you want