I'm putting a 3 foot garden bed border around my house for cosmetics and to hide an irrigation drip system I just put around the perimeter of the house. Now it's time to fill in those garden beds with something.

Would it be better to put rocks (Colorado river rock) or mulch?

I don't know the pros or cons of each. Cost wise, mulch is a huge pro as it's about 1/4 (if not more) the cost of rocks. My primary goal is that the irrigation drip system protect my foundation. I don't know which (rock or mulch) will help with that primary goal.

What kind of tubing did you use for the drip system?

We had rock beds around our house in San Antonio and it was awful for scorpions. We ended up buying a bunch of pesticides and I dowsed the rocks once a quarter.

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What kind of tubing did you use for the drip system?

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1/2" PVC

So did you just drill holes in pvc? Not sure what you are describing.

It's 2' sections of 1/2" with a T in between. I'll but a bubbler on each T to allow me to increase/decrease the water per section. This is the front of the house that already had mulch flower beds. The rest of the house perimeter flower beds are empty. The sides of the house don't connect with the front flower beds to any transition is not a concern. The PVC will eventually be slightly buried under the mulch in this section where the bubbler will sit just above mulch level or can also be slightly buried.

we haven't done it yet, but are going with rock. Simply b/c we have two large live oak trees, and I want to be able to just use the blower in the spring to move leaves. If i try to blow the mulch, its going to end up everywhere. I know some leaves will end up between rocks, but its gotta be better than trying to keep the leaves out of mulch.

Is this to control expansive soils?

Weeds will eventually grow in the rock and will be a maintenance item (the larger the rock and the deeper the coverage the less likely you will have weeds). Mulch will need to be replaced as a maintenance item. Pick your poison.

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Is this to control expansive soils?

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Yes. Dallas/Plano Black Clay Gumbo soil. Very expansive. Every house in the area eventually gets foundation work. The goal is to try to minimize the extent/frequency of it.

You could have easily used some Rainbird or Hunter drip tube and buried it. You want a slow emitting system for clay because clay absorbs water slowly. Drip tube systems come in 0.4, 0.6, and 0.9 gallons per hour models.

Rain Bird also has a model that will deter root intrusion.

+1 on the weeds/grass. We have about a 20' bed with steel edging in front of the garage. Over time, our zoysia crept under the edging and pretty much obscured most of the rocks, which are about 4-5" deep. I've started taking it back by removing rocks and putting new weed barrier down.

AggieOO said:

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we haven't done it yet, but are going with rock. Simply b/c we have two large live oak trees, and I want to be able to just use the blower in the spring to move leaves. If i try to blow the mulch, its going to end up everywhere. I know some leaves will end up between rocks, but its gotta be better than trying to keep the leaves out of mulch.

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Use big rocks. The blower will fling gravel.

I prefer rocks, but I also have a raised bed with mortared chopped stone surrounding it.

In this case it'll be right behind your bushes. Installing another edge (steel) could be done to help corral them, but seems like mulch might just be easier.

I'd double up on pro or "best" STAgreen weedblock. Ours is at year 3 and hasn't broken down at all.

https://imgur.com/a/jyu795C

Mulch for sure. We had rocks at our previous bone and it was awful. We lost control of the Bermuda grass and ended up having to spray with roundup to kill the grass every year the rake and pull weeds constantly.

We finally dug the rock out "thank you tractor and front end loader" and we went back with weed barrier and mulch. It was much better after that.

TwoMarksHand said:

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https://imgur.com/a/jyu795C

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I remember this thread! ....I think. You poured the concrete edge right?

WhoopRAB said:

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I put 6 mil plastic topped with river rock around the house. Very few weeds and helps retain soil moisture underneath.

Mulch in my garden beds requires annual cost and labor to replenish. Rock is initially more expensive but is one and done.

Mulch next to slab sometimes is too high and can promote or hide termites and other insects entering the house. I spray insecticide on the rocks, brick weep holes and lower 18" of exterior walls. Rock makes it easy to inspect slab for termite tubes.

The rock border extends beyond the roof drip line eliminating the need for roof gutters for 90% of house.

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Do you have a drip system under the plastic?

evan_aggie said:

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TwoMarksHand said:

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https://imgur.com/a/jyu795C

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I remember this thread! ....I think. You poured the concrete edge right?

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Yessir. I poured it last fall and finally got around to leveling the bed, laying weed barrier, planting, and finally putting in the rock.

ABATTBQ11 said:

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AggieOO said:

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we haven't done it yet, but are going with rock. Simply b/c we have two large live oak trees, and I want to be able to just use the blower in the spring to move leaves. If i try to blow the mulch, its going to end up everywhere. I know some leaves will end up between rocks, but its gotta be better than trying to keep the leaves out of mulch.

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Use big rocks. The blower will fling gravel.

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that's the plan.