Rocks dont decompose and are problematic to remove if you change your yard design. Depending on your yard, some of these alternative mulch ideas may also work better than wood or bark chips. For the best results, it must be correctly paired with particular plants. Pine needle mulch, also known as pine straw, decomposes and adds nutrients to the soil just like other organic forms of mulch. Laying wood chips or shredded bark mulch on soil helps to lock in moisture, keep weeds at bay, and add nutrients as it breaks down. So, if youre in doubt about this cheap mulch, its best to look for an alternative. It is best to use them in conjunction with other types of mulch. One great way to gather pine needles for mulch is from your annual holiday tree. Rubber mulch is made up of 100% recycled rubber, usually reclaimed from tires. In addition to saving you hundreds of dollars leaves also help to keep the plants and soil healthy owing to their nutrient content. Although landscape fabric can help with some insect control and retain moisture, it doesnt provide any nutritional benefits for the soil. (Pros and Cons), What Color Granite Countertops Go With Honey Maple Cabinets? Crushed shells could have an advantage over rocks because they dont hold as much heat in summer. Q: What are some of the benefits of using mulch? Because of the nature of rock mulch, weeding is more difficult. Rock is economical and seldom needs replacement. Eggshells are a great source of calcium and other nutrients for the soil, and they also help to retain moisture. Be careful to keep mulch away from the crown of plants, as it could potentially kill them. Hay and straw mulches can be expensive, and they must be replaced more often than some other mulching materials. Some of the most easily available materials that we can use as alternatives to mulch around the house are newspapers and cardboard. In summer, stones become hot, which increases evaporation and can stress plants. Both wood-chip mulch and rock mulch have their pros and cons. It also complements modern architectural features and more minimalist landscaping. Bark or wood chip mulch needs replacing every one to four years. Lets look at some of the pros and cons of organic mulch. They also look attractive in between paving, on flower beds, or as pathway or driveway edging. These nutrients help plants thrive and be more resistant to disease. For the best site experience, we suggest turning off compatibility mode or using an updated browser. Making your own compost is easy, and it gives you an endless supply of rich organic matter for your yard. Low cost Rock mulch is a great low-cost solution for garden mulch as you never have to replace it. may need to be replenished every few years. Landscape fabric is a mulch alternative that can be used to prevent weeds from growing. And there you have itthe best alternatives that you can get your hands on. Pine needle mulch helps prevent moisture loss and looks attractive as plant bedding. Even if you add it to wood chips or bark shavings, you can make a pack of traditional mulch go further. Clippings from your recent mowing can be used to mulch more than just the grass itself. Calcium-rich soil is often too alkaline for many plants. Not only do you save money, but you can reuse or recycle certain waste products. Mulch also helps to reduce soil erosion and can double up as a nutrient for plants after decomposing. Can be less effective at preventing weeds than mulch made from organic material. Also, decide the kind of aesthetics you want your garden to have, along with what time of the year you are using the mulch. They can retain water, look vibrant and have a pleasant sweet smell. It retains moisture, insulates plant roots and reduces weed growth, all while enhancing the visual appeal of flowerbeds and other landscaping features. It is a good mulching material because it helps to control erosion, add nutrients to the soil, and provide insulation for plants that are susceptible to frost damage. Removing rock mulch, especially fine pea gravel, is a difficult task. Started as a hobby, Worst Room has grown into an information and inspiration wheelhouse for professionals and home owners alike. This mulch alternative option not only enhances the appearance of your garden, but it also helps retain soil moisture, reduces erosion and suppresses weeds. 2022 True Value Company, L.L.C. If you use rubber or stone mulch, just check its condition each season to see if it needs replenishing, replacement or rearrangement. Now that you know the pros and cons of using organic mulch and inorganic mulch, you can make an informed decision on how to care for your garden. They can be used just by themselves or along with fresh plants and flowers to add a brighter appeal to your front porch, gardens and yards. Mulch alternatives are great for your garden and can help to reduce weeds, retain moisture in the soil, and add nutrients over time. You can also mix the grass clippings with shredded leaves, other mulch or with compost to facilitate decomposition without putrefaction. A: Wood chips, leaves, straw, and plastic are all common types of mulch.
They are one of the most common answers to the question of what to use instead of mulch. A layer of crushed shells can help to brighten up a garden. True Value Rewards is available at participating stores. Straw mulches are great because they suppress weed growths, help to retain moisture, and add nutrients to the soil as they decompose. Stone chips can also be a cheaper alternative to mulch and are great for a low-maintenance, minimalist garden. Straw does everything good mulch should docontrols weeds, locks in moisture, and provides soil with essential nutrients. Then apply the clipping to your flower beds, vegetable patches, or around the base of trees. Fewer weeds also give your plants more room to grow as theyre not competing for space. If you are unsure if your cardboard is untreated, it is best that you dont use it in your garden. It can attract pests (e.g., rats, mice). Flowers may bloom later If you use mulch all year long in your yard, you may find that flowers appear later. One mulch alternative you may not have considered is crushed shells. Even soil temperature Another reason for using organic mulch is that it helps maintain an even temperature in the soil. A vital product in every garden shed, mulch is a material that is spread over a plant or around it to enrich the soil. How to Start Seeds Indoors for Spring, How to Protect Your Landscape from Road Salt. Learn more about, 17 Types of Brooms to Deal With Every Speck of Dust & Dirt, Chamomile Lawn: How to Grow This Better Ground Cover, How to Save a Dying Tree: Easy Tree Health Success, Fertilizer Numbers: What N-P-K Numbers Mean, 0-20-20 Fertilizer: Why Zero Nitrogen Mixes Reign Supreme, Resistant to different weather conditions, Since rocks tend to heat up under prolonged sunlight, they can damage weak or sensitive plants, Helps to keep the soil insulated and moist, Secretes chemicals that can be harmful to the plants in the long run, May require a separate leaf mulcher to shred the leaves that can be used as mulch, May infect plants if they have been eaten by insects, Cardboards often contain toxic chemicals that can affect the plants, Helps in the growth of plants due to the presence of nitrogen, Requires a bit of time to dry the grass or turn it into compost, May cause seeding in the ground or unwanted plant growth, Helps in the healthy growth of plants and vegetables, Can serve as hiding grounds for insects and snakes, Needs regular replacement since they can decompose over time, Can retain water, nutrients and oxygen really well, Works well with a variety of plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables, Might not work in soils with high acidity levels, Works well to retain moisture in the soil, Are lethal to animals when eaten or ingested, Helps the flowers and plants to grow faster, If used fresh, animal compost can burn the roots of plants, May react with soils that have high acidity levels, Can be used in conjunction with other traditional mulches or alternatives, Cant withstand extreme weather conditions. So what are you waiting for? For example, mulch alternatives such as rock mulch, pebbles, crushed shells, straw mulch, or even compost can substitute traditional mulch. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. A drawback of organic compost is that is can smell quite bad. Hay mulch is made from grasses such as straw or alfalfa that have been cut and dried in the field before baling. A layer of pine needles in your garden is another mulch alternative that you can use. If you need to cover a large plot of land with mulch, then straw or hay can be a cheaper and alternate form of mulch. Please add truevalue@message.truevalue.com to your address book. Difficult to remove If you decide to change your garden landscape, it can be challenging to get rid of all the stones. We use cookies to give you the best online experience. This type of organic mulch can be fresh or dried pine needles and is also called pine straw. Dont let them sit on your grass during the fall and winter seasons. However, before choosing an alternative to traditional much, ensure that you know what purpose you need the mulch alternative to serve. In cooler climates, heat retained by rock mulch can often extend the growing season. One other drawback is that some types of recycled rubber can leach small amounts of chemicals and minerals into the soil, which, in high concentrations, may harm some types of plants. Because rubber is non-porous, water makes its way directly to the soil underneath without absorbing into the mulch. Only use newspapers that are printed with black, not colored ink. Tire mulch is also a great mulching material because it has many other uses. Excellent for healthy soil The most significant benefit of organic mulch is that it improves soil health. When using eggshells as mulch, be sure to crush them into small pieces so they will decompose more quickly. Mulch can stress plants If you dont apply mulch correctly, it can stress out plants. Instead, pea gravel stones are small stones that are round in shape and very smooth in texture. Weeds grow through rocks unless you put a weed barrier between the soil and the stones. Soil health when comparing mulch and rocks, its clear that wood shavings or bark chips are better for the soil. For example, too much mulch can affect plant growth and cause stress. Straw mulch is another mulching material that can be used in gardens and landscaping projects. Landscape fabric should be covered with another type of mulch to keep it in place. Let's take a look at the options in no particular order. However, mulch can be expensive and difficult to work with if not used properly. Another way to beautify and add nutrients to your garden is by using the grass clippings that you would otherwise throw away from your types of lawn mowers with a bagger attachment. So, for a cheap and effective mulch alternative, straw mulch is an excellent solution. Wood chips are also a good mulching material because they help to control erosion, add nutrients to the soil, and provide insulation for plants that are susceptible to frost damage. They are also not as effective at retaining water compared with other mulching materials like wood chips or straws (which is why theyre sometimes called fast mulch). Most pumice rocks are bright and rusty, which adds to the beauty of the flowerbeds and plants. Rock mulch can help suppress weeds for a timealthough they tend to grow through rocks eventually. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. There are a number of organic substances outside of the typical wood that you can use as creative mulch alternatives. Pea gravel is a great mulch alternative for those who want a natural look to their garden. Or you can mix cardboard or carton with different kinds of mulch. Mulch can be made from a variety of materials, including wood chips, leaves, straw, and plastic. You can lay down sheets of newspaper to act as weed controlsimilar to landscape fabric. Rocks could even be worse for the earth as they tend to make the soil alkaline.