Beyond Mulch: The Enduring Elegance of Landscape Rock for San Luis Obispo Landscapes

Both mulch and rock have their uses in plant beds. Mulch helps with moisture retention, discourages weed growth, and, as it decomposes, releases nutrients into the soil, feeding the plants it protects. Rock doesn't directly benefit plant growth in the same way, but it does prevent soil erosion, improves soil drainage, stays in place, and doesn't decay, meaning that you'll have to replace it much less frequently than wood mulch. Different types of plants do better with different types of mulch, but we often recommend using rock mulch with low-water plants in drought-resistant landscapes.

If we're talking about larger landscaping rocks like boulders or flagstones, these usually don't need much more than an occasional rinsing down with a hose to get rid of loose debris and prevent algae or lichen growth (if there is algae/lichen present, using a power washer or a scrub brush with a little bit of biodegradable all-purpose cleaner should take care of it). For features with smaller landscape rocks, such as rock mulch beds or gravel pathways, we recommend hosing them down every few weeks, raking them out a few times a year, and pulling or spot-treating weeds as needed.