mulch or stones

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emsper Orlando, FL Apr 24, 2010

is it better to use stones around trees and shrubs for landscaping or mulch? I read somewhere about wood in the mulch can bring ants and termites. Also can the trees and shrubs get water if there are stones around them.?

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flowAjen central, NJ(Zone 6b) Apr 24, 2010

Stones won't add the nutrients that mulch will. I think it's just a matter of what looks good to you. If you do mulch do not mound it up against the trunk. You won't be forming a solid barrier with the stone so water should get thru fine.

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emsper Orlando, FL Apr 24, 2010

I have mulch now and it just seems to wash away when it rains, and I thought stones would stay in place better, but I see what you mean about the nutrients.

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themoonhowl Prairieville, LA(Zone 9a) Apr 25, 2010

You can counter the nutrient loss with a good slow release granular fertilizer. If the mulch tends to wash away, you are losing the nutrients anyway.

Lay down weedblock cloth to help keep weeds from coming up in the stones and preventing the stones from sinking into the soil. The stones and weedblock will not prevent nutrients and water from reaching the roots. Be aware that it is not healthy for the tree to have more than a couple inches of mulch over the roots as it tends to smother them. The stones will still allow air as they do not compact

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emsper Orlando, FL Apr 25, 2010

thank you

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tanowicki Portland, OR Apr 26, 2010

Rocks over weedblock can be a recipe for disaster. Weedblock fabric will allow some water down, but not as much as would normally go through. Also, the rocks can reflect the heat of the sun up to the shrubs and trees. As you're in the south, that may be a concern.

The thing I like about mulch is that if I decide to change it, the mulch can just be raked out into the lawn or allowed to finish degrading.

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