landscaping bed next to house - ideas for ground cover

I am new here and if this is the wrong place, please let me know.

I recently put a bed area in my backyard and I need a few suggestions.

The plan is to use mulch as the Oklahoma soil is dry and looks terrible without.

There was an episode of termites in the past and I was told 'don't put much up next to the house?'


And finally to my concern....

I thought about putting large pebble rocks between the house and the mulch (and possibly along the patio edge to form an 'L' shape), but heard people say that rocks around the foundation is just as bad and even more work and maintenance.

So... are these comment true? What would you do? All mulch? 'I' shape of rocks, or 'L' shape of rocks, or something else?


Under the border stones I have a 6" trench of concrete.

What would you do to keep the stones in place?
Stone adhesive that comes in a caulking tube? (not sure if there is enough surface to surface contact for this to be strong enough)
Would quickrete work, or does it not have the biding properties?

Essentially I don't want people kicking them over or them getting bumped by the mower.

Thanks for any input!

1) Look into mulches made from materials that do not attract (or are least attractive to) termites. Perhaps Cedar?

2) Stone should be OK, it is not 'termite food'.

3) To stabilize the stone border/wall use mortar. You can buy colored powder or liquid to add to it if you want, make it match the rock, or just a bit darker. Take apart the wall, laying the stone aside carefully so you know how to put it back together. Mix a small amount of mortar at a time, and smear 1/2"+ between each course of stone, and between the ends of each stone. Apply extra, then force it tightly between the stones while you are removing excess. Just like you have probably seen in a brick wall, the mortar will become a smooth joint that holds the stones in place.
If the stones fit really well (

We had a termite issue also and went with rock. There is also rubber mulch which looks good too

Great replies! Thanks!!

Hi soonerbrink, :D

Kind of have the same problem with 2 areas of my house. One that borders the walk way to my front door. It is a small bed about 14' long by 1'6" long. It is directly against the garage which is attached to our house and ends at our front door step. The other is the area directly against the side of our house. We also had termites years ago (former owner disclosed to usd us) but no longer have a problem. They were exterminated.
So here are six ideas and suggestions to consider. These were given to me and ones I've just learned over 8 years. I don't know if they're useful to you but see what you think and can use out of them.

FIRST:
Garden environment conditions. How much sun and shade does this area get through the day? How dry or damp does it normally stay there? Does it drain well? This determines what you can/can't plant there and how much water you most likely will be using thus how wet the area will always be.
It also determines the best thing to put around your plants. Wood of any sort in my experience and opinion is just temptation to termites and other potential pests that like water. So why take a chance especially around your house? I know Cedar repels moths (another thing you don't want!) not sure about termites. Check. Could be great solution!

SECOND: What is your climate like?
Is it hot and arid? Is it hot and humid? Is it rainy a lot? Do you have "seasons" or just 3 like I have in AZ (hot, hotter and really hot!) This determines plant selection and their routine watering needs, thus how much water is hanging around after you water? Does it stay wet or get absorbed quickly and then dry out on the surface fast? Water can draw pests.

THIRD: Can you do something to draw local "pest control" animals to that spot? Basically any animal that may eat bugs. You may have to look up and see what animals eat termites but these are just examples of things I've used to help keep some of the local garden bugs away from my area and plants.
Bird feeders, little "gecko type" lizards indigenous to our area; occasional peanuts I put out for ground squirrels that are native here. (The dog...eye roll).
Also are there any safe "green" chemical treatments or sprays you can use regularly for the area as a preventative?

FOURTH: I would NEVER put anything like big bricks, really big rocks, ornaments, etc. smack dab against the house no matter what. Termites can hide in/under/behind these and make nests. You want to be able to have a clear view of what's going on and be able to see if there is a problem developing so you can stop it immediately.
Also, Heaven forbid, should you need an exterminator, they won't make you rip up things and move a bunch of stuff to get at the termites.

FIFTH: I would lean towards what most of us do out here. Use one or two inch sized landscaping rock that comes in pretty much any color you choose and would coordinate with either your house or garden. Any landscaping place or nursery sells this. Since the space is small it won't cost you much. (Here our "yards" are all rock! You just shove it aside to plant in the dirt under it!).
Since it is real stone it doesn't blow away and neither does the soil under it. If you feel the soil is not enough you can lay down more/better type of soil before placing the rock. There is more than adequate space, nooks and crannies to water between the rocks. They provide great drainage for the plants too. Also once the rock is there, it's there. It isn't going away unless you remove it.
Now this may cost a tad bit more than mulch but since your space is so small I can't see it costing very much more. We needed 3 tons of rock for our back yard and our yard was surprising low cost. In the mid hundreds to give you an idea for 3 tons of rock to do an ENTIRE back yard!

LAST: If you feel you want to put something up against the back wall I would try potted plants. You can use any size, shape and color and material but again I would stay away from wood. You can see around pots and they are "portable" and not a hassle to move should there be a problem with termites and you need to get at them.

So I hope that helps. Good luck and let us know what you do. :D