Can You Put Mulch Over Rocks?

Mulching is a great way to improve the health and appearance of your garden. Putting mulch over your rocks can be a quick fix for sprucing up your yard, but is it a good idea?

You can put mulch over rocks, as long as you flatten them first and lay landscape fabric in between. Opt for pine bark, wood mulch, or cypress mulch when selecting a type for your backyard. Replace your mulch every 5 years to keep your plants healthy and your garden looking fresh.

Continue reading to learn if it’s possible to lay mulch over rocks and about pitfalls to doing so. Furthermore, this article will touch on how to put mulch over rocks and the most suitable types for this project!

So, you want to lay mulch in your backyard. You’ve read about all the benefits and think it will look good, but is the install process possible without removing existing rocks?

Mulch can be laid directly over garden or landscaping rocks without having to disturb them. Doing so will help the soil retain more moisture, keep the soil cooler in summer to stimulate plant survival rates, and help with agricultural pest control (i.e., weeds).

As long as your rocks are stable and not likely to move when covered with mulch, it is a viable solution. If there are any concerns about stability, you can always use landscape fabric or some other type of barrier to keep the mulch in place.

We’ll get more specific below.

While it is possible to put mulch over rocks without any major consequences, there are a few things to watch out for.

One such pitfall is that the mulch can become matted and compacted over time, which will reduce its ability to function as intended. As the mulch compresses, it will block airflow. Without proper airflow, the soil doesn’t get oxygen which can suffocate plant roots.

Another issue that arises when you put mulch over rocks is that garden or landscaping rocks are often too porous and allow water to drain through them, regardless of mulch coverage. If your ultimate goal is to retain more moisture in the soil by layering mulch over rocks, this could backfire. It may just be better to remove the rocks first.

The final consideration is aesthetics. If you’re using a mulch that doesn’t blend well with the color of your rocks, this may draw attention to the area and detract from the look.

Ultimately, adding mulch will help with the problems addressed above, but it won’t completely remove the disadvantages rocks provide.

In order to completely eliminate these, you have to remove the rocks before laying a layer of mulch.

Pine bark is a great option because it acts as an insulator for the soil. It’s a byproduct of the foresting industry that will help retain more moisture in the summer without retaining too much additional heat.

Cypress mulch is a wood and bark combo product. It has a great color and texture to it, but it also can help lower soil temperature in the summer.

It’s an all-around great mulch to use because it doesn’t hold too much heat, which is great if you’re putting mulch over rocks in an area that gets a lot of sunlight during the day.

Wood mulch has a major downside compared to pine or cypress mulches: insects! The upside is that it comes in smaller pieces and a variety of colors, but be sure to lay it away from other wooden structures, or it may attract termites into your home.

Choose wisely when picking the right mulch for your yard!

Related Questions

Can you put mulch over grass?

To lay mulch over grass, you must first suppress or smother the grass using newspapers or cardboard. Then, you can lay the mulch over the top!

Is mulch bad for dogs?

Mulch is not bad for dogs, but it’s important to make sure that they don’t eat any. Some types of mulch can cause an upset stomach or other health problems if ingested.Always check with your veterinarian before using mulch if you have any pets that like to chew on sticks in the backyard.

Can mulch go bad?

Yes, mulch can go bad. It should be replaced around every 5 years or so.