Using rock mulch

[Heruga]

So I am thinking of applying rock as mulches in my bed. However, I already have natural cedar mulch on my beds. would it be ok to apply rocks over the cedar mulches? That would provide more protection from weeds right?
Also for those of you who use rock mulch, what are the benefits of it over wood mulch?

 

[Chuck]

The only benefit of rock over wood is that it doesn't decompose and go away. Weeds will still grow through rock and when they do it is harder to remove them

 

[Heruga]

The only benefit of rock over wood is that it doesn't decompose and go away. Weeds will still grow through rock and when they do it is harder to remove them

Ok well if theres wood mulch underneath it, weeds wouldn't grow as much right? Also I heard about the rock absorbing and reflecting heat and how that affects plants negatively..is that true? I know it depends on the type of plant but how about like general deciduous/evergreen plants.

 

[Chuck]

Ok well if theres wood mulch underneath it, weeds wouldn't grow as much right? Also I heard about the rock absorbing and reflecting heat and how that affects plants negatively..is that true? I know it depends on the type of plant but how about like general deciduous/evergreen plants.

The weeds will be just as bad with rock on top of wood. Absorbing and reflecting heat? I have never heard or seen that affect a plant negatively. You want the soil to be cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter and wood or rock will do this.
About reducing weeds. On a wood mulch when weeds appear the plant and the roots are fairly easy to remove. Many times you can do it with a rake but if you put rocks down either on top off wood mulch or not it is just about impossible. Using a rake is out of the question and the weeds themselves, when they grow up through rocks are much harder if not impossible to pull up and the only resort you have is either to rake the rocks out of the way or use chemicals to kill the weeds. The only place rock mulch is used to an advantage is in an arid desert like climate

 

[Esther Knapicius]

My worry is when I cut the grass, will any of the rocks be moved to those areas, and hurt the lawn mower. Mulch moved does not. The other thing with mulch, as it slowly breaks down that is good stuff for the plants also.

 

[DrCase]

I have river rock in the bed along the front of my house. I just grow spruce and cedar shrubs in it . Weed are not a issue .

I would like to get palm size rocks to top it one day

 

[Heruga]

Well you know how rocks get really hot when the sunlight hits directly on it, so wouldn't the heat from the rock go down to the soil and then the roots of the plants as well? I'm worried this might causes burning of the roots. Well I'll do some more research on that and take all of your advices as well. But I'm not so concerned about the weeds because I won't be using big rocks that heavy to the point I can't move it. I'll be using small stones.
As for mowing, yes we mow our grass every 2 weeks but we can just avoid it if we ever get rocks. So that wouldn't be an issue.
Dr case, so only conifers are meant for rock mulch?

 

[Beth_B]

Well you know how rocks get really hot when the sunlight hits directly on it, so wouldn't the heat from the rock go down to the soil and then the roots of the plants as well? I'm worried this might causes burning of the roots. Well I'll do some more research on that and take all of your advices as well. But I'm not so concerned about the weeds because I won't be using big rocks that heavy to the point I can't move it. I'll be using small stones.
As for mowing, yes we mow our grass every 2 weeks but we can just avoid it if we ever get rocks. So that wouldn't be an issue.
Dr case, so only conifers are meant for rock mulch?

Well heat rises...if anything I'd think rock mulch would deflect heat from the soil itself.

 

[DrCase]

I have a neighbor that has only gravel rock beds in his yard
Every thing grows just fine
It just takes a blower to clean the leaves out

 

[CrazyConure]

Do not use rocks. I'm struggling now because they used rock mulch in the dirt. It goes inside the soil and makes it rocky. It's much harder to clear away. Use something that can decompose and add a rich layer of carbon.