5 Maintenance Tips for Rock and Mulch

Rock and mulch are incredibly popular landscaping materials because they provide natural beauty without the same maintenance that comes with shrubs, trees, and even a classic lawn. Despite being known for their simplicity, rock and mulch do require some maintenance to maintain their beauty over time. Here are five excellent tips that every business or homeowner can follow. 

#1 – Hose Them Down Every Few Weeks

A fantastic routine for keeping your rocks and mulch clean with little effort is to simply spray them down with a garden hose. For rock, use a nozzle attachment that provides enough pressure to remove dust, dirt, and grime that may build up. For mulch, switch to a very light mist setting and use an angle that eliminates built-up dust and debris that accumulates with time. 

#2 – Keep Weeds at Bay

When mulch is laid correctly, it should help keep weeds at bay – primarily if you apply a barrier between the ground and the mulch. Despite your best efforts, some weeds are persistent. If you notice weeds growing in your mulch or around your rocks, there are a few options you can take. You might simply walk around the property and remove them by hand as you spot them, or you might opt to use chemical weed killer. Both options have benefits and downfalls, so be sure to explore them carefully. 

#3 – Use a Rake to Level Your Rock & Mulch

There will inevitably come a time when loose rock or mulch finds its way outside the contained area, which can cause your landscaping to look unkempt. The best way to prevent this is to take a little time every few weeks to rake loose rock back into its appropriate space or remove any mulch from around your beds or paths. Next, use a rake to level out the rock and mulch to look fresh and new. 

#4 – Look for Sinking and Compacting 

Whether the large rocks on your property are sinking into the soft ground with time or the mulch in your yard is slowly getting compacted, there are some things you can do to remedy these issues and prevent them in the future. For large rocks that are sinking, place them on a gravel bed to help distribute the weight more evenly. Use a pitchfork to turn compacted mulch that is difficult to rake. 

#5 – Apply New Mulch and Rock as Needed

Loose rock or gravel and mulch add beauty to any landscape, but as the years go by, rock can break down due to weathering and erosion, and mulch will simply fall apart. Be prepared to replace your rock and mulch as needed. Mulch will usually need to be reapplied once every year, and rock will last for several years, depending on the type and the application. 

Rock and mulch are beautiful additions to your home or business landscaping, and, for the most part, they’re also incredibly easy to maintain. These five tips will help keep your property looking neat and clean for many years. If you have questions or find you need to add to your rock and/or mulch beds, give HK Contractors a call, and we’ll get your landscape looking as fresh as the day it was installed.