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Cedar vs Stone Mulch

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Posted by emba129 6 (My Page) on
Mon, Jun 20, 05 at 13:18

I have a dilemma.

Trying to decide between cedar mulch (organic) and stone chips (chocolate color 3/4" chips) for new beds we are putting in.

I like the idea of low maintenance of the stone but am concerned about stone: insulating value in both winter and summer, weeds, discoloration of stones through acid rain, mold, moss etc. You really cant clean them , Can you?

My biggest concern is really how the shrubs and plant I am about to put in will be affected by the stone. I know from experience that plants do well in cedar or organic mulch.

I am in the middle of this project right now.. and am getting cold feet on the stone.

Anybody experienced in this area.. can lend some thoughts???

Thanks
Chris

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RE: Cedar vs Stone Mulch

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Stone Chips are NOT low maintenance. There have been lots of posts on other forums about this. Weeds will grow up between the stones. Stones retain and or reflect heat and can cook your plants (this was in reference to the white chips, not sure about brown). If you ever change your mind about the location of the bed it is a real pain to remove all those stones. I would stick with mulch.

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RE: Cedar vs Stone Mulch

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I have posted on this subject in the past. And in case I was not perfectly clear before, here's my opinion: NEVER NEVER NEVER use stone mulch anywhere!!! What a pain in the patootie it is. It's dirty. It's unstable. It's too mobile (imagine kids, pets, etc. running through, around, and over it). It will never never decompose and make your soil better. And last, but not least, it will be a real &itch to remove when you finally get fed up with it.

  
 

 

 


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