Mistakes You Could Make if You Install Your Rock Ground Cover Yourself

Mistakes You Could Make if You Install Your Rock Ground Cover Yourself

If you're planning to install a rock ground cover in your landscape beds in Illinois, it's important to be aware of common mistakes that can occur during the process. One mistake is installing the layer too thick or too thin, which can harm your plants or fail to provide the intended benefits of this ground cover, respectively. Another mistake is placing the rocks too close to the base of your plants, which can suffocate them and hinder their growth. Additionally, failing to remove weeds before installing rocks can lead to weed growth and competition for nutrients with your plants.

You Install the Rock Ground Cover Too Thick or Too Thin

When installing a rock ground cover in your landscape beds, it's important to consider the thickness of the layer. When it's too thick, it can be problematic because it can suffocate your plants by blocking their access to air, water, and nutrients. This can lead to poor plant health and even death. On the other hand, installing a layer that's too thin may not provide adequate coverage for your landscape beds, which won't serve the intended health benefits for your plants.

The ideal thickness for a rock ground cover is around 2-3 inches. This provides enough coverage to suppress weeds, control erosion, retain moisture, and regulate soil temperature while still allowing your plants to access the resources they need to thrive. By ensuring that the layer of rocks is not too thick or too thin, you can create healthy and visually appealing landscape beds.

Installing rocks too close to the base of your plants can suffocate them.

Another common mistake when installing a rock ground cover is placing the rocks too close to the base of your plants. This can suffocate your plants by blocking their access to air, water, and nutrients. It can also create conducive conditions for diseases. To avoid this mistake, it's important to leave a small gap between the rocks and the base of your plants, ideally about one inch. This allows air, water, and nutrients to reach the roots of your plants, promoting healthy growth. It also provides space for new growth to emerge, ensuring that your plants continue to thrive.

Failing to remove weeds before installing rocks is a common mistake you want to avoid.

One of the most common mistakes when installing a rock ground cover is failing to remove weeds beforehand. Weeds can quickly take over your landscape beds, competing with your plants for nutrients and resources. If you install rocks over existing weeds, they will continue to grow and spread, making it difficult to control them later on, as well as detracting from your landscape's curb appeal.

To prevent this, it's important to thoroughly remove all weeds from your landscape beds before installing the rocks. This can be done by pulling them out by hand or using a herbicide to eliminate them. By removing the weeds beforehand, you can ensure that your landscape beds remain weed-free and your plants have access to the resources they need to thrive.

Sign up for our rock installation service by calling us today!

A rock ground cover will refine the aesthetic of your landscape beds while benefiting plant health, and our team at Creekside Landscapes will install it for you! We'll properly prepare your beds by removing weeds and debris before installing rocks at the correct thickness. That way, they provide their intended benefits. You can also choose from our various options to achieve your desired look, including purple trap rocks, river rocks, cobbles, and more!

We offer our rock installation service to residential and commercial properties, plus HOAs, in Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Bethalto, IL, and surrounding areas. Sign up today by calling us at (618) 374-0010!