Mulch and rock are top-tier ground cover materials for your landscape beds in Iowa. No matter your choice, both of these options will elevate the aesthetic of your yard and provide benefits such as weed prevention, soil erosion control, soil temperature regulation, and moisture retention. The only difference is that mulch will break down eventually and you'll need to replenish it more often than rock. If you opt for a rock ground cover, you can refresh it when the color begins to fade. Both are great options and you'll never go wrong with either; the choice will really depend on your personal preference and your tolerance for maintenance!

Mulch and rock both offer similar benefits as ground cover for your landscape bed.

Mulch ground cover on a landscape in Waukee, IA, by a lawn.

Both mulch and rock are great options for ground cover on your landscape beds. These two choices will give your landscape beds a nice, finishing look, making them look more polished and refined. While they each feature distinct looks and aesthetics, you can rely on both mulch and rock to enhance the visual appeal of your yard.

What's more, mulch and rock both offer similar benefits for your plants. As a ground cover, both of these options will provide these for your landscape:

  • Weed prevention: No matter the type of ground cover you choose, both mulch and rocks will suppress weed growth by covering the soil and inhibiting the access of any weed seeds to sunlight.
  • Soil erosion control: A mulch or rock ground cover will keep the soil on your landscape beds in place to ensure nutrients do not get displaced.
  • Soil temperature regulation: A ground cover with the right thickness will help maintain a stable environment for your plants' roots so they can withstand different weather conditions.
  • Improved moisture retention: Mulch and rock will help the soil retain more moisture by reducing water loss due to evaporation, meaning the roots of your plants will not dry out easily!

The main difference between the two is that mulch decomposes, whereas rock doesn't.

Rocks as a ground cover for landscape bed in Waukee, IA.

While mulch and rock both provide the same benefits, they have one distinct difference. Mulch is organic matter that decomposes over time, but rock does not decompose. As mulch decomposes, it releases nutrients into the soil, providing beneficial resources to your plants. However, it also means it will become thin and you'll need to replenish your mulch ground cover eventually.

While this means regular maintenance for a mulch ground cover, your plants will have the added benefit of absorbing helpful nutrients from the decomposing material. For rocks, you can get away with not replenishing them as often as mulch. You can start refreshing your rock ground cover when the color starts to fade!

Which option should you choose for your landscape?

When choosing between mulch or rock for your landscape, you'll want to remember that there is no wrong choice. Both of these options are great materials for your ground cover, and the choice will ultimately depend on your preference and aesthetic taste! Whether you want the natural look of mulch for your landscape beds or the modern and minimalist aesthetic of rocks, you'll get excellent results no matter your choice! You could also consider how much maintenance you can tolerate for your ground cover. Mulch needs to be replenished regularly as it will break down over time, while rock does not need to be.

Make sure you hire experts to install your mulch or rock ground cover!

Call us today to sign up for our mulch and rock installation services!

A fresh layer of ground cover on your landscape bed, whether mulch or rock, will make your yard look more appealing and pristine. Here at Brilliant Borders Landscaping, we offer our mulch and rock installation services to commercial and residential properties in and around Waukee, West Des Moines, and Urbandale. When you sign up for any of these services, your landscape beds will be covered with a mulch or rock ground cover that is at the right thickness to get you the best results. There is also a wide range of mulch and rock options that you can choose from so you can achieve the aesthetic you were going for. Give us a call today at (515) 664-6205 to sign up!