Quote:
Originally Posted by PaPaLarry
Pine straw is very good for acid loving plants like azaleas etc. Yes, it does hold the moisture somewhat also. Rocks look nice, but really do not give to the plants, food or nutrition. In the summer when real hot, rocks get very hot and really dry out plant roots faster. Desert plants are better to grow where you have rocks. Bark mulch does hold the water better, and when I'm planting a plant or bush, I put some bark mulch chips in bottom of hole (to hold the moisture) and it seems to work well. I'm sure the extension services, on Rt 466 can help you with your problems and direct you right. They are great people, and full of knowledge.
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Ahhh, my favorite online garden buddy! Thoughtful post!
In addition to being acid loving, Azaleas have shallow roots in general and fine, (almost) surface roots just under the soil. Some other plants do as well, like Camellias and Gardenias so having rock covering can indeed transfer heat- when in full sun. .... but these bloomers prefer shadier spots, anyway.
Leaving some empty space around the base of the plants when rock is applied is usually best.
I'd say if one wants to be able to change out plantings regularly, like having seasonal annual beds for example, pine straw IS the easiest way to go as the pine straw settles into a mat that can be carefully rolled back in large sections (I use a garden claw tool), then easily rolled into place again around the new plantings. Rolling it back also allows an easy go to apply top dressing of soil as well, like seasonally adding Black Kow, or a product like that.
I consider pine straw to be more a shade guard than a moisture enhancer over the bare soil.
Weeds will pop up, but are very easy to pluck when there is pine straw- again, it can be rolled back to apply pre-emergent weed granules (Preen) if needed.
One big downside is, pine straw can look dull and ragged pretty quick, but can be turned/ top dressed easily with new.
There are color sprays (online) that can revive the look as well, if anyone is interested.
Other wood-type mulches are fine too, but look better if revitalized occasionally.
I have used pine straw and ground cover plants in the past here. I use rock now (leaving space around the base of plants) and confine my seasonal plantings to pots rather than displays in the ground.
Weeds are going to pop up in the rock as well- and they will be harder to pluck, but for the landscape design I have now, it works the best.
I have recently landscaped with plants that do not drop leaves or shed. A must when using rock, in my opinion.
