We are on our third house in TV. Only made the mistake of wood chips the first time. Stone IMHO is the way to go!

stone!!! Easier maintenance....easy to replace plants when needed....no periodic replace or refresh required.

Around plants one should not have the stone up against the plant....just clear a circle under the plant12-18" in diameter....keeps the heat away and allows the roots to breath.

Once you have the facts/info to make a decision it all comes down to personal preference.

btk

The mulch is less expensive, there aren't any bad critters in there, the geckos eat 'em.
The mulch will toss around a bit in strong winds/rains.
It's healthier for your plants and natural.
The stone is permanent, costlier and easier.

If you're a *yard* person, you'd probably like mulch.
If you're not, then go stone.

Absolutely correct. Especially when they age, they become termite food.

After all these posts, I still don't know what to do. So, if you decide you tire of the placement and want to change the plants in general, are their patches you put down in the weed barrier in the places that have holes? How does that all work?
If you want to plant annuals, then you really want mulch?
Anyone put in stone in the back and then do a "stripe" of mulch to plant the annuals?

or pine needles
 

used by the Villages throughout!

Pine needles blow away, mulch floats away, both are insect magnets ..... stone may get too hot. Dang, what to do? We did stone, at least it does not attract bugs and termites.
Don & Kaz

There is another advantage to using stone, weeds can be burned off.

In fact they sell small propane tanks with long wands that you just point and zap, no chemicals to boot!!

:coolsmiley:

Personally, I don't know that I'd want to try that on any landscaping beds up next to the house.............or on anything during a dry spell............

Bill :)

Not what you think perhaps, Google it.

See [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vK60zTMcWw&feature=fvwrel"]this short clip[/ame]

Depends on how out of control your weeds are - - -

- - - and how comfortable the user feels lighting up a propane-powered weed torch in close proximity to their house........or during a dry spell.........

Bill :wave:

Stone very unhealthy for plants..."bakes" the roots in hot weather. Because they absorb so much heat, it also takes significantly more water to penetrate to plant roots. Both the U of Florida Extension and The Villages landscaping department strongly recommend against the use of stones for mulch. Ask yourself--how come you NEVER see stone mulch in any of The Villages landscaping?

Because it costs more up front. The pine straw is not maintenance free. The Villages supports a whole fleet of landscapers with your dues. I've seen them pull out perfectly good plantings because if they didn't they won't get paid.

staying with pine straw till we are full time

Stone is not maintenance free either. Weed control is still necessary.