Wood bark chips or stone chips??
 

I'm in the process of deciding landscaping and can't decide to use bark wood chips or stone chips that look like the bark. The stone is much more in price but might be worth it. Any opinions would be helpful...thanks!

Stone. Permanent and the mulch can attract too many unwanted critters and termites.
Only an opinion.

All true but stone conducts heat to the plant roots and radiates heat back up in the surrounding areas.

No regrets putting down seminole rock....worth the price.

If you want to plant any flowers, digging in stone is a tough job.
I have pine bark nuggets, no critters or termites.

True! Once the stone is down it is difficult to make changes even when a plant dies.

I don't find the stone too difficult to move out of the way for a planting. I just use a rake and pull it back, just like I use to do with mulch. Stone definitely gets hot and I was concerned about that, but my plants are flourishing, so that hasn't been a problem.

If your landscaping is on any type of slight slope.......and if heavy rains cause run-off to flow through the beds........and you don't have any type of retaining edge around the outside of the beds - - - - - you'll want to consider the rock over the nuggets. The nuggets will have a tendency to get carried off in hard rains in the above situation.

Bill :)

Bark=Insects. I learned this from a friend who was an exterminator. He advised us NEVER to put wood around your foundation. Just inviting guests...the unwanted kind.

To make the job easier you need
 

The right tool for the job !

We put stone down for our landscaping last year, and I would highly recommend it. It will last forever, I can't imagine replacing the pine mulch a couple of times a year. Flowers are planted easily by raking the stones to the side, and even throughout the heat of the summer, our flowers have flourished. I also think the stone adds a lovely touch to the overall look of one's landscape.

I'd stick with pine straw...we have since 2006 and have no regrets.

I know it's only a personal preference, but to me the stone reminds me of Arizona and New Mexico landscapes. Also pine straw and mulch help replenish the sandy soil but as I said, it is certainly a personal choice.

DITTO.
Couldn't say it better.

Floating chips
 

Agree with Bill and Brillo. A hard rain will tend to wash you bark chips away. I'd go with rock.