[VApeople]

It seems that a lot of people have the pine straw mulch removed and replaced with something else, like stones, rubber pellets, or cypress mulch.

Have any of you had your pine straw removed? If so, what did you use to replace it?

[tbussche]

We just put cypress mulch on top of our old pine straw mulch. We like it much better.

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[borjo]

After about 8 years of using pine needles, I switched to plain old medium sized pine bark. I have many less weeds now. It's easier to remove the clippings from my pruned shrubs. I'm so glad I did it.

[kaydee]

rubber mulch.... been down now for about 8 yrs

[NYGUY]

Stone....like the look!!

Originally Posted by kaydee

rubber mulch.... been down now for about 8 yrs

RUBBER MULCH -Beware

"Rubber mulch is typically made from ground up recycled tires and has generated a lot of discussion on the benefits and risks or dangers of using it.

"There seems to be two schools of thought on rubber mulch. It seems that all the studies paid for by the rubber mulch manufacturers and tire companies show benefits after their PR firms get through with them, while all the independent studies show that it is toxic and dangerous."

The above is a partial quote from Nature's Way Resources -- an organically based service company. Please refer to their site:

http://www.natureswayresources.com/D...ubberMulch.pdf

and read about rubber mulch. You probably will never use it and you shouldn't if you care about your landscaping and the environment.

Originally Posted by NYGUY

Stone....like the look!!

I agree that the looks of stones is very nice, however they add nothing to the soil. In the hot sun your plants bake because the stones hold the heat. Even with a weed block barrier, the stones eventually get buried in the dirt and weeds form easily.

Most insects don't like cypress mulch and it doesn't wash away. Wood chips, cypress mulch or any type of wood is your best best because when it breaks down, it adds good things to the soil. Depending upon the thickness you mulch, if you put down a good layer, you won't have to add to it for a couple of years.

[villagetinker]

We also went with wood chips, we were concerned about using stone (see previous comment), and master gardener stated stones were NOT good for plants. We do get some movement of the wood chips during VERY HEAVY rains, but has happened only once this year so far, and only in the front near the driveway and side walk. It appears the gutters in this area get overwhelmed and the overflow causes the wood chips to move.
Hope this helps.

[VApeople]

Thank you all for some very informative answer!

My wife is very much against the pine straw. Of course. I kid her and say how much I love the stuff. Whenever we see someone having their pine straw removed, I say, "Oh, I bet they will give us some extra pine straw if I ask real nice." Yes, that is how our marriage has lasted 45 years.

[justjim]

Rock/stone for looks and the convenience of not having to top it off every year. We have used rock (medium size) for about 10 years at three different houses and our plants and trees have all done well. To each his own.