James wrote:
I have a fairly large gazebo, built on the side of a mountain, on a sloped
site. I have planted many plants all around the structure, and I need a
mulch substitute. The site is too steep for regular mulch. or straw, as
the rains will just wash it down. Same problem with installing weed
screens, any mulch on top of that will just wash away.

I have seen what looks like crushed red brick in commercial restaurants such
as McDonald's etc. It may be a lava type product, but the last time I
noticed, it looks like crush brick pieces. It is a reddish color, and it
looks really good where I have seen it.

The problem (and my question) is whether or not weeds are a big problem if
you use that product as a mulch subtitute. I would think that if you got
it 3 or 4 inches deep, weeds would not grow through it, like it will with
mulch. My thinking is that mulch retains moisture, and promotes weed
growth, and that the brick product would not hold moisture. By the way,
this is in a shady area, and the "mulch" would be more for looks that for
preserving moisture for the plants. That is not a concern or problem in my
situation.

Have any of you ever used this crushed brick product, or can any of you
offer comments or advice ??

Thank you very much !!

James


Lava rock will definitely be displaced before real rock would be - I
made the mistake of dumping a cart load into our channel and found out
the darn stuff floats! Shredded cypress, thick enough, compacted and
damp, will stay in place against a leaf blower. It will last a couple
of years and blocks most weeds. Nothing will keep out all weeds, but
shr. cypress works best here in FL. River rock on top of landscape
cloth works very well, also.

To keep any mulch from going downhill on a slope, you can use either an
edging or plants - clumps of grassy plants would keep it in place.

With stone on top of landscape cloth, you need to avoid dumping soil on
top of it. Accumulated soil - there will always be a little - will grow
weeds but sparingly; weeds here will have shallow roots and be easy to
pull out.