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Default Mulch substitute -- crushed brick ??

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


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Default Mulch substitute -- crushed brick ??

On Wed, 30 May 2007 22:03:13 -0400, James no wrote:
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.


It usually is a lava, and it is, imho, ugly. Terribly ugly when it's not
like the native rock of the area.

The problem (and my question) is whether or not weeds are a big problem if
you use that product as a mulch subtitute.


Weeds (and other seeds) require several things for germination:
1) a suitable growing medium
2) enough water
3) light

The easy way to prevent weed growth is what agronomists call "canopy
closure" -- plants growing so densely that light doesn't reach the soil.
Or starving the surrounding soil of water, which you're not going to do
during the establishment phase of the plantings. 3-4" of coarse rock
isn't likely to do much unless it's well packed. Doesn't sound like
you can provide that. Red light of the wavelengths that trigger germination
can penetrate 18" of some soils.

If you're dealing with a slope so steep you can't keep mulch on it, you're
going to continue to have erosion. Were it mine, I'd probably do some
mini-terracing and use an organic mulch with a tackifier until the plantings
are dense enough to hold the soil.

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Default Mulch substitute -- crushed brick ??

On May 31, 4:42 am, Kay Lancaster wrote:
On Wed, 30 May 2007 22:03:13 -0400, James no wrote:
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.


It usually is a lava, and it is, imho, ugly. Terribly ugly when it's not
like the native rock of the area.

The problem (and my question) is whether or not weeds are a big problem if
you use that product as a mulch subtitute.


Weeds (and other seeds) require several things for germination:
1) a suitable growing medium
2) enough water
3) light

The easy way to prevent weed growth is what agronomists call "canopy
closure" -- plants growing so densely that light doesn't reach the soil.
Or starving the surrounding soil of water, which you're not going to do
during the establishment phase of the plantings. 3-4" of coarse rock
isn't likely to do much unless it's well packed. Doesn't sound like
you can provide that. Red light of the wavelengths that trigger germination
can penetrate 18" of some soils.

If you're dealing with a slope so steep you can't keep mulch on it, you're
going to continue to have erosion. Were it mine, I'd probably do some
mini-terracing and use an organic mulch with a tackifier until the plantings
are dense enough to hold the soil.



IMO, stone and mulch don't differ all that much in detering weeds.
I've used mulch for years with no major weed problems. And rock
sounds good, at least initially. But after time, organic matter,
like leaf fragments, wind blown dust, etc, settle in and then there is
enough matter to support some weeds.

A draw back to rocks is that in hot environments, they expose the
plants to a lot more heat stress than mulch would. However, in the
right place with the right plants stone can be fine.

I'm having a hard time figuring out how mulch is so easily coming off
a sloped area. I have 2 steep piles of mulch sitting in my driveway
for 2 months now and they haven't spread out. Is a lot of water
washing down from a hill above? If so, a solution might be to put a
drainpipe along the slope above the mulch/planting area to intercept
the runoff and route it around the bed.

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Default Mulch substitute -- crushed brick ??

On May 30, 9:03 pm, "James" no 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 ??


Agree w/ the other two respondents' comments.

Only would add that imo if you think the look appropriate for the
area, it could be sufficient to hold the weed barrier in place. It
definitely won't stop weed growth on its own and indeed will be less
effective by itself than mulch by itself owing to the porous nature.
Undoubtedly those installations you've seen have barrier cloth below.

--

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Default Mulch substitute -- crushed brick ??

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.


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Default Mulch substitute -- crushed brick ??


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


Google "rubber mulch". It's made from shredded tires, dyed in several
colors, and you have to look very close to tell it's not cypress
mulch. Available in most localities.

Red

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Default Mulch substitute -- crushed brick ??

"James" no wrote in message
.. .
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


Yep, I can play with words too.

There's organic mulch, meant to absorb and contain moisture and promote
growth of surrounding plants. Not to be confused with the close relative
word: compost. There's, also, inorganic mulch which does the opposite.
Like crushed brick.

There's also mulch used a perimeter boundary around trees and so forth
that's organic but has slow decay process. Depth of such mulch is key in
preventing growth of unwanted plant growth other than the tree itself.

Mulch, what BS word. Ought be politicized.
Dave


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Default Mulch substitute -- crushed brick ??

It may be lava rock as others have suggested (it would have holes thoughout
each piece), but one large landscape supplier near me does indeed carry crushed
red tile.

--
Dennis

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Default Mulch substitute -- crushed brick ??

"Kay Lancaster" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 30 May 2007 22:03:13 -0400, James no wrote:
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.


It usually is a lava, and it is, imho, ugly. Terribly ugly when it's not
like the native rock of the area.

The problem (and my question) is whether or not weeds are a big problem
if
you use that product as a mulch subtitute.


Weeds (and other seeds) require several things for germination:
1) a suitable growing medium
2) enough water
3) light


Germination of seed does not require light of any kind. Nor does it require
any soil or other medium. Presence of adequate, but not overdoing it, water
is required. The other primordial requirement is temperature range.

Many people, including myself, can cause a pinto bean to germinate on a
sponge in the window sill.
Dave


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Default Mulch substitute -- crushed brick ??

["Followup-To:" header set to alt.building.construction.]
On Sat, 02 Jun 2007 06:40:54 GMT, Dave wrote:
"Kay Lancaster" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 30 May 2007 22:03:13 -0400, James no wrote:
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.


It usually is a lava, and it is, imho, ugly. Terribly ugly when it's not
like the native rock of the area.

The problem (and my question) is whether or not weeds are a big problem
if
you use that product as a mulch subtitute.


Weeds (and other seeds) require several things for germination:
1) a suitable growing medium
2) enough water
3) light


Germination of seed does not require light of any kind. Nor does it require
any soil or other medium. Presence of adequate, but not overdoing it, water
is required. The other primordial requirement is temperature range.

Many people, including myself, can cause a pinto bean to germinate on a
sponge in the window sill.


As I said... suitable growing medium, enough water, light (try growing that
pinto bean in a darkroom for a few weeks) And yes, temperature is a factor.
So is oxygen tension. Both are generally not an issue in
upper level natural seed banks outdoors.




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Default Mulch substitute -- crushed brick ??

James wrote:
[...]

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.

[cutting to the chase]

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

I've seen it at Barbecue Bob's Family Style Restaurants. It looks
really good and tastes even better. It's a bean type product.

I think he's over at alt.cooking-chat. And now to return to the
topic... I wonder how Bob cleans small blotches on linoleum.
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Default Mulch substitute -- crushed brick ??


"Denominator" wrote in message
...
James wrote:
[...]

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.

[cutting to the chase]

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

I've seen it at Barbecue Bob's Family Style Restaurants. It looks really
good and tastes even better. It's a bean type product.

I think he's over at alt.cooking-chat. And now to return to the topic...
I wonder how Bob cleans small blotches on linoleum.


He doesn't.
He's got tile.

peggo


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Default Mulch substitute -- crushed brick ??

peggo wrote:
"Denominator" wrote in message
...
James wrote:
[...]
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.

[cutting to the chase]
Have any of you ever used this crushed brick product, or can any of you
offer comments or advice ??

I've seen it at Barbecue Bob's Family Style Restaurants. It looks really
good and tastes even better. It's a bean type product.

I think he's over at alt.cooking-chat. And now to return to the topic...
I wonder how Bob cleans small blotches on linoleum.


He doesn't.
He's got tile.

peggo


I mean the kitchen, not the restrooms/snackrooms. If he put bathroom
flooring in the kitchen, no decent chef would work for him.
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