How to Clean Rock Mulch in a Landscape

Rock mulch gives a landscaped area a different look than standard wood mulch. Rock mulch comes in many varieties, sizes and colors, so it's easy to find the perfect compliment to your landscape. Rock mulch is a permanent landscaping item, so if you prepare the area properly and keep it maintained, you don't have to redo it. Cleaning rock mulch in landscaping is a simple process that requires minimal time and effort.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Power blower
• Garden gloves
• Garden hose

1. Blow leaves, dust and other debris from the mulch with a power blower. Use the strongest blower setting available because you do not have to worry about moving the rock. Gather the leaves and dispose of them.

2. Pull weeds out of the rock mulch by hand to ensure you remove the root of the weed and not just the stalk.

3. Rinse the rock mulch regularly with a garden hose to remove dirt and pollen. If allowed to build up over time, dirt between the rocks can form an inviting environment for more weeds to grow.

Tips & Warnings

• Place a strong weed barrier under your rock mulch.
• Always wear gloves when pulling weeds. Do not cover the base of plants with rock mulch; the plants could choke. Do not use dark-colored rock mulch around plants because it absorbs heat and could burn the plants.

References

• Golden Harvest Organics