Are you looking for some design inspiration for your backyard? Need a great landscaping idea with mulch and rocks as the main components? I’ve got you covered!
In this article, we’ve collected and compared some great examples of yards that feature these two materials.
What is a better way to continue a natural design than with rock and mulch landscaping?
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- 1 Rocks & Stones For Your Rock Garden
- 2 Follow The Diamond Path
- 3 Stepping Stones
- 4 A Curving Pathway
- 5 White Magic
- 6 Around The Corner
- 7 Let It Flow
- 8 Rocking Out
- 9 Mulch Planters
- 10 Rocky Mountains
- 11 An Impressive Welcome
- 12 Compare & Contrast
- 13 A Taste Of The Mediterranean
- 14 Yin & Yang
- 15 Give It A Desert Look
- 16 Give It A Swirl!
- 17 Rocking At The Border
- 18 Red, White, & Green
- 19 Dividers
- 20 Mulch At The Border
- 21 Autumn Paradise
- 22 Step To It!
- 23 Brightening The Pond
- 24 Faux Natural!
- 25 The Waterfall
- 26 Bordering The Fishpond
- 27 Pros & Cons Of Rocks & Mulch: How To Choose Between The Two?
- 28 FAQs
- 29 Landscaping Ideas With Mulch & Rocks: Conclusion
- 30 About The Author
Rocks & Stones For Your Rock Garden
I’m all for collecting rocks and stones outside; this idea can cost almost no money. Just keep in mind it is not always allowed, according to geology.com, a leading portal to geology and Earth science news.
Follow The Diamond Path
This diamond design is a very simple way to design a path, yet it adds decoration, functionality, and provides a great first impression.
I have to say that, in person, it looks much more elegant, especially with a flower garden on the side. This also increases your house’s curb appeal!
| Pros | Cons |
| Enhances the look of a flower garden | Requires skill and tools to create the design |
| Can increase your home’s curb appeal | Requires occasional maintenance |
| Easy and simple DIY project | May attract pests and insects |
Stepping Stones
Image credit: couponsforyourfamily.com
This is a more traditional way to lay stepping stones in mulch to create either a functional or decorative path through a backyard or garden.
The stones look like river rocks, but check out the design on couponsforyourfamily.com, a website focusing on coupon codes and recipes for families with a few landscaping posts, where you’ll see that they are made of polypropylene.
This idea is also excellent for covering up mud in your backyard. If you have a mud problem, I’d suggest you check out more ideas here!
| Pros | Cons |
| Easier to install compared to other solutions | The polypropylene material may not look very natural |
| Can be an effective solution for covering the mud | Requires occasional maintenance |
| May not be as durable | |
| Not eco-friendly |
A Curving Pathway
This is an example of how rocks can allow you to easily create a pathway that curves and leads your eyes (and feet) around the features in your landscaping design. It’s exactly how I like it; simple but very effective and perfect for my home’s curb appeal.
| Pros | Cons |
| Showcases landscaping features | Requires physical and laborious work |
| Can be costly | |
| Requires occasional maintenance | |
| Can be messy and easily spread onto other areas |
White Magic
Done correctly, using white can be a great idea for landscaping. These rock slabs are rectangular and are laid symmetrically to lead to a white feature – the gate.
I think that this color scheme works beautifully, and the scattered rocks around the slabs make it even more interesting.
| Pros | Cons |
| Aesthetically pleasing and modern design | Can require high maintenance as dirt and debris are more visible |
| Creates a visually striking contrast with greenery | May require professional help to achieve the desired aesthetic |
| Durable and long-lasting |
Around The Corner
Image credit: homespecially.com
This is another great example of how simple curvature can wrap around your landscaping features and provide an interesting path for your feet to follow. This time, shrubs sit in mulch on either side of the path, to create an interesting and more natural feel.
I’d highly suggest you check out this and many other interesting but simple front yard ideas at homespecially.com, one of the top blogs in the home improvement space.
| Pros | Cons |
| Uses soft landscaping with mulch and shrubs to create a cohesive design | Requires regular maintenance |
| May require professional assistance to achieve the desired look | |
| Can be messy and easily spread onto other areas |
Let It Flow
Image credit: decorelated.com
If you’re looking for a path design with a twist, I think you should look no further than this one. It doesn’t use rocks and mulch in the traditional stepping stone way and instead has a solid path with bark mulch on the side, to provide space for plants and other features.
See more landscaping with mulch ideas at decorelated.com, a website dedicated to interior and exterior design.
| Pros | Cons |
| Unique and creative path design | May require more maintenance than traditional stone paths |
| Provides space for plants and other landscaping features | May not be as durable as stone paths |
Rocking Out
This bed of bark mulch has provided the perfect platform for shrubs, trees, and rocks to come together in a design that looks almost prehistoric. I believe that the name “Rocking Out” fits this one perfectly.
| Pros | Cons |
| Creates a more natural look | May require additional maintenance to keep the shrubs looking neat |
| Simple and easy way to upgrade your yard |
Mulch Planters
Image credit: homespecially.com
Fresh mulch can be an even, attractive, and low-maintenance way to create simple and affordable planting areas. Check out this, and others on this list of affordable walkway landscaping ideas at homespecially.com, a blog full of great interior and exterior designs.
Also, I’d highly suggest you check out this image collection with walkway ideas for the backyard.
| Pros | Cons |
| Creates a uniform look | Needs to be replenished regularly |
| Low-maintenance landscaping | Can attract pests and mold |
| Affordable |
Rocky Mountains
Check out this impressive, large feature, proving rocks and cedar mulch can be an affordable way to fill big spaces when your budget can’t stretch to include more indulgent features.
The size of the stones and the huge shrubs and plants make a bold statement and create what I can only describe as a forest-like atmosphere.
| Pros | Cons |
| Affordable but impressive | May not appeal to everyone’s taste |
| Creates a forest-like atmosphere | Can be difficult to maintain |
| Eco-friendly |
An Impressive Welcome
Image credit: goodsgn.com
I believe that this design is truly impressive and uses rocks and bark mulch to completely fill the front yard. Patterns and planter areas are made out of positioned rocks and stones and are complemented by gorgeous plants and shrubs. This amazing design is just one of more than 15 on this list from goodsgn.com, a blog full of great home designs.
| Pros | Cons |
| Visually stunning | May require regular maintenance |
| Eco-friendly feel | May be time-consuming and expensive depending on the size |
Compare & Contrast
Image credit: decorelated.com
We love the way the rocks create a border for the mulch planting area here, creating a huge, yet affordable landscape idea that has made its way onto a list of easy and beautiful front yard landscaping ideas. See this list at decorelated.com, a blog full of interior and exterior design ideas.
Check out another post with other landscaping and fence ideas to get inspired.
| Pros | Cons |
| Affordable landscaping option | Rocks may be difficult to move or rearrange once they are in place |
| Adds texture and depth to the landscape | Rocks can become hot and potentially dangerous in areas with high temperatures |
| Weeds can still grow between the rocks, requiring maintenance |
A Taste Of The Mediterranean
The way this Greek-style piece of pottery appears to spill the rocks into the rest of the yard looks like it could be straight out of the Med. I think that this creates a beautiful look with minimum hassle, and it’s an easy way to create a planting area where there wasn’t one before.
| Pros | Cons |
| Unique and beautiful look | May not fit in with the style of the rest of the yard |
| Requires minimal effort to create a new planting area | The pottery could be fragile and easily break |
| Gives a Mediterranean vibe |
Yin & Yang
Image credit: homespecially.com
The curved contrast between rock and garden mulch in this design is a simple but attractive feature. There are some colorful plants mixed in, which I think definitely makes it more interesting.
This is one of the best front yard rock landscaping ideas from homespecially.com, a website full of DIY home improvement ideas, which doesn’t have to take long to make.
| Pros | Cons |
| Visually appealing | Requires skills to create the curve |
| Colorful plants add interest and variety to the design | Requires extra maintenance |
Give It A Desert Look
I love the random look of these rocks, scattered around the wood mulch and with a smattering of attractive, drought-tolerant plants. This looks even better in person!
| Pros | Cons |
| Unique and interesting visual appeal | May be difficult to clean and maintain |
| Environmentally friendly | Can be messy and easily spread onto other areas |
| Low water consumption |
Give It A Swirl!
What an inventive way to create some interest around a small tree in the garden! This swirl of rocks and mulch grabs your attention (it definitely caught mine) and allows for more planting space.
| Pros | Cons |
| Adds visual interest | May require some manual labor to create |
| Eco-friendly | Might not fit certain garden styles |
| Inexpensive DIY project |
Rocking At The Border
Rocks can be an often overlooked but very useful way to cover big areas. Check out this backyard border made of rocks I found, with mulch planting areas around it.
| Pros | Cons |
| Low-maintenance | Rocks can be heavy and difficult to move |
| Add visual interest and texture | Weeds can still grow between the rocks, requiring maintenance |
| Can help with erosion control and water conservation | Rocks can become hot and potentially dangerous in areas with high temperatures |
Red, White, & Green
Flashes of color can be a very exciting way to spruce up the yard and they don’t have to be overly ambitious. This clever combination of red plants, white rocks, and bark mulch is another drought-tolerant design. And I think it’s even better than the one I mentioned above!
| Pros | Cons |
| Add excitement and visual interest to the yard | May require some initial investment for purchasing plants |
| Low maintenance and require less water | Color choices may not be to everyone’s taste |
| Some types of plants may require more maintenance or may not thrive in certain climates |
Dividers
This is a great backyard design that can divide large sections, such as wooded, tree-filled areas, green grass, and planting zones with mulch. It’s a great way to accomplish a big change on a budget.
Here are a few more landscaping ideas on a budget that I found.
| Pros | Cons |
| Defines and organizes outdoor spaces | May require extensive planning and execution |
| Enhances the overall aesthetic appeal | Can be time-consuming to implement |
| Can increase property value | May require permits or consultations with professionals |
| DIY-friendly and budget-friendly option | Requires regular maintenance to preserve the design |
| Weeds can still grow between the rocks, requiring maintenance |
Mulch At The Border
Mulch at the borders allows for planting areas, whereas the rocky, gravel spot could be used for extra parking, a play area, or even some seating as long. Depending on the destination of the area, you need to chose proper stone as our expert Chris DeFeo explains in his post.
| Pros | Cons |
| Helps retain moisture in the soil | Requires regular maintenance |
| Suppresses weed growth | Needs to be replaced every year or two |
| Adds nutrients to the soil | Not be suitable for areas with high foot traffic or pets that dig |
Autumn Paradise
Check out these gorgeous autumn colors! I have to say that this looks incredible, as it features deep reds and greens around a mulch border, combined with a further rocky area, to create a lovely autumnal look.
| Pros | Cons |
| Adds additional texture and interest to the scene | Maintainance may be time-consuming and/or costly |
| Rocks can become hot and potentially dangerous in areas with high temperatures |
Step To It!
An impressive and ambitious project, creating these beautiful layers of planting beds is sure to be worth the effort. The rocky beds on either side of the steps are spectacular, in my opinion.
| Pros | Cons |
| Beautiful and impressive display | Requires significant time and effort to plan and execute |
| Adds value and appeal to the property | May require a large financial investment |
| Requires ongoing maintenance |
Brightening The Pond
After digging a pond, I think that rocks and mulch are a wonderful way to recreate a landscape and the flashes of red that surround this pond are great.
| Pros | Cons |
| Adds natural elements to the area | Can be expensive to implement |
| Can help prevent erosion around the pond | Requires maintenance |
| Mulch can attract mold and pests |
Faux Natural!
This looks like a beautiful, natural setting, carved out by Mother Nature herself! But I have to admit that this rock-surrounded pond with mulch planting areas took way too much work.
| Pros | Cons |
| Beautiful and natural-looking setting | Requires a lot of maintenance and upkeep |
| Can attract wildlife, such as birds and frogs | Can be expensive to create and maintain |
| May attract unwanted pests, such as mosquitoes or snakes |
The Waterfall
This is another great example of how ponds, rocks, and bark mulch are your best friends. There’s just something so soothing about this, in my opinion.
| Pros | Cons |
| Creates a natural and calming environment | Can be costly |
| Requires extra maintenance |
Bordering The Fishpond
Image credit: hometalk.com
This fishpond installation looks more natural than it is! The rocks create a great border around the water and make the pond appear less manmade and the wood mulch is a good way to provide some planting space after installation.
I highly suggest you see more fishpond designs using mulch and rocks like this by visiting hometalk.com, a community full of DIY websites and brands.
| Pros | Cons |
| Natural look | Requires maintenance to keep its natural appearance |
| Can prevent water erosion around the pond | Costly installation |
Pros & Cons Of Rocks & Mulch: How To Choose Between The Two?
Both rocks and mulch have advantages and disadvantages, so choosing which one to use can be a bit daunting, especially if you like them both like I do. It comes down to your gardening goals, landscape design, and the conditions in your yard, but, to help you out, I have made a list of pros and cons for each of the two.
Mulch
As I found out from Linda Chalker-Scott, a Ph.D.Master Gardener, WSU editor,
Extension Urban Horticulturist and Associate Professor at Washington State University, using mulch has a few direct benefits. I’ve listed them all here and added a few cons.
| Pros | Cons |
| Aesthetically pleasing; comes in various colors for every taste | Needs to be replaced more often than rocks because it decomposes |
| Enhances water infiltration and retention so you can water your yard less frequently | Might be cheaper initially, but the cost adds up every time you need to replace or replenish mulch |
| Helps control weed growth and suppresses pathogens and some pests | Must be used early in the season before the weeds start growing |
| Protects plant roots from the heat in the summer and frost in the winter by maintaining moderate temperatures throughout the year | Too much mulch can be harmful (As advised by the Village of Bloomingdale website, the mulching depth should be 2 to 4 inches) |
| Neutralizes pollutants (you can read more about that in a dissertation written by Hanieh Soleimanifar from Montclair State University) | Can deplete nitrogen content from soil (Luckily, according to an article published by the University of Saskatchewan, this happens only in upper layers and does not affect your plants) |
| Prevents soil erosion and compaction | It blocks the sun and keeps the weeds from germinating |
| Easy to add to your garden and flower beds | Attracts some bugs, such as slugs, earwigs, and cutworms, since they adore the cool, dark, and moist environment |
| It is an organic matter that slowly breaks down and feeds your soil with nutrients | Not the best option for particularly rainy areas since the soil can be soggy too often |
To enjoy all these benefits, you must use mulch properly. Check out a great video I have found showing you how to do it:
Rocks
Rocks look great in contrast to green plants and blooming flowers. However, be careful where and how you use them.
As I read in a study conducted by Anja Schmithals and Norbert Kühn, Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning, Technische Universität Berlin, the soil temperature below gravel mulch is much higher, and that means this type of coverage might not be the best choice in areas with hot and dry climate. Here are all the pros and cons I know about:
| Pros | Cons |
| Come in various colors, shapes, and textures; highly customizable too | More expensive than mulch (but remember what I’ve told you: there is no need to replace it as often. If you are lucky, they can last you a lifetime!) |
| Last longer than mulch and require almost no maintenance | Harder to install (I had to put up a raised edge to prevent rocks from shifting) |
| Better at preventing erosion and runoff | Suitable only for plants that can withstand higher temperatures |
| Non-flammable (as I read in the Boulder County Land Use Department Publication, using rocks for landscaping around your home can save it from fire) | According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, rocks are not recommended for mulching around trees. The reflected heat might kill thin-barked trees. |
| Reduce the growth of weeds (I recommend using a fabric weed barrier underneath for best results) | Debris that gets stuck between stones and rocks is hard to clean and often must be removed manually |
| Ideal for heavy-traffic areas. Do not retain water, so the soil won’t be soggy (However, in my experience, rocks compact the soil) | Do not contribute to the plant’s well-being or the soil health. As I read in the Masterclass article, calcium carbonate-rich rocks can, over time, create alkaline soil, which is bad for the plants |
To protect your home from fire, consider placing rocks around it too. I found a great DIY video to help you:
FAQs
Can you mix rock and mulch in landscaping?
You can mix rock and mulch in landscaping. I recommend using organic mulch around your plants and trees to secure the much-needed nutrients and using rocks in heavy traffic areas.
Is it better to put rocks or mulch next to your house?
It is better to put rocks next to your house as they are non-flammable and can make a significant difference in case of a fire threatening your home. Rocks and crushed gravel also allow for better drainage allowing water to drain quickly. They last longer too.
What color of rock is best for landscape?
The best color of rock for landscape depends on personal preference. However, Kafka Granite, one of the largest US manufacturers of specialty aggregates and building stones, suggests considering complementary colors (the opposite ones on the color wheel) for your landscape design.
Do rocks or mulch attract bugs?
Rocks do not attract bugs, but mulch can. According to Inside & Out Property Inspectors, which are members of the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, as mulch decomposes it creates food that can attract some pests. I read that some mulch can even attract termites.
Do you need fabric under rock mulch?
You don’t need fabric under rock mulch, but I think it is better to have it. A fabric weed barrier will prevent the weeds from finding their way through the rocks and secure the best results.
Landscaping Ideas With Mulch & Rocks: Conclusion
Have you enjoyed our list of landscaping ideas?
I wanted to share what I’ve found and, hopefully, spark some inspiration in those of you who are planning on carrying out some landscaping of your own. Feel free to share this list with the people you think could find it useful!
Expert tip: If you want to get the maximum value for your landscaping efforts, check out our post about the best time for mulching and how you can make mulch from the leaves in your backyard. Also, beware of pests that might be hiding in mulch! Meanwhile, when it comes to rocks, you can use the ones you dug out from your yard.
We also have more dry landscape front yard ideas! Check them out, and let me know what you think!
We appreciate your advice on using mulch and pebbles in landscaping. What plants go best with this arrangement? I want to design a unified appearance.