Mulch or Rock???

[BonnieIN]

Okay I need help deciding here folks. Please..........

Getting fairly close to completion.
Just need to add more landscaping, finish the waterfalls(skippy filters) Build the bridge to go over the DIY skimmers.

I don't know for sure what to do.
Where the pond is located, it would be too hard to mow if we left the grass so we've laid down landscaping fabric and are putting flat rocks down for a walkway.
Our pond is going to be a very informal pond....... watergarden per say. Pix of my pond are located here on this forum if you haven't noticed.

Now........ should we use smaller rock or gravel or mulch to fill in between the stepping stones and around the pond?

This will be at least 12-24 inches away from the pond because I've added alot of smaller rocks around the perimeter of the pond.


Got any suggestions?

Bonnie

[kba]

my two cents
I would use mulch,when i built my pond i used rocks and gravel around the pond.This year after spending time on message boards and seeing alot of different ponds,I found it was to much rock and gravel.So i picked up all the rock except for the edging on the pond,now I will be planting and mulching around it.
Here are before and almost after pics of my pond,i'm thinking of lowering the water falls to get rid of the volcano look.

[Jackie Ramo]

As long as its not the dread dyed mulches...

Bonnie, post a pic of the exact area you are talking about, that does make a difference. I'd lean towards rock as mulch can move but then so can pea gravel... Personally I like flat rocks interplanted with ground covers but this is not an easy look to maintain... gosh knows I've been unable to manage at this house. The last one had much less garden so it was easy to do.

[BonnieIN]

Jackie, no dyed red mulch! :wink:

Okay,
I have larger rocks on the rock ledge in the pond then gradually so to smaller rock at least a foot from the pond. The pathway is just going to be made with larger creekrock and filled in with gravel and mulch.
Also the whole remaining pond area is......

Maybe these pix will help.

Thanks again folks,
Bonnie

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/mywatergarden/april172005004.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/mywatergarden/april172005001.jpg

[Jackie Ramo]

And the patio and bar are located where???? :grin:

Have you considered cementing the rocks in? Just wishing I had.. nevermind

Uses for the area though are important considerations.

[BonnieIN]

Here's the Patio by the house, no bar though! :wink:

I don't think cementing would be a good idea because what if one of the PVC pipes would break?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/mywatergarden/april172005025.jpg

[Charla]

If I had that much mulch that close around my pond ... it would be IN my pond. Do You live in a windy area? Any animals that run around the pond? I'd go for the rock , but not that tiny pea gravel, interplanted with ground covers.

That sure is a nice looking pond!

Charla

[Ahhuhz]

I would lose a few of the walkway rock as they are almost overpowering, then put double ground mulch in between them. That would be a nice blend of colors.

[BonnieIN]

Chuck, stupid question here but what do you mean buy DOUBLE ground mulch?

Yes the rocks for the walkway are currently just thrown down. I agree that some of them are going to be removed/spread out a bit.

Thanks,
Bonnie

[marla]

Last year right after building our pond we put mulch on some areas. Hate it it is always blowing in the pond. This year I plan on doing a lot of planting so that will get rid of the mulch.

[BonnieIN]

Marla, I didn't want to hear that! :(
Is the mulch close to the edge of the pond?

I wonder if Pine Nuggets would be heavier and not blow into the pond?

I've got enough crap that blows into the pond already, I don't need to add to the problem!

[Dave in Innisfil]

I too am in the dilemna stage as to what I put between my large flagstones that surround our ponds as walkways. I've been busy with trying to save my fish, and clean my pond, but I'm also re-doing the stones in lulls between pump breaks.

Our stones WERE held in place with small black stones that we've grown tired of hurting our feet on. They wash out between the cracks and on to the flagstones, and generally have proven a nuisance. I use my snowblower to make paths around our ponds in winter, and the black rocks became dangerous projectiles. We HAD lots of moss binding a lot of them together, but we found they acted as a strainer for pine and spruce needles, and other debris. We also have two German Shepherds who aren't too selective on where they do their business at times, thus we hose the stones down regularly, displacing debris, hopefully not ending up in our pond.

We've got the fabric base down, and are opting to go limestone screenings. They compact nicely, aren't sharp to the feet, and will take the frequent cleanings we hope. .We're not sure how much we're going to need right now.... My back hurts thinking about wheelbarrowing it from the front to the back.

Just my 2 cents worth........

[Mickael]

Sore back? That's why I'm thinking hot tub before any more major pond mod's!

That pond is beautiful. I think I would use all the mulches. Here's what I mean.

First figure out my plantings... Out here I've got a wonderful growing environment. So what I use wouldn't apply. But I was born and raised on a farm in Minnesota and my parents were avid gardeners (I wish I knew half what they knew) so I'm a bit famliar with the climate (when I visit back there I come back with a deep appreciation for the Pacific Northwest)!

First mulch - ground covers. Grasses and wild flowers - co-mingle daylilies, etc. (I count zinnia as a wildflower - cause I love 'em). Grasses close to the pond catch windblown clutter.

Second. I'd use small river rock for run off areas. It looks like you've got a gentle slope away from the pond but if you get a good thunderstorm little rock channels move the water where you want it and the rock doesn't wash away.

Third organics. Out here the main mulch people use is bark. It does move around. I will mix rotted manure compost which helps bind a bit and filters some nutrients to my plants.

Last chemical. I use Preen to stop germination of weed seeds and other herbicides judiciously. A paint brush and a little Round up is very plant specific.

You've got a wonderful large area so you can set up little focal points. How cool would it be walk around a path and discover a Lady's Slipper? (gravel mulch there I would think).

Anyway. I love the whole look of a pond. There are so many sensory levels that get piqued. So I tend to ramble...

Once again... Very nice.

Mike

[Swamprat]

And the patio and bar are located where???? :grin:

Have you considered cementing the rocks in? Just wishing I had.. nevermind

Uses for the area though are important considerations.
8 shovels of sand/1 shovel of portland cement.. Use trinity white.
It'll stiffen the bed to be "almost concrete" but a couple of swingz with a pick and it'll break up easy and let you repair/regroup.
If ya want it brown spray the thing with PP/water and it'll turn to brown.
Liquid iron fetrilizzer does the same, with a bit more of an orange tint..

Here is mortar stained with iron to make it the same color as the cap rock.
Sweet ?

[Jackie Ramo]

Why thank you Rat. I'll try my luck with that on the small patio first. I'm guessing that first I have to remove all the flagstone already in place...Sure you wouldn't like to come up and do it for me :grin:

[OttawaPonder]

Bonnie, Here goes MTCW. Oh ok my half cent worth LOL

I like more of natural settings if at all possible. So if I had the room around my pond as you do and the pond edge was at least 6" to 1' higher then ground grade I would:

1) Place the stepping stones/walkway in such a way to cuase people to slow down when they walk by or around the pond. Fewer stones a good amount of spacing inbetween them. Yet not to far to make it hard for some to walk around. This way it thin them out and you will have the look of less stones/rocks around your pond like others have said.

2) Then I dump good rich top soil all arund the pond and even inbetween the stepping stones as well.

3) I search out many kinds of ground cover that grows well in that area. Creeping Jeeny, Thyme, Ornimental(sp) Grasses, Sedum and so on and so forth.

4) I place some thyme (the low growing type) inbetween the stepping stones. This way when anyone steps on the thyme it releases its fragrance.

5) I place low growing evergreens, juniper(sp) and so forth, here and there around the pond.

6) Fill in with other things you like and then use a good mulch around it all untill the ground cover is fully grown to fill in the bare spots.

The Mrs and I just love the thyme we have between our stones. Every time I walk around the pond or even cut across the walkway I end up stepping on it and you can smell the lovely fragrance.

NOTE: Once the thyem and/or many other kinds of ground cover get established it will take off and you will have to trim it fomr time to time. That is the only thing I didnot like about ht thyme in our sidewalk. If I leave it allone it starts covering the nice granite stones in our walkway.

Best of Luck. Keep us posted and pictures are a must. :grin: