When it comes to landscaping in St. Louis County, MO, homeowners are often faced with one foundational question: Should I use mulch or decorative rock in my landscape beds? Each material offers distinct advantages, and your choice can greatly impact your yard’s health, appearance, and maintenance requirements.

At Sandy Creek Landscaping, we help clients across Oakville, Ballwin, Kirkwood, Mehlville, Affton, Manchester, and Lemay understand the strengths and weaknesses of both mulch and rock—and choose the right one for their unique goals and environment.

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🌿 What Is Mulch?

Mulch is an organic material, often made from shredded hardwood, bark, or compost, that’s applied to planting beds and tree bases. It improves soil health over time and provides insulation against weather extremes.

✅ Benefits of Mulch:

• Improves soil fertility as it breaks down

• Regulates soil temperature and moisture

• Suppresses weed growth

• Adds a natural, tidy look to beds

• Affordable and easy to replenish

⚠️ Considerations:

• Needs to be replaced annually or biannually

• Can attract insects if applied too thickly

• May blow away in high winds

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🪨 What Is Decorative Rock?

Rock landscaping includes river rock, gravel, lava rock, and crushed stone. These materials are inorganic and often used in modern or low-maintenance yard designs.

✅ Benefits of Rock:

• Long-lasting and doesn’t decompose

• Available in many colors and textures

• Excellent for areas with drainage concerns

• Deters pests and weeds when installed properly

⚠️ Considerations:

• Higher upfront cost

• Can raise surrounding temperatures in summer

• Doesn’t add nutrients to the soil

• Weeds may still pop up without proper barrier

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🌼 Where Should You Use Each?

Use Mulch If You…

• Have flower or vegetable beds

• Need to enrich poor soil

• Want to protect delicate plant roots

• Like the look of a natural, organic groundcover

Use Rock If You…

• Want long-term low-maintenance coverage

• Need excellent drainage in a problem area

• Prefer a polished, decorative appearance

• Are landscaping around foundations or dry creek beds

Many of our St. Louis landscaping clients use both materials strategically—mulch for their gardens and perennials, and rock for dry beds, borders, and foundation plantings.

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👷‍♂️ DIY vs. Professional Mulch & Rock Installation

Installing mulch might seem easy, but doing it correctly involves:

• Measuring for accurate coverage

• Avoiding over-application near plant bases

• Choosing the right mulch type for each plant variety

Decorative rock, on the other hand, typically requires:

• Soil grading

• Weed barrier fabric

• Proper edge restraint

• Heavy lifting and precise placement

Sandy Creek Landscaping provides professional mulch and rock installation that’s clean, beautiful, and long-lasting. We take care of all the prep work, clean up, and design integration so your yard looks stunning and performs as it should.

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🤔 Not Sure What’s Best? We’ll Help You Decide

If you’re uncertain about whether to choose mulch, rock, or both, don’t worry—our team will walk your property, assess your needs, and create a custom solution that complements your landscape and lifestyle.

📍 Located in Fenton, MO
📞 Call (314) 698-1228 to schedule your on-site consultation today
🌐 Visit: saintlouislandscaping.com

Sandy Creek Landscaping—Rooted in Experience. Inspired by Nature.