Loose stone is a pain to maintain!
#1
05-01-20, 12:12 PM
Member
Thread Starter
Loose stone is a pain to maintain!
Hello,
To prevent vegetation from growing too close to the house, I created a stone "moat" around the house. The "moat" is a couple of inches of loose stone (around 1" stone) over landscape fabric. The problem is that stuff (dirt, twigs, leaves, pine needles) gets into the stone and it's a pain to remove.
I'm wondering if it would make sense to solidify the stones either with polymeric sand, concrete, or mortar. What would you suggest?
Thanks in advance.
To prevent vegetation from growing too close to the house, I created a stone "moat" around the house. The "moat" is a couple of inches of loose stone (around 1" stone) over landscape fabric. The problem is that stuff (dirt, twigs, leaves, pine needles) gets into the stone and it's a pain to remove.
I'm wondering if it would make sense to solidify the stones either with polymeric sand, concrete, or mortar. What would you suggest?
Thanks in advance.
Popular Reply
05-01-20, 03:16 PM
Don't blow out, blow across. Get the crud airborne and it will keep going. Or get bigger rocks. If the stone is blowing it's too small. Ours is 1-2" washed rock. Hardly moves. Or maybe you need better edging.
#2
05-01-20, 12:16 PM
Member
I have some stone beds, they are a pain, always require a lot of clean up in the spring.
Best option if you don't want to do the anul clean up, but down a bed of mulch, 6" thick wont require fabric and will keep vegetation at bay!
Best option if you don't want to do the anul clean up, but down a bed of mulch, 6" thick wont require fabric and will keep vegetation at bay!
SturdyNail voted this post useful.
#3
05-01-20, 02:09 PM
I would pour a concrete skirt around your home. Something like exposed aggregate could look nice but would be more expensive. Polymeric doesn't like being wet for long periods so I think it would eventually degrade and you can't make concrete by simply dumping cement on top of rocks.
SturdyNail voted this post useful.
#4
05-01-20, 02:12 PM
Group Moderator
We have a stone "moat" around our congregation. It is no problem to maintain. Have never worried about twigs but just like you pick up branches before you mow, anything big enough gets picked up and tossed. Leaves and dirt get blown out with a backpack blower.
SturdyNail voted this post useful.
#6
05-01-20, 03:16 PM
Group Moderator
Don't blow out, blow across. Get the crud airborne and it will keep going. Or get bigger rocks. If the stone is blowing it's too small. Ours is 1-2" washed rock. Hardly moves. Or maybe you need better edging.
joecaption, SturdyNail voted this post useful.
#7
05-02-20, 03:21 PM
What about 3 inches of decomposed granite over your rock? Water well and pack it down to 2 inches. Easier to blow twigs and leafs.
SturdyNail voted this post useful.
#8
05-03-20, 09:52 PM
Member
Thread Starter
@YaddaYadda, adding 3 inches of decomposed granite is an interesting idea. I don't, however, have room to build up. As is, the band-board around my house is very close to grade.
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